Old knife needs a spa

[Orv]

I need some advice with this knife. This knife was one of a few from my great uncle. It's a large Case knife that probably hasn't been touched in years.

There seems to be junk inside of it. I tried blowing it out with an air compressor, tried running soap and water, tried running a thin piece of plastic through it, and no success.

Can I soak this in soap and water without harming the wood scales?

Also I would like to put a lanyard through it, but I noticed the blades slightly go into the hole. We're these holes designed for a lanyard?

Last question, if this knife is valuable, would I harm the value of it if I decided to polish the bolsters? I want to make it an edc.

Maybe I should send it to a forum member and have it professionally done.

 

[eisman]

A couple minutes in an ultra sound wuld probably do the trick and shouldn't hurt the scales. If you know someone in the pawn or jewelry business they probably have one.

Otherwise hot soapy water is okay. It won't hurt the wood as long as you don't soak it for a long time. Let it dry out and then put a little almond oil on the scales after couple days and then follow that up a couple days later with some wax (Pledge is okay, beeswax is better). A little mineral oil on the joints and you'll be set.

 

[Alberta Ed]

Nice old knife. I used to have one like it. Use it and cherish the memories of your great uncle.

 

[mtangent]

I soaked a Boker in water for a couple of hours, & it started rusting.
That knife is in good condition, & whatever gunk is inside it isn't hurting it. If you soak the gunk, it fails to come out, but remains full of water, you then have a water problem.
I find brushing with soapy water is more effective than soaking in soapy water. If brushing with soapy water doesn't work, I move on to an oil based solvent like turpentine. Don't soak, just tip some in & brush. Repeat as needed.

Most things can be removed by either soapy water or turps.

 

[Bob6794]

Don't put the knife in an ultrasonic cleaner (I believe eisman called it an ultra sound, but as far as I know that's only medical. But an ultrasonic cleaner is what jewelry cleaners use.). It will probably do the same thing that it did to my opinel and start to remove the finish on it, and it swelled up the handles VERY quick, as in less than 30sec in there and it hard to open the dang thing. But if you choose to do so research it thoroughly before you put it in there as it sounds like it has sentimental value and an ultrasonic can and will damage or destroy certain things. (I hear it destroys pearls off hand, it messed up the wood finish on my opinel, I heard it will destroy tin foil completely though I haven't tried, and it's very bad for your health if you stick your hand or any part of your body in there while it's running. It's a powerful tool, I own a cheap one and use it all the time.)

I would use an old toothbrush or cheap paintbrush with some strong/thick bristles if that doesn't reach all the way down into the knife and use it with some soap and water, or preferred cleaning solution and just work on it. Though if it's some really stubborn gunk deep down in the knife you can always get something like a cheap wooden ruler or paint mixing stick and cut it down to size and use that to forcefully knock the gunk loose.

But your still stuck with the pivot at that point in which case I use something like 3 in 1 or whatever lube you have and I would apply a little bit more than you need and than work the pivot for a little while till it feels loose. Than I would wash it out while brushing it to try to get rid of all that gunk that just got knocked loose.

 

[ssgwhite]

I'd listen to Bob6794, and not run that in an ultrasonic cleaner. I don't think I would use any solvent or cleaner other than soap and water, or soak it either. Just scrape the gunk out as best you can and maybe wipe down the metal with something like mineral oil to protect it. Use another knife to scrape it out; maybe a butter knife or steak knife. You don't want those handles to swell, they might crack or separate from the knife.