Can This Old Excelsior Be Repaired To Useful Condition?

B

Bughunt

Feedback: +0 / =0 / -0
Joined
Jun 28, 2006
Messages
4
This is my very first knife. I found it while fishing on the banks of the Ohio River at Schooner Point in Indiana about 50 years ago. I was seven or eight and retained the knife for at least 20 minutes before my mother snagged it. My dad kept it, along with my second knife, until he passed. He kept them all these years. I just got them both back.

Although badly rusted and both scales broken when I found it, three of the blades still snap and are actually fairly sharp. I would appreciate any suggestions regarding repair from the board experts. I want to do it correctly and am willing to spend some money to do so. Here are several pics to give you an idea. I'm on a very slow connection, so it is taking forever to upload to photobucket.

Regards.



 
It's in useful condition now, I think. You could clean it and sharpen it if you intend to use it, but while replacing the broken scales could make it pretty, I think it is better the way it is. I've had knives with no snap, that came back with a good cleaning and a bit of oil, plus use.
 
W.M.B. said:
It's in useful condition now, I think. You could clean it and sharpen it if you intend to use it, but while replacing the broken scales could make it pretty, I think it is better the way it is. I've had knives with no snap, that came back with a good cleaning and a bit of oil, plus use.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply WMB. I agree with you that it's best to leave vintage stuff as found, if possible. The problem in this case is that the scales broke at the pins and the pins slide in and out. Blocks the blades from closing and snags my pants pocket. I guess I could have them peened or epoxied in place. If I do that, I might as well replace or repair the existing scales. I'm way out of my league with this stuff.
 
Ah, I get it. Well, it's a very cool knife. I know there are a few guys that do that on bladeforums, so I expect someone will be able to help you. I know it can be done, I just don't know who would be the best one to send it to, or what such an undertaking might cost, but I would love to see the result when it its done. Please be sure to post it.
 
W.M.B. said:
Ah, I get it. Well, it's a very cool knife. I know there are a few guys that do that on bladeforums, so I expect someone will be able to help you. I know it can be done, I just don't know who would be the best one to send it to, or what such an undertaking might cost, but I would love to see the result when it its done. Please be sure to post it.
Click to expand...

Will do. Thanks.
 
Lots of people in the traditional forum who can handle this for you. users "glennbad" and "esnyx" come to mind.
 
Sonnemann said:
Lots of people in the traditional forum who can handle this for you. users "glennbad" and "esnyx" come to mind.
Click to expand...

Thanks Sonnemann. I guess my post should be in the "Traditional" forum. For something this old, it seemed like a toss-up between here and the traditional.

Mods, please move this to "Traditional" if you want to. Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Bughunt said:
This is my very first knife. I found it while fishing on the banks of the Ohio River at Schooner Point in Indiana about 50 years ago. I was seven or eight and retained the knife for at least 20 minutes before my mother snagged it. My dad kept it, along with my second knife, until he passed. He kept them all these years. I just got them both back.

Although badly rusted and both scales broken when I found it, three of the blades still snap and are actually fairly sharp. I would appreciate any suggestions regarding repair from the board experts. I want to do it correctly and am willing to spend some money to do so. Here are several pics to give you an idea. I'm on a very slow connection, so it is taking forever to upload to photobucket.

Regards.



Click to expand...
I just had an idea. You could probably solder the pin in place fairly easily, if you wanted to avoid taking the knife apart. Place the pin where you want it, heat it with a soldering iron, at the base against the liner. Introduce a small amount of solder from inside. It will be drawn into the joint.
 
This could go in the Maintenance forum for advice on how you could do it or in Services Wanted to find a knifemaker willing to repair it. I think the second is the better choice. I'll move it there.

By the way, moderators don't get to see every post every day. If you have a request for us, go to the lower left corner of a post and click the small triangle icon. Tell us in the pop-up box what you need.
 
Boy that is a cool knife and a great story to match. I really hope you get it sorted. If you had your choice of scale materials, what would you choose?

Honestly, a repair seems pretty straight forward. Then again, I've never actually done a slippie so can't say for sure.

In any case, I'd love to see it when you get done.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top