Info and Cleaning Suggestions for this old folder

S

shanesaw

Joined
Feb 10, 2018
Messages
14
Hey there!

So I was browsing an old antique store by my house today, and I saw this in a case. It was cheap, so I grabbed it! The only markings are "ROSTFREI" on the blade which I learned means rust free? in German. Does anyone have any insight as to the age of this knife? I am not a big collector, and I didn't buy it hoping to have found something valuable, I just really liked the simplicity of it, and I like vintage/antique items. Now I apologize if this is a question for another section, but I was also wondering if cleaning it up in one piece is the right method, or if taking it apart and straightening some of the liners and also cleaning internally is a better route. I would just hate to ruin the scales. The blade has a solid lock up, but does have side to side wiggle. The blade also needs some tlc. Any info from anyone with more experience than me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

2c5b9dcdce555bc96d32d6c228c47f90e4d359a1.jpg

c68798d344dc4fc39a2e2ff3e4afb08ed7a574c0.jpg

40cade01d5264c458f1c898065fe89b51f1686ff.jpg

6a65a2b86db07395fc6f12c2327fd331b413b3d8.jpg


443df2ac73a4a126c9377b6e2c5ba493379d8e2d.jpg
 
Looks like an old contento German knife, I have a few I got a long time ago
Screenshot_20220220-172643_Gallery.jpg
I'm no expert but the way the knife is and how its pinned looks just like mine.

I soaked them lightly in mild soap water, sanded the rough bits out, cleaned the blade with sandpaper blocks, then sharpened and oiled the whole thing. Action is still a little gritty/stiff but much better than when I got them.

Hope this helps!
 
Seems like a good thread for the Traditional Forum.
Moving there now.
 
I would be concerned that any attempt to tighten things up might lead to opening up those cracks even more. I think the only way to clean things up would be to take it apart and reassemble it. Of course, that could cause damage also in the process. If you're not skilled in doing this, I wouldn't attempt it. Especially if you're trying to keep everything original.

If the side-to-side play is not too bad, I'd probably leave it as-is.
 
glennbad said:
I would be concerned that any attempt to tighten things up might lead to opening up those cracks even more. I think the only way to clean things up would be to take it apart and reassemble it. Of course, that could cause damage also in the process. If you're not skilled in doing this, I wouldn't attempt it. Especially if you're trying to keep everything original.

If the side-to-side play is not too bad, I'd probably leave it as-is.
Click to expand...
I have only ever made one knife (Which could have been better). I am by no means a knife maker, but I am definitely capable. Maybe not to the expertise of most, but you get the idea lol IF I decided to disassemble, would these knives strictly have been a mechanical bond with the pins, or would some sort of glue been used? I like the thought of things being original, and at the same time, I like the idea of getting it back to more of an original condition. I was worried about those end cracks as well. I know I could make new scales (I do wood working) but that's where I struggle with how much I am replacing.
 
Dergyll said:
Looks like an old contento German knife, I have a few I got a long time ago

I'm no expert but the way the knife is and how its pinned looks just like mine.

I soaked them lightly in mild soap water, sanded the rough bits out, cleaned the blade with sandpaper blocks, then sharpened and oiled the whole thing. Action is still a little gritty/stiff but much better than when I got them.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Thank you for this information! They definitely have the same flavour.
 
Might be the lighting, but I don't see anything that needs cleaning.
If the action is a little gritty, clean the joint using an old toothbrush, under warm running water, and work the blade, again under warm running water. Dry out with a can of compressed air if you don't have a compressor, or WD-40, then lube the joint with a couple drops of oil. Many will say to use a "food safe" oil like Mineral oil. Personally, I don't bother with that. There's not enough oil on the blade to worry about. Over the last 60 years I've used 3 in One sewing machine oil, new and used motor oil and transmission fluid, lock oil, gun oil, whatever I had handy.
 
It doesn’t look to me like an expensive or valuable knife, so if you messed it up trying to restore it you haven’t lost much. I don’t think you need to disassemble it entirely to turn it into an attractive and serviceable knife, but if you want to try it, why not? I don’t know how much you paid, but if you spend several hours fooling around with it, it is still probably cheaper than many other pastimes. And you will probably end up with something you really like.

If it were mine I might peen the pivot a little if the blade play was too bad (understanding that I might mess it up and make it worse), sand and refinish the handle, and try to give the blade matte finish to hide the scratches. And if I botched the whole thing, I would throw it in the toolbox and use it for scraping old putty off windows or something.

If somebody chimes in and says the knife is valuable, ignore all of the above…
 
Last edited:
shanesaw said:
I have only ever made one knife (Which could have been better). I am by no means a knife maker, but I am definitely capable. Maybe not to the expertise of most, but you get the idea lol IF I decided to disassemble, would these knives strictly have been a mechanical bond with the pins, or would some sort of glue been used? I like the thought of things being original, and at the same time, I like the idea of getting it back to more of an original condition. I was worried about those end cracks as well. I know I could make new scales (I do wood working) but that's where I struggle with how much I am replacing.
Click to expand...

I have seen many that use glue to hold the covers in place, but just as many that only use pins. It will vary from maker to maker. The only thing I might do is stabilize those cracks with CA (super glue) before taking things apart. A lot depends on how dry that wood is.
 
I seriously appreciate all the input and suggestions. I'm sure a lot of what I'm inquiring about seems simple, but I don't do this stuff all that much, so I enjoy picking brains and filing the information.

One more question. I know it might be hard with no markings, but are there any indications of even what decade this might have been made in?
 
shanesaw said:
I seriously appreciate all the input and suggestions. I'm sure a lot of what I'm inquiring about seems simple, but I don't do this stuff all that much, so I enjoy picking brains and filing the information.

One more question. I know it might be hard with no markings, but are there any indications of even what decade this might have been made in?
Click to expand...

Sorry, dating English and German knives is definitely not my thing. The stovepipe kick is an older style, but could have easily been utilized on a more modern knife.
 
Well, how’s it going in the restoration / clean up?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top