Help Wanted: Care of Old WWII Folder

G

gr8fulson

Joined
Mar 13, 2002
Messages
3
I just got my hands on a 60+ year old Schrade M2 Presto Paratrooper knife (switchblade, bone handles with bail). Its in very good condition but its quite dirty (grime & dirt inside & out).

Any advice for the cleaning, polishing & lubrication of a vintage folder? Thanks in advance!
 
Yeah, don't leave it in the ocean for a year.

Other than that, I'll move this to General where it's more likely to get a better response, and possibly, just POSSIBLY, better advice than I just gave ya.
(Can't make any promises about that, of course... I'm a genius)

Gigantically headed,
I remain,
VG
 
Several months ago I too acquired a WW11 jewel in the Ulster folder that was issued to the Special Service Force (Devils Brigade) and 10th Mt. Div. I plan on giving it some TLC with FLITZ polish, tooth brushes, tooth paste, Q-tips and then lightly oil.
I was hoping to see one of these knives as I knew a hometown hero from the SSF and bought the Mark 2 he purchased on Okinawa to replace his V-42 which was stolen after he was wounded at Anzio. Most interesting fellow and I got to see his pictures and read the official unit history he had. He passed on a few months later.
I was heavy into military knives but moved on to one of many other tangents.
mac:)
 
CH, Thanks for the info and links. Have used the "dishes" method before with impressive results.
mac
 
I recently acquired an old and "carried" knife. After admiring it for awhile I realized that the reason I liked it so much was the character that it had which came from the obvious age. The wood had the dark antique look and the steel had a black tarnish but bright at the obvious places like at the "pull". I decided to keep the look and it has become my favorite knife even when compared to all of my new shiny (and expensive) knives.
My process was to use penetrating oil on a rag, q-tips and even on the end of a toothpick to clean and oil the inside. The oil on a cotton thread was used for the really tight places like the blade pivot, think of flossing teeth. I also taped the wood with painters tape to keep the oil off. I would suggest this for the bone also. Always stop, think and wait for a day before you work on any particular area. You can always clean it some more, but you can not put that wood patina back on.
I was so pleased with the whole process that I have a whole new respect for those old dirty clunkers at the bottom of the pile at flea markets.
 
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