Ka Bar USMC handle refurb

[Ruari]

Hi guys, first post on here. Having read a few threads on refurbing stacked leather handles, I decided to take the plunge on my old Ka Bar. I love this knife and it has been around the world with me.
After taking it out to the jungle for two months, the stacked leather handle was ragged. The finish was rough and there was some shrinkage away from the guard. At the time I didn't know what to do, so I used Dubbin on the handle.
Fast forward two years and I still have this knife on my belt. The leather handle is dark from the Dubbin. I got some sandpaper(180, 400 and 1000 grit) and sanded the leather until it was uniformly lighter and leather 'dust' was coming off.
I then covered the handle in CA (superglue) and allowed it dry. Then I sanded it down with the 400 and later the 1000 grit paper. I then used a cheap nylon bristled nail brush to remove the swarf and buff the handle up.

It now is nice and hard with a good sheen. Although darker than it was originally, I am pleased with my morning's work to revitalise this trusty knife a little.

Before

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After

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[uxo2]

Looks good....

But the knives that have history with me.
I leave'em be.

Hey Dad, what happend here.
Well Daughter.. I got out of the boat and a Tiger charged me.
So that scratch from the thorns is there to remind me.
Never get out of the Boat.

 

[Ruari]

Looks good....

But the knives that have history with me.
I leave'em be.

Hey Dad, what happend here.
Well Daughter.. I got out of the boat and a Tiger charged me.
So that scratch from the thorns is there to remind me.
Never get out of the Boat.

That's quite a good point! Ah well, it's done now.

 

[1AbominAble1]

It looks great, nice job !

I have my Father's K-Bar that he carried in Vietnam Nam. He let it get pretty rusty so a buddy blasted it clean at his shop and I cold blued it. It'll live to see many more decades of service now and hopefully my boys will enjoy it when they're old enough.
I was interested in refinishing the handle and seeing your post has brought it back up to the top of my to do list.

I can understand people wanting to leave them as they are but with Dad gone now he can't tell the stories to my boys and I want to preserve it in his memory. Keeping it serviceable so that they may take it into the woods one day is also a hope that I would like to see come true.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Ruari]

Thanks 1Abominable1, I guess it depends from person to person. This is my work knife, so refurbing it to a working standard makes sense to me in the longterm. I'm glad I did it and it only took a morning's work to bring it back.