Patina or rust? Bringing back the mirror...

B

Buck268

Joined
Nov 5, 2006
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1,864
Well I this old imperial which I keep in my leather jacket all the time. Beautiful sharp knife, but it seems to be forming either a light patina or some light rust not sure which, but here are some pics.

Now, I don't have anything up here at school to use as a strop with compound to bring back the mirror polish (i typically will strop my knives on my ka-bar sheath's edge, but not with compound); though my 'neighbor' does have a little dremel with a polishing wheel. What would be best (and most likely in-stock at the local hardware store) to bring back the nice mirror polish on this blade? Would a regular metal polish do the trick? I don't really know whether its stainless of carbon steel for what its worth.

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Sorry for the blurriness, this is a great camera phone, but the macro or whateever for close-up pics isnt the best.
 
My old Imperial is made of carbon steel that isn't stainless. I would just let the blade develop a natural patina with lots of character. I attempted to keep mine shiny at first with lots of oil and polishing with a dremel and white rouge but it was an exercise in futility. I've since let the blade age naturally and the patina looks quite nice. If you really insist on keeping your blade polished, I've found that a felt wheel on a dremel and the white polishing compound available at home depot works well. I finish up with hand rubbed jeweler's rouge. Jeweler's rouge on your thumb and a little elbow grease should eliminate any marks left by the wheel. just be careful not to cut yourself.

About the pictures... If you get too close to your subject, some cameras will auto-focus on the background instead of the foreground.
 
Yeah, but with the nice white faux mother of pearl handles and shiny bolters, she looks great with nice shiny blades. This is kinda me 'gentleman folder' if you will. As for the patina'd imperials got two like that already ;)

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The knife of the topic is the nice purdy white one; top right.

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I'm going to have to look into the 'white' compound. Is there another name for it at all? Also whats jewler's rouge? :D
 
Use Flitz or Semichrome, or Mother's polish. Automotive/hardware stores.
Bill
 
So basically just your typical old metal polish then? Haven't really polished...anything... so I was unsure what would work.
 
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