Question on Knives I found

S

skylarhagler

Joined
Dec 29, 2011
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30
I bought a tool box and found these two knives in it. I'm not much of a traditional guy so I don't really know anything about them. They are obviously in a little rough cosmetic shape but functionally they're both sound. Is either of them worth cleaning up and making a user out of?
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[/url]IMG_0592 by Skylar Hagler, on Flickr[/IMG]
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[/url]IMG_0593 by Skylar Hagler, on Flickr[/IMG]
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[/url]IMG_0596 by Skylar Hagler, on Flickr[/IMG]
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[/url]IMG_0597 by Skylar Hagler, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
Your photo's are tiny, but the top knife appears to be an older Buck 301 Stockman or 303 Cadet (made by Camillus out of stainless steel), either way an excellent pocketknife. The second photo appears to be an Old Cutler jack knife, which was made by Colonial in Providence RI - this was an upgrade over their usual cheaper line of purely functional shell-handled knives. Oil the joints, sharpen them if they need it, and use them - good working knives. OH
 
Sorry for the small pictures. I was trying to keep them from being huge and went too far. The buck is a 301. I've never heard of Old Cutler before. I'll post some updated pictures on here once I get tehm sleaned up a little. Any recommendations on what to use to sharpen them? I haven't sharpened much stainless steel other than the vg-10 on my delica and thats easier to sharpen than 1095. I have a Sharpmaker and red DMT folding pocket stone and am more than willing to get some new sharpening toys. Thanks for the help.
 
Camillus-era Buck 301s are great knives. I've never heard of the Old Cutler brand myself, so perhaps we will both be educated as others more knowledgeable post here, though Old Hunter covered the basics.

As far as sharpening the 301, you shouldn't need anything more than your Sharpmaker unless the bevel is way off. If you can sharpen VG-10 you can sharpen a Buck 301.
 
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Very lucky score! They appear to be in pretty good shape, I wonder why the former owner left them:confused:
 
Got the Buck cleaned up a little bit. Got all the rust/corrosion off the outside of the bolsters and liners, cleaned/oiled the pivots, started sharpening and found out that my sharpmaker stones are all clogged up. Got a DMT coarse diamond bench stone on the way and I guess I need to get some bar keepers friend. Still need to get some of the rust off the inside of the back springs and polish out the scratches that resulted from getting the rust off the bolsters. Looks and feels 10x better though. Thanks for all the help

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[/url]IMG_0607 by Skylar Hagler, on Flickr[/IMG]
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[/url]IMG_0606 by Skylar Hagler, on Flickr[/IMG]
IMG_0608 by Skylar Hagler, on Flickr
 
That's looking good. You might get some Mothers Mag Wheel polish at an auto parts store, it will polish up bolsters really nice. I like ceramic sticks for sharpening and touching up the edges on stainless blades (works on CV too). Look for a set by Steamboat that has both medium and course sticks. OH
 
I actually have some mother's at home already and planned to use it. It's what I use for compound on my strop. I'll look at those sticks. Thanks.
 
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