Can this Stockman be fixed or should I not bother?

[Hjalmar69]

Queen Stockman https://imgur.com/a/R0mjBbk
Queen spring https://imgur.com/a/D62Uhh4
Hi
This is one of my first classic slip joint. After a while it got dark blue coloring from my jeans and cracks at the middle pivot. Are the cracks the beginning of breaking scales? Should I, or is it possible to clean the scales? Should I treat the scales with oil or something?
Regards
Erik.

 

[black mamba]

A light rubbing with mineral or lemon oil might brighten up the bone. As for the cracks, they could remain stable in that condition for decades . . . I would just keep using it.

 

[spyderg]

There are folks on here with a lot more experience than me but cracks don’t usually mean the covers are just going to crumble and fall off. You’re likely ok just carrying it as is.
I’ve had a couple knives with cracks, I usually forcefully rub in some superglue and give it a quick sanding and perhaps buffing to make it all match again.
As far as cleaning goes, I’ve used baby wipes to clean knives with wood, bone and micarta covers with no negative side effects.
Recovering it or having it recovered is also an option.

 

[brownshoe]

Some people say if you put clear epoxy on it that this will hold it together. I tried it with a pearl handled knife and its held for 10+ years. I carry it loose in the pocket every so often.

 

[W.M.B.]

I've got afew knives with cracks kind of like that for years. I would echo black mamba. You can probably carry it for areally long time before anything really happens due to the crack. I'd carry it like it is myself.

 

[hornetguy]

That type of thing is usually referred to as "character". Looks like a working knife, to me. I'd run it til the wheels fell off of it....

 

[Hjalmar69]

Another technical forum question: why can I only see my link to the picture and not the picture itself? Is it because I used imgur? On other posts I see pictures.

Very well, I will get some mineral oil and continue carrying it in my pocket. Thanks for the advice.

Regards Erik

 

[Hjalmar69]

A light rubbing with mineral or lemon oil might brighten up the bone. As for the cracks, they could remain stable in that condition for decades . . . I would just keep using it.

Ok, However, when I Google mineral oil in Swedish, I get old school motor oil as a suggestion. My wife oils our wood cutting boards with something that translates to Paraffin oil. Could that be good stuff?

 

[black mamba]

Mineral oil is sold here in the US in pharmacies, as a laxative. It is food safe and does not go rancid with time. I suspect your cutting board oil is also food safe (I hope!), and may be the same thing.

 

[Hjalmar69]

Yep, Parrafin oil is a laxative, hence food safe.

 

[Peregrin]

Another technical forum question: why can I only see my link to the picture and not the picture itself? Is it because I used imgur? On other posts I see pictures.

Very well, I will get some mineral oil and continue carrying it in my pocket. Thanks for the advice.

Regards Erik

Here's a decent post on using imgur. Hope it's helpful.
How to: post pictures using Imgur (comprehensive)

 

[Phil in Alabama]

I've used superglue for small cracks before, never had any crack further afterwards.

 

[afishhunter]

I wouldn't worry about those cracks and just use it.
If they bother you, work a drop of super glue innum.