Fixing up old knife

[table.nerd]

I got an old kj mora from a garage sale. On the Handel were the wood meets the metal their are dark marks conning up. I've seen this on all the other old moras I've seen online, I was thinking of sanding it off then refinishing it. Also in a crack behind the blade guard there is some rust I can't get two, how would you get to it.

 

[Bo T]

It is hard to tell without the pictures. But on many the tang is glued to the handle so almost impossible to clean behind the ferrel without destroying the handle. Put tape over the edge so you do not cut yourself. You could carefully chisel the wood where the rust is, clean out the rust from the tang. Then put epoxy/wood filler in the hole. Paint the handle behind the ferrel. If you can remove the handle. Grind or drill the peen at the pommel and if the handle slips off then it is much simpler. Disassemble, clean everything up. Fill the cracks in the handle. Use a slow set epoxy and glue the handle back on.