Cattaraugus 225Q and a Premier fixed Blade Knife

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Itsasportsbar

Joined
Aug 1, 2013
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Stopped by an antique store today and purchased these two.

Cattaraugus 225Q and a Premier Life Time marked H40 Solingen Germany.

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Does anyone have any advice on rehydrating the leather on the Cattaraugus?

Ken K.
 
Congrats Ken on your old Catt . It just so happens that I just got one at an estate sale , without the sheath , that also needs leather work. Looking forward to a good answer too.

Harry
 
I would also say neetsfoot oil, but some there are who claim that neetsfoot oil dissolves leather, never mind that care of leather is what neetsfoot oil is for.
I have a 225 Q minus the pommel and I soaked the leather washers in redwing boot oil, just in case the anti- neetsfoot people are right.
 
I had an old western that was beat and had mold on the leather. I cleaned up first with saddle soap, used a rag and tooth brush, let it dry for a few days, and then used snow seal wax.
 
Thanks for the replies all.

Leghog, thanks for the links especially the first one. I hadn't seen that one.
I did do a search and all the posts I came across seemed a little dated so I was kind of wondering if any new products and or methods had come to light.

Thanks Again,

Ken K.
 
Itsasportsbar said:
Thanks for the replies all.

Leghog, thanks for the links especially the first one. I hadn't seen that one.
I did do a search and all the posts I came across seemed a little dated so I was kind of wondering if any new products and or methods had come to light.

Thanks Again,

Ken K.
Click to expand...

As Solomon said as recorded in Ecclesiates, there really is nothing new under the sun.

Just be careful not to smooth too much the gnarly leather washers in the middle of the handle. Those aren't flaws. They were purpose built into the knife aid retention/non slip and show the knife likely wasn't re-handled.
 
Back in my signpainting days, I would keep my brushes oiled with Neatsfoot Oil to prevent the left over enamel from drying in the heel of the brush... until the mice discovered my brush kit and started eating the bristles. After that I tried tranny fluid and that worked well and the mice didn't like it. I used tranny fluid for the next 25 years or so without problems, and then computers came along with vinyl lettering and that pretty much ended that trade. But I digress....

On leather washer handled knives, use MINERAL OIL and you will be pleasantly surprised at the results. Keeps your hands soft and keeps you regular too! lol Seriously, the stuff is amazing on horn, stag, bone, leather, and opal (if you have any opal handled knives). It's just an excellent hydrating material and is non- toxic and good for metal even. Use liberally and most will soak in and 'dry' out so you don't get greasy hands. :)
 
British museum developed Renaissance Wax. They, other museums worldwide, and other conservators use it for leather as well as many other materials. One 200ml can will last you years. I use it for leather, stones, metals, bones....
 
Rennaissance Wax is a great product and I use it myself, but it won't re-hydrate and swell shrunken leather/bone/stag/wood. Put it on after the MO treatment and the handle material feels dry. :)
 
gunstockjack said:
Rennaissance Wax is a great product and I use it myself, but it won't re-hydrate and swell shrunken leather/bone/stag/wood. Put it on after the MO treatment and the handle material feels dry. :)
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Once the leather is so dry it has shrunk, you'll never truly get it expanded again. Once loose due to shrinkage it'll never be permanently tight again. I'd try to add a leather washer/disc slit from center to edge before trying to appreciably expand decades old dried leather washers.

I'd conserve/preserve what you have. That's what Renaissance Wax is for. If you want first revitalize the leather, the British museum uses a concoction of lanolin, ceder oil (as an anti-fungal), beeswax, and solvent. They're dealing with centuries old leather.
 
Years ago I had a near mint Cattaraugus 225Q. I still kick myself for letting that one go.
 
I have 2 225Q's and I would say both are in decent shape. I keep them stored in a tote with other knives and aside from an occasionally fondling they rarely see the light of day.
I oiled them slightly when I first got them about 20 years ago and they have been just fine. I used RedWing Boot oil as well cause that is what I had on hand.
 
I Just realized what i Had! when my grand father died i was supposed to get all of his gun collection he was a poor Chippawa indian ( yes there are such things as a poor native haha) anyways my my grand mother who survived him and her scumbag family took all of them and sold them out from under me i was very upset he taught me how to hunt and fish and respect the outdoors and for that i took care and cleaned his guns it was kinda our thing. anyways all i got was 6 knives and a broken old wooden gun cabinet just sitting here looking through some of my stuff since i just moved i decided to look up my favorite knife of all of them and low and behold its a Catt 225Q it was in better shape but i had no idea what i had and never took care of it and it spent its time out in my shop in the bottom of my toolbox but now i think i will restore it and use it! thanks for all the great reading info and im sure i will have more questions! -Tony
 
NewToTheBladeGame said:
I Just realized what i Had! when my grand father died i was supposed to get all of his gun collection he was a poor Chippawa indian ( yes there are such things as a poor native haha) anyways my my grand mother who survived him and her scumbag family took all of them and sold them out from under me i was very upset he taught me how to hunt and fish and respect the outdoors and for that i took care and cleaned his guns it was kinda our thing. anyways all i got was 6 knives and a broken old wooden gun cabinet just sitting here looking through some of my stuff since i just moved i decided to look up my favorite knife of all of them and low and behold its a Catt 225Q it was in better shape but i had no idea what i had and never took care of it and it spent its time out in my shop in the bottom of my toolbox but now i think i will restore it and use it! thanks for all the great reading info and im sure i will have more questions! -Tony
Click to expand...

That's great that you still have it !! Please post pictures after you are done !!!

Harry
 
My washers have plumped up nicely from the Redwing oil. I still don't know what I'll do about the missing pommel.
 
It's about time I responded to you all with thanks for your advice.

The leather isn't as in bad a shape as I first thought. Most of it becomes pliable with the warmth from my hand.
I will go the preservation route with minimal cleaning.

Thanks again,

Ken K.
 
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