Restoring the patina to my knife

[Exoddity]

Hello. I purchased a <amazon link removed> back in 2016 or so. Love the knife, it's brilliant. But it started developing some rust while kept inside its leather sheath, and so without doing much thinking, I just did what I've always done to remove rust, I gave it a white vinegar bath.

What I was ignorant of was that the vinegar/acid would remove the Bluing agent (which I wasn't aware worked that way, to be perfectly honest) and so now the rust is gone but the blade has lost a lot of its luster. Since i'm quite ignorant about how to care for this properly (evidently), I was wondering if anyone here could tell me the proper method for restoring the blade (and the handle could use some work too, i'm thinking linseed oil, but would rather get some feedback first)

Below are some photos I snapped of the blade after the vinegar bath. It's a lovely blade and I very much would like to get it back to looking great again.

Another quick question while I'm at it, although I love the knife for its aesthetics, I've always had an issue getting it to keep an edge. I'm not totally inexperienced at sharpening knives, but I feel like I might just be doing something wrong, or maybe the steel just isn't good enough to keep a razor sharp edge.

Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.


below are pictures of the blade currently.

https://p192.p3.n0.cdn.getcloudapp.com/items/eDuRjR8D/bd1be68c-7ee1-46fb-831c-a37aa07ee90d.jpeg?v=b33d1a313f5e0d84e7c76967e0532d2a

https://p192.p3.n0.cdn.getcloudapp.com/items/04uxAx2P/3c3d4fa8-cad5-4dcc-a556-db12c8cc7124.jpeg?v=b33d1a313f5e0d84e7c76967e0532d2a

https://p192.p3.n0.cdn.getcloudapp.com/items/wbubwb6X/78f9d546-0cc8-472d-8b3c-9bce0da4524c.jpeg?v=42c7c3c00f48fa93d4917ebd83c5e628

-matt

 

[eveled]

Just oil and rub with a rag. It will never be exactly the same. But it will build it character.

You need to remove the Amazon link. It’s not allowed here.

 

[Exoddity]

So adding a layer of bluing myself wouldn't help?

 

[OrangeBlueOrangeBlue]

So adding a layer of bluing myself wouldn't help?

Was the blade actually blued, or did it just fade the damascus etching?
Damascus is made by combining layers of different steel alloys, which react differently to an acid etch (usually ferric chloride). The less stain-resistant alloy ends up darker. The vinegar bath probably removed more than just the rust on the blade. Other than polishing the blade out and re-etching, I don't think you'll get it back to the original finish.

 

[shane45-1911]

The knife doesn't appear too bad in your pics. I would suggest simply de-greasing it well with isopropyl alcohol, then re-etching it with ferric chloride.

 

[ErikMB]

Another thought would be using very fine grit polish and a Dremmel.

I've used toothpaste and a soft rag a few times but not on fancy Damascus.

(Edit) I just found this thread. Maybe it can help you. https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/how-to-prevent-damascus-from-fading.1805491/

 

[herisson]

My suggestion would be, now that you have cleaned it, to give it a rub of neutral oil and use the heck out of it. Meat and acidic foods like onions, tomatos, potatoes will quickly generate a personal patina (wash and dry after use, of course, you want no rust). Over time, it will develop it's own and stable patina and it will be beautiful. Pretty sure the original surface finish was some cheap "cerakote" or quick "gun blueing" process. Don't mourn it.