I must be out of my mind...WIP - It's Done!

fast14riot

fast14riot

Joined
Oct 27, 2010
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I have bought knives with oversharpened blades, tips broken off, scales damaged or missing, but this one takes the cake. I got this little knife at the flea market this morning for $2 because I need another project knife (like a hole in the head, rightl?!) This knife has a blade completely missing, both scales and bolsters were pryed off, liners damged beyond repair, but there was a shimmer of hope when I opened the knife up...




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Once I pulled the blade out I was greeted with a very good condition, never sharpened clip point blade with this etched nicely into it...

2012-02-18111331.jpg


Yep, that's right! Its a mutilated, demoralized, and got down right raped, Puma pony! But it's not dead!

I am going to rebuild this into a singleblade teardrop jack using the center liner, blade and backspring. But I would like to have it appear as an original pattern, so if you guys could help me with figuring out some particulars. First, I assume the bolsters were NS and I don't have a clue what the scales were. Also, what are the lengths of the bolsers?

So, am I crazy? I will try to document the rebuilding and possibly post it here if that's ok with the Mods, but I would really like the input from you guys here to make this knife whole again.


-Xander
 
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EWIP - Endless Work In Progress:D

Good for you, it's a fine idea.:thumbup:

Looks like it might have been in a fire, so it could be a Phoenix from the Ashes ......

What are you thinking of scaling it in? Micarta could be nice and keep it Barehead (single bolster) Lined NS bolster would look effective in my view.
 
This knife worth saving! I would consider either the traditional look with bone or stag and bolsters , or a shadow micarta.
Mike
 
I cant wait to see work-in-progress pics, please keep us posted!
I too am quite amazed that the knife is so badly damaged, and yet the clip blade has come out tops :thumbup:
 
Glad I am not the only one who thinks this old warhorse (war Pony, maybe?!) Is worth the effort. I have brass bolster material, and have become quite fond of brass bolstered knives, but with the 440C blade, I think NS will be best. I will keep the brass liners, though. I do have a nice piece of popcorn stag that is too small for anything other that a pocket knife. I also have some smooth antler with some nice character in it.

Either way, let's keep the ideas coming!


-Xander
 
Xander,

Might look inside the liners, when you disassemble it. I've seen a reference on the web, which suggests some of the older Pumas might've had date codes stamped inside the liner. If it's there, you might be able to tell when it was made. I'm thinking it might be more recent, based on the blade markings (maybe '90s vintage or later), so I don't know if the more recent ones still use the same dating system, or if they're stamped at all.
 
Yeah I have seen the references to date codes inside the liners. I will look very closely when I pull it apart.


-Xander
 
And the resurection has begun!

I pulled it apart the other day, and it promptly sliced my thumb open on a burr of brass! Its now healed and I had a couple of extra hours this morning before work to really put a game plan together.

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I first inspected the liners for a serial number and sure enough there is one, 27282, which denotes 1982 manufacture. Older than I thought!

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I assessed the liners hoping I could use the center one since it was straight, but found all the holes in it were useless for pinning. Looking at the two mangled outer liners I noticed they were in more usable condition than the center. I have new material I was going to try to make new liners from, but I figurd I should try to use as much original as possible. To start assessing the outer liners, I had to flatten them back into shape. To do this I got out the body hammers and a couple of dollies. Mostly I used the face of my RR track anvil to bring them back into shape. I found very little stretching of the metal, and the serious gouges will be reinforced by the bolsters.

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I find leaving the grime and patins on helps spot the hills and valleys that still need to be hammered out...

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Well here is about how straight I could get them...

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So since I am going to be using scared up liners I need to use bolsters to reinforce them. So measure out the material, cut it to length, superglue the two pieces together and sand the face that will butt up against the scales flat. Mark and drill the pin hole while they are glued together.

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This is where I had to stop for today. I didn't have a sharp bit in the size I need and it is too far from final size to ream it. I will stop by the hardware store and get the right drill bits to finish this up. Should be a few days til I can get back out there, though.

Hopefully this thing goes back together ok!

Stay tuned...


-Xander
 
Looking good Xander!

Looks like you have a pretty nice shop & tool set there (I'm envious). Looking forward to seeing this pan out. :thumbup:
 
a labour of love without doubt . It's gonna turn out excellent. i look forward to seeing the reborn pony.
thanks for the progress pics too. I'm wondering why anyone would abuse a knife like that.
cheers.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
Looking good Xander!

Looks like you have a pretty nice shop & tool set there (I'm envious). Looking forward to seeing this pan out. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Thanx! The shop is coming along, it is quite small, and the tool collection has been rebuilding for the last few years after I had an ex steal a large portion of them, or atleast her new boyfriend did. Wish she would have told me about him before... oh well, that's why she's an ex, right!

meako said:
a labour of love without doubt . It's gonna turn out excellent. i look forward to seeing the reborn pony.
thanks for the progress pics too. I'm wondering why anyone would abuse a knife like that.
cheers.
Click to expand...

I think you nailed it! It really is a labor of love for me. I didn't have much money growing up and had to build, rebuild, or design my own stuff if I wanted it.

I now have a theory about the abuse to this old pony, I think it was run over. The sharp, crisp indent of the blade tangs and spring into the liners, and both outer liners being pinched in points to a crushing death. Seems to make sense to me.



knarfeng said:
Very cool. Fun to watch.
Click to expand...

Thanx Frank, I enjoy documenting the process just as much as doing the work itself. Hopefully I inspire someone to try a job like this, or just use parts of the process to restore an old knife.

I will be sure to take pics as I go. This is the piece I was thinking of using for this knife...

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I think it is nice enough to go into the German Stag thread, what do you guys think?

Also, I have been thinking of calling this the warPony, or maybe the one trick Pony (only one blade now). Any ideas for a name? It deserves one, that's for sure!


-Xander
 
Also, I have been thinking of calling this the warPony, or maybe the one trick Pony (only one blade now). Any ideas for a name? It deserves one, that's for sure!
Click to expand...

the saying beating a dead horse comes to mind except this horse seems to be coming back to life so idk if dead pony is a real encouraging name lol
 
Hi Xander!

Nice work on that knife. I´m looking forward seeing more you work on that one.

Kind regards
Andi
 
"One Trick Pony". Very good, I like that name. :thumbup:

Lyrics (in part) from 'One Trick Pony', by Paul Simon:

"He's a one trick pony
One trick is all that horse can do
He does one trick only
It's the principal source of his revenue
And when he steps into the spotlight
You can feel the heat of his heart Come rising through"
Click to expand...

Seems just about right. :)

(BTW, I also thought it looked as if it'd been run over in the road, as opposed to being abused. The one surviving blade looks like it had a fairly easy life, and looks like it still has the factory edge. Probably dropped from somebody's car.)
 
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Xander,
I don't know if this knife was dropped from a car...but I'm sure more than a car has passed over it :D
This looks like a very nice challenge. And no, I don't think you're out of your mind, and you're surely offering us something interesting and funny to watch. :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
search up WALER HORSE
I think you will find a horse that deserves recognition and it ties in with the hardship and mistreatment of your venerable old knife.
just a thought .
 
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