Lobster knife restoration- complete!!

Ernie1980

Ernie1980

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Apr 19, 2012
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I picked up this rusted and beat up Sheffield lobster knife for $2 for the sole purpose of trying to restore it. Here is what it looked like when I started, the pearl covers were cracked and it was a mass of rust.


These are the parts broken down, I found the spring fasinating- the pen blade end is actually split!


I forgot to take a picture of the parts cleaned up, but I went with just rust and grime removal with a wire brush and left the patina intact on the blades and spring. I sanded the liners to 1200 grit but didn't go below the majority edge because I didn't want to make them any thinner.

Here it is together! It was kind of difficult to get lined up, but we got there after some harsh words were exchangd:D
I will start on the covers tomorrow- I am trying to decide between wood or a layered micarta. At the rate I work, it will probably be Christmas before I finally get it into my carry rotation!
 
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I worked a lot on the knife yesterday!
Here are all of the parts cleaned and ready to begin. I went with Cherry wood for the covers.

Right after this picture was taken, I glued the covers to the wrong side of the liners:mad: Fortunality I realized it before the glue fully set so I was able to save everything! It did teach me a valuable lesson in labeling:)

Here are the covers ready to go! I just got a drill press and used it for the first time making the holes, it worked soooo much better than trying to hold a drill steady.


And here it is pinned together! I had some pinning experience from making scales for straight razors, but this was more difficult because of how close together the pins are at the end.
The knife is currently on the porch after getting its initial coat of stain. I will do another coat tomorrow and then it will be finished!
It is definitely not perfect but the walk/talk and snap is good on all blades, which is what I was worried most about.
 
Glad you stuck with it. It looks good! I took a scout knife apart to recover and forgot to label as well! Yikes whatta pain. I'm tempted to simply start a single or two bladed knife to get the push going again. Snap and Walk and talk are my biggest concerns as well. Congrats on making it happen Sir!
 
You are brave to start with a scout knife, that must be tough to line up! I followed the advice of Glenbad and started with a two blade to one blade jack conversion, which wasn't too bad. No matter what I do next, labeling the parts will be first:)
 
Thanks for sharing your work on this lobster pattern, Ernie! :thumbup:
Looks like it turned out VERY satisfactorily! :cool:

- GT
 
Looks pretty good! Keep up the good work.
 
while thinking of a spiny lobster, the knife itself looks underwhelming. so why is it called that? as an aside, now i know how one spring can activate three blades.
 
The urethane and stain was finally dry today, so I sharpened the blades and dropped it into my pocket! I love the edge the vintage Sheffield blades will take:thumbup:
 
I'm impressed (and envious), Ernie! Superlative work! :thumbup::cool::thumbup:

- GT
 
Thanks everyone! To answer a question above, my guess it is a lobster knife because of the way the blades come out of the knife in a manner like a lobster's legs from its body??? I did a search and didn't find much on it! I enjoyed this project, I think I will give a scout knife a go next time:)
 
Ernie, That's how BRL describes it. The pattern dates back to 1820s and was invented by Jame's Crawshaw (Levine's Guide p257). Your knife has a classic spring design that is slit. Modern examples have two springs tabbed together (also from Levine's Guide). You picked a neat pattern to work on. Thanks for sharing your story. I hope you carry it and enjoy it!
 
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