I've got a couple of buck fixed blades that have been stored for many years and it looks like there is some green dried build up on the brass pins/rivits going through the laminated wood handles. I cant tell if its a patina or a corrosive reaction from the wood contact. Is this normal? Is there a way to safely clean it off without harming the wood surface?
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Lack of maintenance - Is it corosion or patina?
- Thread starter Dasbear
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- Apr 12, 2009
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Green stuff on the brass means one thing: verdigris.
It's a corrosive reaction between the copper in the brass alloy, and acids in the leather of the sheath (I assume they were stored in the sheaths). It can be cleaned up, and should be done soon. I wouldn't worry too much about the wood handles. Chances are, the stuff on them is just from incidental contact with the stuff in the sheath. The greatest potential for damage is in the sheath itself. The green stuff will keep forming underneath the rivets, until it basically forces them out. Check the inside of the sheaths. I'm betting most of the green stuff is in there, on/around the rivets in the leather, OR around the spots where the brass pins on the knife were touching the leather.
You should be able to clean up the green stuff from the brass pins on the knife pretty easily. Any polishing paste will do it. I've also heard of people using vinegar to clean it off. Just make sure to thoroughly clean the knife afterwards, as the vinegar is acidic itself.
Avoid storing the knives in the sheaths. That's how the problem begins.
It's a corrosive reaction between the copper in the brass alloy, and acids in the leather of the sheath (I assume they were stored in the sheaths). It can be cleaned up, and should be done soon. I wouldn't worry too much about the wood handles. Chances are, the stuff on them is just from incidental contact with the stuff in the sheath. The greatest potential for damage is in the sheath itself. The green stuff will keep forming underneath the rivets, until it basically forces them out. Check the inside of the sheaths. I'm betting most of the green stuff is in there, on/around the rivets in the leather, OR around the spots where the brass pins on the knife were touching the leather.
You should be able to clean up the green stuff from the brass pins on the knife pretty easily. Any polishing paste will do it. I've also heard of people using vinegar to clean it off. Just make sure to thoroughly clean the knife afterwards, as the vinegar is acidic itself.
Avoid storing the knives in the sheaths. That's how the problem begins.
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These knives were not stored in the sheaths just in their disply box's with tissue between the sheath and knife and it's coming in from the edges against the wood/Buckarta handles. I didn't see any evidence of the knives ever being in the sheaths as the knives were never used, carried or other wise exposed to the elements other than time itself 20+ years. I suppose just being in a box with leather could be enough exposure to do it. I will look for some brass cleaning/polish agent today non abrasive of coarse.
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OK. That's a plus. With the corrosion just on the handles, I don't think you have too much to worry about. Unless there's some odd reaction between the wood & brass (I really doubt that), then cleaning them with the polish ought to take care of it. After that, just make sure to keep them clean & dry. If they're in a box with the sheath, you might put the sheath or knife in a zip-loc bag (or both in separate bags), so there's no chance of chemical interaction between the two (this is how I store my knives with leather sheaths).
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I have had this happen now I store my leather sheaths in a ziplock bag with some desiccant and that has pretty much stopped any reaction with the brass or nickle pins .Keeping them apart is the best bet .Like Obsessed said make sure to clean them of extra polish as they can have a negative reaction over time.
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