restoration questions

C

coffeecup

Joined
Mar 13, 2006
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329
One of my current projects is accumulating enough recoverable scout knives that I can do a restoration workshop with the older members of one of the local Boy Scout Troops. Mostly, I'm picking up older carbon-steel knives, Ulster, Camillus, etc. Anyhow, a number of the knives are missing the lanyard ring. Does anyone have a source for these, or will I need to take equipment for minor cold-forging?

Secondly, I've picked up several advertising-type Barlow knives. Most of these were lightly used before being thrown in a drawer, and have some minor-to-heavy rust. None of the makers are particularly noteworthy, should I go ahead and clean these up as users or is there enough collector demand I should just swap 'em off for more scout knives?

Thanks!
 
Bails can easily be made from coat hanger wire. Cut it to length, and flatten the ends with a hammer, shape and drill them and install.
Bill
 
Thanks Bill! That's kinda what I had in mind: draw some wire through a draw plate just enough to harden it a bit, then the cut/flatten/draw/drill procedure you outlined. I just didn't want to go to the effort if someone sold them online for $.99/dozen! ;)
 
I haven't seen them available. No need for a drawplate though-all kinds of mild steel wire is available, as is brass rod and nickel silver rod. Heavy copper wire will work, too.
By the time you have bent it up, hammered the ends, and twisted enough to install it, the metal will be work-hardened sufficiently.
You can also use flat plate to cut bails out of. It may be easier to use. It all depends on how you want them to look.
Bill
 
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