Help Cleaning Old Kabar

Charles L · Jun 4, 2008

After my father passed away I found his USMC Kabar from WWII. It has some minor surface rust on it. Can anyone tell me how I can clean the rust without ruining the black finish on most of the blade? When wiped down with a oiled rag you can see the brown rust stain on the rag but no rust scales on the blade. I am trying to get it cleaned up enough so there is no rust stains on the rag when it is wiped down. Steel wool would be great but it would ruin what is left of the finish. Any suggestions?

Lurker · Jun 5, 2008

As a first, gentle step, I would try spraying it with WD-40 and letting it soak overnight. Then rub it with a soft cloth using more WD-40 as a solvent and try to scrub away the rust. This should be safe for any sort of coating or patina and will probably remove more rust.

If you still need more cleaning action than that, hopefully someone with more experience will come along and add another suggestion. Maybe use a plastic abrasive pad that is labelled as being safe for non-stick cookware and continue to use more WD-40 as a solvent.

I am not sure what a WWII Kbar had for a coating or what more it will tolerate.

That's a nice piece of history you have there. We owe a debt of gratitude to your father and his generation. How unfortunate that there are so few of them left to tell their stories.

Bill DeShivs · Jun 5, 2008

The WW2 models had blued blades. If the blade is blued, lightly use 0000 steel wool and WD 40. Unless you scrub exceptionally hard, it won't hurt bluing.
Bill

Charles L · Jun 5, 2008

Thanks for the response. I will give the steel wool a try. I was just worried it would ruin what was left of the finish. The blade is blued. I just wasn't sure because over the years it has turned kinda black.

rtn · Jun 5, 2008

Charles L said:
After my father passed away I found his USMC Kabar from WWII. It has some minor surface rust on it. Can anyone tell me how I can clean the rust without ruining the black finish on most of the blade? When wiped down with a oiled rag you can see the brown rust stain on the rag but no rust scales on the blade. I am trying to get it cleaned up enough so there is no rust stains on the rag when it is wiped down. Steel wool would be great but it would ruin what is left of the finish. Any suggestions?

I noticed this on Japan Woodworker's site a few days ago:

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/product.asp?s=JapanWoodworker&pf_id=01.110.320&dept_id=13100

superc · Jun 8, 2008

I suppose I would be uttering heresy to suggest one of the rust stopping phosphoric acid compounds sold at Lowes and similar places? I've used it on old guns with a Q-tip and it turned the rust black (as it is supposed to) but had no visible effect on the bluing (which is after all rust made black by an acid bath anyway).

Bill DeShivs · Jun 8, 2008

I have never seen a phosphoric acid solution that would not remove bluing in an instant!
I would advise against it.
The "Grit Rust Eraser" will also remove bluing. It is far too abrasive.
Use the 0000 steel wool.
Trust me-I have removed a lot of rust on a lot of knives and guns.
Bill

Absintheur · Jun 8, 2008

I owned a gun shop for about 25 years, 0000 steel wool with a light machine oil or WD-40 does wonders on light rust and leaves the finish as long as you are not overly aggressive with it. Start with light pressure rather than leaning into it and only use as much force as is needed, go slow in other words and use plenty of oil. I would also advise against storing the knife in the sheath, first leather attracts moisture hence the problem you are having and if you put a heavily oiled knife into leather the oil can degrade the leather as well. Keep them together for display but don't store them with the knife inserted.