Help With Verdigris

Trout Hound

Trout Hound

Joined
Sep 28, 2014
Messages
693
Howdy Y'all,

I have recently noticed a bit of green tint around the edges of the amber bone scales on my Case 6318 Medium Stockman. I've been carrying it in a pocket almost every day for over a year now, including on some hot and sweaty days. It sometimes rides in a leather slip, but is not stored in one. No crusty oxidation yet, just the green tint.

Is this the result of brass oxidation from pocket carry? What, if anything, can be done to stop/prevent this? Thanks!

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Could be reacting to acidic tanning compounds in the leather of the slipcase. Some leather is much worse than others, in this regard.

Also, it's been known to result from exposure to some types of gun cleaners/solvents (Hoppe's, etc.), if they've been used to clean the knife. Gun cleaners contain compounds designed to dissolve copper deposits left by jacketed ammo in gun barrels. If it's been used on the knife, it could be reacting to the copper in the brass liners & pins.

Just a couple of ideas...


David
 
I don't think I have ever used Hoppe's or the like. I have used WD40, although not in awhile. Will that do it?

I have been carrying it in a new leather slip, the tanning process of which I am unsure. (Chrome, vegetable, etc.)

I also recently re-did the patina on two of the blades with a hot 50/50 vinegar/water soak. Any chance the vapor from the vinegar bath did it? (I obviously didn't soak the handles.)

Based on what I know, I'm thinking the new leather slip is the most likely culprit, but I could be wrong. Am I right that there is really no good way to reverse the stains?

Thanks.




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If the leather is not veg tanned, it can have very bad side effects. Stay away from cheap imported leather unless you know of the source.

I once used some non-veg leather liner material to glue over snaps, to keep them from scratching a brass knife bolster/finger guard. I left it in the sheath for a short period of time (less than a month), and it heavily corroded the area of contact. I would have been better off with a small amount of scratching.



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I just realized that, based on the texture and suppleness of the slip in question, it is probably chrome tanned. I hadn't really thought about it, since I bought it from a reputable and trusted knife and sheath maker. I think I will discontinue use and let them know.


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I've used WD-40 for mine, sometimes flushing the entire knife with it, and haven't had any issues like this. I have a 6375 CV stockman in the same amber bone, BTW.

I wouldn't really suspect the vinegar patina either, if you didn't immerse the whole knife. I've patinated my stockman using vinegar/hot water, by dipping the blades only, and haven't had an issue with it.

I have an older Western L48A fixed blade knife, and it's leather sheath has ALWAYS been an issue with the brass guard on it. Leaves some verdigris on the guard every time, if I've left it sheathed for more than a few days at a time. I have other brass-handled/linered knives kept in leather sheaths, such as Buck knives and others, which haven't had any such issues at all. I'd be suspicious of the leather first, barring or eliminating any of the other variables, as above.

I've read, but haven't tried, that ammonia can sometimes be used to clean up some verdigris staining. But, because I haven't tried it myself, I can't swear it'll work. I HAVE successfully used metal polish, like Flitz or Simichrome, to clean up some surface verdigris around brass pins on stag-handled knives. It happens that both of these polishing pastes use an ammonia-based suspension as well (they both smell of ammonia). Not sure how much that affected results, but it's something to think about.


David
 
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