Old Leather and steel

Codger_64

Codger_64

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Does anyone else besides me love these old leather handled hunting knives? I am constantly on the lookout for more patterns and variations. The leather washer technique is as old as the hills, and they are hard as heck to restore, so finding nice ones of a really old vintage is rewarding. Every cutler in America has made them in one pattern or another, and they are seen imported from Germany, Japan, Brazil, England to name just a few places. I concentrate on the Schrades, of course, including George Schrades which are not really the same company, but I claim him as counting since he was one of the founding brothers of Schrade Cutlery. I don't disown him just because he and his brothers got into a pizzin contest. Every mark of the Imperial Knife Associated brands made these style knives. And Henry Bael added something in the early sixties that is very recognizable, though most people won't get the joke, or connect it with him nowdays. Here are a few of the earlier leather handles, the Stagbrand #1 (George's knives), and Schrade Walden 141, 142.





Now show me yours?
Codger
 
Not a Schrade but shown with my 885UH for size comparison, a little Boker about 30 years old.

Luis

eu2dfb.jpg
 
I like those Bokers too. They are on my list of makers of this type. I wonder how hard leather handle refinishing would be? Just to clean, smooth, and relacquer one. Of course. the hand oils that give the leather it's dark color are a part of it's character. Is there a Boker model number on it? Circa 1975?
Thanks Don Luis!

Codger
 
No markings other than the deep etching on the blade, here's a black and white closeup, if I remember correctly it used to have a red enamel which has worn off.

Luis

eu38s1.jpg


Edited:

I've been trying to remember when did I actually buy this knife, it was probably between 1980 and 1985, though I am not sure, most of my knives (the old ones anyway) were bought between 1974 (first "real" job) and 1978 (got married), yet I think that when I got this one I was already married, but it was before the big earthquake of 85 :confused: .

Luis
 
Don Luis said:
No markings other than the deep etching on the blade, here's a black and white closeup, if I remember correctly it used to have a red enamel which has worn off.

Luis

eu38s1.jpg


Edited:

I've been trying to remember when did I actually buy this knife, it was probably between 1980 and 1985, though I am not sure, most of my knives (the old ones anyway) were bought between 1974 (first "real" job) and 1978 (got married), yet I think that when I got this one I was already married, but it was before the big earthquake of 85 :confused: .

Luis
Click to expand...

The Arbolito stamp on the blade would indicate final assembly from Boker's factory in Argentina. That's all I can contribute.
 
The Arbolito stamp on the blade would indicate final assembly from Boker's factory in Argentina...
Click to expand...
I think this one was fully made in Germany, I believe the plant in Argentina opened in 1983 but the arbolito name had been used long before that for the Latin American market, Boker had a branch in Mexico as early as 1865.

Here's a stamping from scissors that belonged to my wife's grandfather, a tailor who died in 1971, the 1988 is a model number not a year.

eura7m.jpg


Luis
 
Codger_64 said:
I like those Bokers too. They are on my list of makers of this type. I wonder how hard leather handle refinishing would be? Just to clean, smooth, and relacquer one. Of course. the hand oils that give the leather it's dark color are a part of it's character. Is there a Boker model number on it? Circa 1975?
Thanks Don Luis!

Codger
Click to expand...

Codger,
If you want to replace the leather washers you can order them pre-cut from Jantz Supply. They have a lot of knife making supplies & equipment.
WWW.knifemaking.com
I have an old 498 that my boys found buried in the mud years ago. The leather was rotted, so I made some rings out of some old leather I had. It is a very serviceable handle, just not pretty. I am ordering some rings from Jantz and intend to pretty-up the old knife. If they give me any info on how to finish them I will let you know. I agree with you though, over time the oils from your hands would give it a nice patina. That may be all that is necessary.
A couple years ago I bought a new Ka-Bar (I think it is called a "Little Fin" pattern. Very similar to the Case by the same name) to replace one I lost in the 70's. Though I have only had it for a couple years and not used it heavily, the leather is starting to darken very nicely just from the oils of my hands. I don't think it had any finish on the leather when I first got it.

Dale

PS- The leather rings Jantz has are oval, 1 1/2" X 1 1/4" X 1/8" thick. They are sold in a package of 8 rings for $1.99. Not too expensive at all.
 
Here's a couple somewhat dark pics of some FIXED blades I have. Note that quite a few are the leather washer variety. There are a few schrades, a western, a Kabar, and a Case among others...

Fixed1.jpg


Fixed2.jpg


Glenn
 
I can cut conchos as large as 1/38" usuable surface, or rectangles of any size, from scraps that I produce as a by product of my sheath work daily. I think you'll find my price better than any of th knife supply houses. We'll start at free and stay there. Postage is an additonal option, however, and it will be whatever it costs me.
To finish: Rough cut the washer (stacked) to general shape on the knife with a very sharp instrument ie. Exacto blade knife etc. Then sand to final shape making it as smooth as possible. Next comes the burnishing. Use regular (round can) saddle soap and water rub the handle until it is very damp. Then using a cloth (old sheet or similar) rub vigorusly until it starts to shine. This is bunishing. LET DRY !!! Apply a generous coating of NEATSFOOT oil and allow it to pentrate. Repeat this step a couple of times. Burnish some more with the cloth and allow a few hours for the oil to "level out". For clarification: Burnishing equals RUB THE HELL OUT OF IT>>>FAST AND HARD.
Then apply a product called Neat Lac. It can be had from Tandy Leather Co.. Since it is a laquer, you might be successful with regular laquer, but the drying time on Neat Lac is only about 10 minutes and I don't know about regular laquer. Probably a lot longer. Your finished handle should be quite a bit darker than when you started, but it will continue to darken a lot when exposed to sunlight, and continue to do so with use. For those of you who have my sheaths, this is the way I finish the edges on the sheaths.

Paul
 
Excellent infor Sheathmaker! And a generous offer too.

Some very nice knives there Glenn. I recognize most of the Schrades. I love that Peppermint. I wish I knew what years they were made. Mid to late sixties is just a guess. Sears sold them too. And the Baer Bear 141? I love those wierd things! The factory source said they were made just from '61-'65, but I personally think they were first made a few years earlier. Say, 1958 or 1959. I know the 141L pattern was made then. And can you believe Sears bought a pot load of them? Can you guess the model name of the bear head pommel 141L? Have you ever looked at the bear's head closeup? Here!


Codger
 
Thanks Paul,
Great info and a very generous offer!!!! Too bad I already ordered the leather washers from Jantz. :(
Well, I will know better next time.

Thank you for generously sharing your trade secrets on burnishing leather. :thumbup: Being a neophyte I really appreciate it!
 
Codger_64 said:
Excellent infor Sheathmaker! And a generous offer too.

Some very nice knives there Glenn. I recognize most of the Schrades. I love that Peppermint. I wish I knew what years they were made. Mid to late sixties is just a guess. Sears sold them too. And the Baer Bear 141? I love those wierd things! The factory source said they were made just from '61-'65, but I personally think they were first made a few years earlier. Say, 1958 or 1959. I know the 141L pattern was made then. And can you believe Sears bought a pot load of them? Can you guess the model name of the bear head pommel 141L? Have you ever looked at the bear's head closeup? Here!


Codger
Click to expand...

I never really thought that it looked alot like a bear.. :p

Hmmm.....how about "papa-bear"? Sorry, no imagination this morning. Thanks for the info...

Glenn
 
glennbad said:
I never really thought that it looked alot like a bear.. :p

Hmmm.....how about "papa-bear"? Sorry, no imagination this morning. Thanks for the info...

Glenn
Click to expand...
It is a well known fact that Albert Baer was a friend of Ted Williams, the sports figure and avid outdoorsman. It isn't a big stretch of the imagination to say that Albert knew and associated with the likes of Fred Bear as well.
Few people knew it but Bear had a wonderful sense of humor. He always laughed at a 1960 promotional photo of his mounted brown bear standing with a broken arrow in its teeth and both front paws around him. There he stood, a broken bow in one hand and a big knife in the other, with a wild-eyed openmouthed look on his face. It was fun for him and for others. "That's me," he said laughing, "the big bow hunter."
Click to expand...

If you notice on that figural pommel, the bear has a goofy expression? Well... the model name is "Tall Tale" !!



Codger
 
orvet said:
There is a Craftsman peppermint on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-CUSTOM-...571785190QQcategoryZ43322QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
It looks to be in pretty good shape.
Click to expand...
The Sears Craftsman just sold for $31.00. And I didn't have $32 to spend. By the way, that Sears number for the #147 was #9508, at least it was with that handle.

By the way, red and white was not the only color combo for the Walden synthetic disc handled knives. Here is a #148 with black, red and white.


Codger
 
sheathmaker said:
Apply a generous coating of NEATSFOOT oil and allow it to pentrate. Repeat this step a couple of times.
Click to expand...

Just like they told me with my first good baseball glove. Oil it once an hour for a day, then once a day for a week, then once a week for a year, then once a year forever. Still have that old 3rd Baseman's glove, still soft as butter.
 
sheathmaker said:
Apply a generous coating of NEATSFOOT oil and allow it to pentrate. Repeat this step a couple of times. Burnish some more with the cloth and allow a few hours for the oil to "level out". Paul
Click to expand...

I didn't know that Neatsfoot oil was still sold.I have an old gallon of it.My Dad used it on workhorse harness' back when I was a kid on the farm.Brings back the memories.
 
Neatsfoot oil is readily available. Leather Factory/Tandy, Weaver Leather, Seigel of California, and almost any other leathercraft wholesaler or retailer. Available in quarts, gallons and 55 gal drums.

Paul
 
though not totally leather,and not a schrade either, this is one of my favoite production FIXED blades. takes a razor edge, tang stamp is matador soligen germany. it's kind of unique, as usually they have a screw in the cap but this one is smooth and polished without a screw. it's in better shape than it looks, the light from the scanner make the smallest imperfications seem huge.
 
Codger_64 said:
Now show me yours?
Codger
Click to expand...

OK,Codger,here's one of mine.
It's an old Marbles hunting knife that my Dad bought in the 1920's.I'm pretty sure it's the Woodcraft design but it only measures 8" overall.Has the 1916 patent date. Did the Woodcraft come in different sizes?
He carried it every hunting season and now I do also.It's dressed and skun(PA redneck for skinned) over 70 Pennsylvania bucks.

marbleshan



marblesr2


The leather handle is still solid.I don't know what the proper care for these leather handles is -neatsfoot,lexol,or nothing. Hope you boys can tell me.
 
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