Putting Kerambit into long term storage

T

tjchung

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Dec 23, 2005
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I scored the elk antler handled Kermabit on the 10/30 DOTD, and it'll probably arrive any day now. However, due to unforseen circumstances I need to put it away in storage for quite a while, perhaps up to a year.

What I'd like to know is if it is advisable to keep the Kerambit stored in its leather sheath, or if I should keep it out of the sheath while its in storage. I believe most people recommend keeping Khukri's in their wooden scabbards to prevent corrosion, but I really don't know if that applies to an all leather sheath like the Kerambit's.

Anybody have any suggestions?
 
I would like to know the true answer to this one too. I'd store it out, though, regardless of the veg vs chrome tanned question because leather absorbs and holds moisture. Ats just me though. Wha how I know anyway?
 
I'd take it out of the sheath and coat it with molly grease, and then seal it in a ziplock bag.

John
 
And give the Antler Handle a good coating of Mineral Oil to prevent cracking.

Wally
 
I will hold onto it for you..:)



What I do if I need to store things for a long time is to make a wooden scabbard for them, even if its a cheaply made one that looks poor, it will still protect it from moisture and dust (dust can attract moisture if left long enough). I would also coat the blade with a product called Renaissance Wax. You can pick up a can of it online fairly cheep, and it will last you forever. It's the same stuff that museums use, so it's been proven to work. I have used it on some of my swords that I didn't have time to make a scabbard before having to leave them for quite some time and I have never had a problem.
 
Last week I was cleaning out my closet and found my old LBV, kerambit still clipped to it. I haven't worn it in about a year.

The blade had a light tarnish, no rust or pitting. The leather was fine. Both were kept covered with a good coat of Ballistol while I was using them. I'm not recommending this but if it happens, don't worry too much about it.

You know that your collection has gotten too large when you forget that you have things. :rolleyes:
 
Store out of the sheath. Smother the blade and elk horn with Rennaisance wax, or if you can get it, beeswax polish from a honey farm and leave to dry. Give the scabbard a light coat too. Wrap in white tissue paper and then newspaper.

Beeswax prevents rust, the tissue paper pervents the blade being marked with the newspaper. The newspaper soaks up moisture overnight, but evaporates it during the day.

I lived in a 14th century water mill next to a stream, and 800 yards from the sea (it was damp!). I had a flintlock musket propped up against a 2 foot thick solid stone wall that always attracted a spot of rust in one place on the barrel. The only thing that stopped it was a light coat of beeswax polish.
 
Dave Rishar said:
You know that your collection has gotten too large when you forget that you have things. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Ain't that the truth!!


my 0.02


The chrome-tanned stuff is not as acidic as the veggie-tanned stuff. Should be ok to keep it in the sheath.

I would coat the whole thing in mineral oil and stick it in the sheath wet - let it drip down into the tip. That's where it's most likely to rust. Mineral oil is cheap insurance (as is WD-40) and will protect the antler as well.
 
I read somewhere that baby oil is just mineral oil with some fragrance put in. Is this right? Can I really treat my blades with something I've seen in massage parlors across Europe?

Dan, can you check your email? I sent you one about submitting an order online to have my AK Bowie rehandled. Idiot that I am, I can't seem to make heads or tails of your ordering webpage.
 
tjchung said:
I read somewhere that baby oil is just mineral oil with some fragrance put in. Is this right? Can I really treat my blades with something I've seen in massage parlors across Europe?
Click to expand...

yes, baby oil is mineral oil, cheaper and more pure than what you'd get in a hardware store, you can get it unscented if you prefer to not have your stuff smell like a babies bottom. i put a drop or two of pure clove oil in my unscented to add a bit of fragrance which is a bit more traditional, ylangylang and roses is another good choice for indonesian keris.
 
kronckew said:
yes, baby oil is mineral oil, cheaper and more pure than what you'd get in a hardware store, you can get it unscented if you prefer to not have your stuff smell like a babies bottom. i put a drop or two of pure clove oil in my unscented to add a bit of fragrance which is a bit more traditional, ylangylang and roses is another good choice for indonesian keris.
Click to expand...


sometimes the dollar store has plain old mineral oil, 2 bottles for 1. if not, you can score it at almost any grocery store pharmacy aisle or actual "drug store" chain, target, walfart, etc. it's really cheap stuff.

bladite
 
i got a bottle of pure mineral oil at walmart... just look around in the pharmacy area...

look for "Mineral oil Intestinal lubricant"

least thats what mine says on the bottle...
 
I don't suggest that you store any metal object for the long term sealed in plastic or the like. If you manage to get any moisture in that bag before you seal it, it will be there until you open the bag again, wreaking all kinds of mischief. As others have recommended, coat the blade with a good metal protectant, and wrap in tissue or newspaper.

Andy
 
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