Cattaraugus 225Q fixer-upper!

JD Mandrell

JD Mandrell

Joined
Apr 20, 2001
Messages
18,423
Found this gem at a Gun & Knife show yesterday, it's a Cattaraugus 225Q WWII Military knife.

Was amazed how SOLID it is, even at it's age. The butt-cap is rock solid, no wiggle and the dark spots on hte blade are good old carbon patina. There are only a few small spots of rust and it had not started to eat into the steel yet.

Gonna make a fixer-upper project out of it and use it as a camp knife.

One thing I want to try to do is preserve the leather washers, they are in pretty good shape, the rough spots in hte middle are original I have learned, they were made with them.

Open to suggestions as to what to use to preserve the leather washers, if anyone has any experience???

Love this big chopper, 6" of forged 1095 and with a convex edge!

Cattaraugus-225Q-Mark.jpg


Cattaraugus-225Q-Pile.jpg


Cattaraugus-225Q-Tang.jpg


It did not have it's sheath, which is ironic, while researching it online today, I learned that the original military sheaths were left-handed, which I am, but no one seems to know for sure why the Military had them made left-handed???
 
Interesting, as the Cattaraugus fixed blade I have, a little hard rubber handled thing, came with what appears to be the original sheath and it too is left handed.
 
My pet "theory" is that these were made in a day when military and outdoorsmen commonly still carried a pistol on their right side, so some knives were made for "offside" carry.

But that's just what jumps into my head, could be anything????
 
I used Peccards Leather dressing on the handle of my 225Q and it worked just fine. About 5 years ago I was in visiting some friends still on active duty with the 1st Special Forces Group, and one of the men was carrying a 225Q, which his Uncle had carried during WWII in Italy. Of course he would not part with it, too bad it cannot talk.
 
TLC, You are welcome. I find that two light coats work better than one heavy one. Put on a light coat, let it sink in for a day then a second coat. IMO the 225Q is probably the best issued knife of WWII, and has never quite got the recognition it deserves.
 
Cool knife! You won't do it much harm by cleaning it up as they, for some reason, haven't reached the same level of collectible value as many other WWII blades.

I have a mint example with sheath. If you are interested in seeing it I can post a pic later on tonight. Case also made a version called the 336Q I believe. They were both by government contract. I've seen Case versions with a right hand sheath, but never a right-hander on the Catt.
 
I've cleaned leather handles and sheathes with saddlesoap, great for getting off mold, letting it dry and then rubbed mineral oil into them.
 
Thanks guys, cstorr2004, I would love to see a pic' of your 225Q.

I started cleaning the blade today, I don't want it to look like a new knife, but want to leave some "character" to it. Scrubbed the blade, guard and butt-cap with 000 steel wool and oil and have started treating the leather washers with sno-seal.
 
I stick my stacked leather handles in a container of mineral oil overnight. Wipe
em down and they are good for a loong time.
i do the same with stag handles also. bruce
 
I cleaned mine using saddle soap before the Peccards. This is one of my favorite designs. I'd like to get a 336Q go go with my 225Q.
 
Been working on it, cleaned up the blade and treated the handles with beeswax.

Cattaraugus-225Q-Mark-AFTER.jpg


Cattaraugus-225Q-Pile-AFTER.jpg


Ain't perfect, but sure looks better than it did!
 
I have had greatg luck on old leather handles using Talas leather saver and also Montana Pitchblend leather oil and conditioner
 
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