Nearly destroyed Ka-Bar.

O

onuRRtas

Joined
Oct 20, 2018
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2
Hello gents.

I got my hands on a ka-bar knife. Loved the balance and stuff but it has rusts and stains all over it. I guess the finishing on it destroyed as well.

It needs sharpening too!

I want to restore it, but i have no idea.

What should i do ? Sanding ? Some acid ? Should it paint it afterwards ?

Thx for info =)

44416451_289496914994168_4027579949459177472_n.jpg
 
Ooh, that is so full of character:-)
The cheapest way is to stab the blade repetedly into sand.
Or have someone sand blast the blade lightly.
Or you could use some rust removing gel
Especially if the surface has pitted.
Then hand polish it to a sheen.
You could also soak it in vinegar for a forced patina.
Of couse either way, it would require some sharpening if
Its going to be any use as a functional blade.
Good luck with the restoration!
 
Well, since you don't indicate any sentimental value, try any and all restoration methods you think might work, finishing up with sharpening practice. :thumbsup: Nothing to lose, since it does not appear to be a rarity. :( A good knife to make mistakes on. ;)
 
That one don’t look that old with the serrations and all. Safe to do whatever you want. Have to mention though a buddy of mine found his granddaddy’s kbar abandoned in the garage when he was a kid. Well his grandad was one of the paratroopers dropped over France during the Normandy invasion. “Restoring” the thing was the worst thing he could do and he completely destroyed a precious and historical relic.
 
yes its not old but the way i see it its nearly dead :)

I soaked it into the WD40 spray today, tomorrow gonna grab some sand papers, i guess it'll take hours but imma get it into shape =)
 
i would skip sanding as no way will you ever level that surface and remove all pits, so why bother scratching it up?

WD means water displacing, and that is ALL it does...overnight or even weeklong soak the blade in kerosene or diesel fuel to loosen rust, and use a NON-SPARKING brass/bronze brush to get most crud out pits, lather/rinse/repeat until brushing exposes no new red/brown, showing any remaining residue is passivated...

Then you can decide if you want to keep it oiled, or degrease/paint it for less maint or whatever, and then sharpen it, and use it.....
 
From the looks of it, if I am right, it is a later model in stainless, maybe from the 90s. The hump on the back is what I noticed and the serrations too. Next generation fighter 1272 in Sandvik 12c27. They made it in a tango version too. Or based on the guard, the fighter 1271, that may be 1095 crovan. Sounds like a cool project.
 
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If it were me, I'd experiment a bit. I'd probably try my hand at sanding. Now I wouldn't expect to get it back to factory, but you could clean it up pretty well with just a couple grades of paper.

I've had pretty good luck using 3 n 1 oil or a rust removing oil as a sanding lubricant with 400-800 grit paper. Even a cheap sanding sponge works well for my needs.

I've also used an electrolysis apparatus (simple plans are on the net) to pull rust off of steel without harsh chemicals.

For sharpening, I'd use whatever method you prefer. I'd rough in an edge with a course stone or file depending on the edge, work toward a finer stone, use some ceramic rods and maybe finish on a leather strop.

The serrations...eh, do what you will. I have a couple of Ka Bar knives with the serrations, I usually just strop those to some sort toothy saw level of sharpness and call it a day. I'm not expecting fine cutting. It's what I use to plow my way through stuff and use the belly and tip for fine cuts.

YMMV, but good luck and have fun:)
 
onuRRtas said:
Hello gents.

I got my hands on a ka-bar knife. Loved the balance and stuff but it has rusts and stains all over it. I guess the finishing on it destroyed as well.

It needs sharpening too!

I want to restore it, but i have no idea.

What should i do ? Sanding ? Some acid ? Should it paint it afterwards ?

Thx for info =)

44416451_289496914994168_4027579949459177472_n.jpg
Click to expand...
Just scrub off what you can and leave the rest. Like someone else said, it gives the knife character.
 
My first "go to" option for cleaning up a knife is a fine to medium scotch brite pad (3M brand) . It is way more forgiving than sandpaper, particularly if you don't know exactly what you're doing.
I've been able to restore the factory/belt satin finishes and hand sanded satin finishes pretty easily. Not sure how it would do on a bead blasted or tumbled finish though.
 
deltablade said:
here is an example of restoration which may give you some ideas

Click to expand...
good job in the end, but cringed several times. Somebody get this guy a set of punches. And even tho the ka-bar sheath is a welt-less design, that's a big no-no for me; why go thru all that work and end up with a nasty cut in a moment of carelessness? Also, when doing a stack, sand and wipe the hair side for better adhesion.
 
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