Cleaning up Grandpa's Traditional knives

T

Toddwalla

Joined
May 27, 2012
Messages
678
Hey all,

I have been using this forum for awhile as a guest, but I decided to join today because I have a project that I am hoping to get some help with. I have a small box of old pocket knives that belonged to my Grandpa (my personal hero), they are all well used and totally worn out, but I love them all. He passed in 1997 and I have had them all this time. Recently I have decided to clean them up and display them in my home. As I said, they are well worn and over the years have developed some rust in addition to the natural patina of age. I am looking to clean them up, not restore them, just remove and prevent further rusting. Any help would be sincerely appreciated.

Thanks
 
Howdy,
I'm going to move this to Maintenance. Most of the fellas here who give such good advice also post in Maintenance.
 
Rub em down with a rag soaked with some oil. Keep them oiled with mineral oil too.

Whatever you do, do not soak them with vinegar like some people say. The backsprings will break.
 
I cleaned up some of my grandfather's knives with Brasso and a lot of q-tips.
 
I cleaned up my Grandpa's barlow. It was fantastically dirty. I could not believe the amount of gunk in the channels.

Q tips, tooth picks, tooth brush, hot soap and water, through drying and then oiling. Repeat.

I took care not to remove any of the patina from mine.
 
Scrub the rust gently with dry 0000 steel wool. Wash thoroughly with hot, soapy water. Then, flush with WD 40. Dry.
 
Thanks everyone! I gave them a quick once over already and they're much improved. I am looking forward to spending some more time on them after picking up some supplies...
 
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