Restoration of Grandpa's hunting knife

Great story, CM. I'm sure your GrandDad is very pleased.

I love those old Cats! Recently I worked on one for a local lady. It was her Dad's, and she wanted it spruced up to pass on to her son, who's an outdoorsy type and finishing college this year. She said her Dad used it on every camping, fishing, hunting trip etc he went on when she was growing up and beyond. It's clearly been heavily used, but the guy knew how to take care it, too.
The knife itself was so solid all I did was touch up the edge a bit - I talked her into leaving the 50-60 years' worth of patina alone. We made a new sheath for it and boom, heirloom. (sorry for piggybacking on your thread bro, but it's also a Grampa's knife being passed on, so I wanted to share :) )

cat225Q.jpg
 
Last edited:
I think I can finally step back and say it's finished. Don't watch the vid if you around sensitive ears.
[video=youtube;_eRozlx6Hu0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eRozlx6Hu0[/video]
 
Well done, Matt. You have my condolences regarding your grandfather.

I have an old 225Q from an antique store here. The two holes are there for a thick U-shaped staple that re-enforces the Butt. I've got a document file around here with the Cattaraugus patent or copyright or bid drawings, whatever it was, that shows the construction details. I'll forward it to you when I find it.

I've seen many hard-used Kabars & Camillus Combat knives over the years with loose handles and loose butt caps, but out of seven or eight Cat 225Q's, I've never found a loose handle, guard, or butt cap.

You did a fantastic job on that one. :thumbup: :)

~Chris
 
Last edited:
I really like the finished product. Has a lot of character to it. Normally your stuff isnt my style, but this one I really like. Your skills have really been increasing over the last while. Keep it up.
 
I have been wearing this one for the last 2 days with no end in sight. Very fun build with minimum foul language coming from the garage. The look of the new profile looks kinda like the results of a Veitnam SOG having Black Velvet fueled one night stand with a knife that said she was a Randall.
 
Here is my grandmother making her best war face. She absolutely loved the restoration.

1071295_10201530820209911_1029285595_o.jpg
 
Well she scares me all to heck. I'm not gonna mess with that 'ol lady!!!:eek:
:D

Carl.
 
Last edited:
Great story and nice restoration.

Tell your grandmother: "You don't scare me! Work on it!" ;)

Hahaha. I thought roughly the same thing, but it seems a Marine quote in a thread about the resto of a 20th Armored Div knife might not be correct, so......

IMAGE_54FCCB58-D440-46E1-886C-778CF2E16BD2.PNG
 
Back
Top