How can I stablize this knife without degradation?

[North Shore]

She's got some old stag and some rust. Don't want to rub on her too hard or use polish.

 

[supratentorial]

That's an old one! It looks pretty stable. Do you mean "clean"? I would only use mineral oil and a soft rag on the steel parts. Put a bit of mineral oil on a soft rag and wipe until the knife no longer dirties the rag.

I would NOT use polish or abrasives. Like abrasives, polish also removes metal except with chemicals.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Just some mineral oil and at the most some fine steel wool.
Just carefully remove the thick stuff, then use a rag and oil to finish cleaning it up. A toothbrush wouldn't hurt either.

 

[waynorth]

The stag almost looks oxidized with Potassium Permanganate, which can result in a charred appearance when used intensely. Stag was treated with PP to prevent the import of invasive organisms, and had (still has) the happy side effect of darkening/enhancing the Stag!
I don't think you want to remove anything other than what might come off with an oily rag.
The Stag on this knife is in the same boat!

I just rubbed it with a slightly oily terrycloth.

 

[eisman]

OK, what I'm going to suggest may sound like heresy, but I hate rust. I would fill my ultrasonic tank with mineral oil and subject that knife to several sessions in hot oil. I'd also used a stiff non-metallic brush to knock off anything loose between sessions. Depending how that goes I'd even consider a session in soap and water.

 

[Will Power]

Is it Stag? Looks rather like smooth bone to me, but as the others say some light cleaning is probably best. Actually using a knife helps spruce it up !

 

[supratentorial]

Immersing the knife in oil would also immerse the stag covers. It may affect the color of the stag. It may lighten up. This knife is probably all steel but on a knife with copper liners immersion in an oil bath can cause additional problems. On a knife with brass liners, verdisgris could leach into and stain the cover material.

A thin layer of oil on the steel parts will help keep the knife "stable" from further oxidation. If you want to clean the knife up a bit, I'd only use an oil damp rag and I'd be very conservative. You can always buy a shiny new barlow. This knife is so old that it is more interesting as a historical artifact, especially since it appears to be in pretty good condition. Worth preserving.

 

[kvaughn]

Is it Stag? Looks rather like smooth bone to me, but as the others say some light cleaning is probably best. Actually using a knife helps spruce it up !

Looks like bone to me too. Really dirty bone!-Maybe a toothbrush and some Dawn on that?--KV