Cutco/KA-BAR Visitors Center

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whitethronebooks

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Jul 25, 2009
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I stopped by the Cutco/KA-BAR Visitors Center earlier today and purchased an "Iraqi Freedom" USMC knife that was on display. It's an older model, with a fat leather handle and a sharpened swedge. I am guessing it's a 2003 or 2004 model. It has a slightly higher grind than the current USMC KA-BARs, and the fatter handle feels better. The woman agreed to sell me the one in the display case, although I could tell it wasn't normal procedure.

It's a cute little shop, but the Zippo/Case Visitors Center in Bradford, PA is much larger. They are pretty close to each other.
 
whitethronebooks said:
I stopped by the Cutco/KA-BAR Visitors Center earlier today and purchased an "Iraqi Freedom" USMC knife that was on display. It's an older model, with a fat leather handle and a sharpened swedge. I am guessing it's a 2003 or 2004 model. It has a slightly higher grind than the current USMC KA-BARs, and the fatter handle feels better. The woman agreed to sell me the one in the display case, although I could tell it wasn't normal procedure.

It's a cute little shop, but the Zippo/Case Visitors Center in Bradford, PA is much larger. They are pretty close to each other.
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Awesome, good to hear you had a good visit. And scored a cool knife to boot.

Did you happen to take some pics while you were there?

Moose
 
I didn't take pictures of the visitors center, but there are a few pics on the web. I have since stripped the knife and dyed the handle. :eek:

I wanted the knife to look more "WWII." The pretty coating and "Iraqi Freedom," in gold lettering, were too gaudy for me.

Will take a picture of the knife tomorrow morning.
 
I rubbed the high points of the blade until the grind lines turned white. I wanted to simulate sheath wear.

It now barely resembles its original appearance.

000_0007.jpg
 
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whitethronebooks said:
I rubbed the high points of the blade until the grind lines turned white. I wanted to simulate sheath wear.

It now barely resembles its original appearance.

000_0007.jpg
Click to expand...

WOW!!!!!

That looks awesome!! Great work, brother.

Moose
 
Thank you both.

I used Fiebings Leather Dye - Dark Brown. I removed the dye that didn't absorb, by rotating the handle under hot running water. This produced the added effect of hardening the leather.

Am now debating whether or not I should SNO-SEAL it. Some people claim that SNO-SEAL contains some petroleum (not good).
 
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whitethronebooks said:
Thank you both.

I used Fiebings Leather Dye - Dark Brown. I removed the dye that didn't absorb, by rotating the handle under hot running water. This produced the added effect of hardening the leather.

Am now debating whether or not I should SNO-SEAL it. Some people claim that SNO-SEAL contains some petroleum (not good).
Click to expand...

I've used SnoSeal for years on leather, never had a problem. Except on boots, your feet can't breath, and they fill up with sweat. When they say water proof, they mean it.

On my jar, it says that SnoSeal is beeswax, lanolin, and not much else. I do know that it doesn't leave your hand greasy after you are done using it, like some other sealers.

Good luck, and I highly recommend the SnoSeal.

Damn, knife is gorgeous.

Moose
 
I think it's the carrier oil in SNO-SEAL that people say is from petroleum. It may not be enough to do any damage.

The blade and guard are not rusting after contact with water. Some very light staining (i.e. a patina), but that's to be expected with high carbon steel. The pommel, however, stains very easily after contact with water. It must be made from a different steel. I will have to wax it, but it's no big deal. Cold Steel's SK5 steel rusts almost immediately when exposed to water, and so I am happier with the 1095 Cro Van.
 
whitethronebooks said:
I think it's the carrier oil in SNO-SEAL that people say is from petroleum. It may not be enough to do any damage.

The blade and guard are not rusting after contact with water. Some very light staining (i.e. a patina), but that's to be expected with high carbon steel. The pommel, however, stains very easily after contact with water. It must be made from a different steel. I will have to wax it, but it's no big deal. Cold Steel's SK5 steel rusts almost immediately when exposed to water, and so I am happier with the 1095 Cro Van.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I like to think, "slower corrosion" than most other blades. They turn brown first, if left if fresh water, then orange later as it dries. I left a BKT in the hull of my kayak overnight. Kinda browned over, but some 00 steel wool and mineral oil, no worries.

Moose
 
I applied a roughly 50/50 mix of Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP and SNO-SEAL to the handle. It promptly turned the handle black :eek:, which I should have expected since I'd already dyed the leather dark brown. No worries though, as many WWII KA-BARs have blackened handles from excess hand oil. Anyway, it took 20 minutes with a hair dryer to get the stuff to fully absorb. It is slowly hardening now, in the leather. I figure it should be ready in 24 hours.
 
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