restoring

Gehazi

Gehazi

Joined
Jun 30, 2013
Messages
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does anyone here have experience with restoring vintage or antique weapons? or even just worn down HI blades? I was curious about whether or not its possible at all or not in most cases, especially since it seems there are loads of good blades with bad furniture? but would you basically need a full shop to do this sort of thing or is this "garage" doable?
 
John Moses Browning built the 1911 in a garage. Anything is doable in a garage if you know what needs to be done, don't give up, and are willing to keep trying till you get it right.

That being said I'm sure a knowing person with a full shop could make much shorter work of it.

What one man can do another can do. I try to console myself with that line sometimes when I look at others work, kami's, pugs, John Moses Browning.....................................
 
browning really yeah is a saint of engineering I would say , at least in my book, the best pistol ever made i think was his right?

and good point bawanna, its all about dedicating yourself to a project and research, if you are willing to put in the time, you can usually do what you want. Good advice for anyone in any endeavor!

I do dream of expanding my hobby into building a forge, but I feel like I am such a "admirer" that I am not really interested in the real work it takes, rather spending the money I make on other peoples hard work who have a real talent for it. because you know , sometimes you just dont have the talent for something lol, and the art in these blades takes a lifetime of work.
 
Also you can never beat a man at his own trade. I learned this everyday back in my construction days. I could hang drywall and tape it and get a decent job but I could never do it nearly as fast as a guy that did it every day. I could from close on the framing and millwork etc but still not as good as the guys that framed all day everyday and did nothing else.

Concrete, electrical, all of it.

You do something long enough your bound to get good at it. I've got my fingers crossed really hard. I'm gonna get good at something one of these days. I'll keep ya posted.
 
fair point, I think by now I am good at sitting in an office and angsting over payroll and inventory
 
I have given quite a few HI kukris a spa treatment over the years and thats usually all they need. You could do just about anything with a soild set of home tools. Building your own forge is possible but it presents a whole new level of safety issues that must be addressed. It is totally doable if youre committed to the project.
 
It depends more on your skill level than your workshop. The kamis make knives from scratch using just hammers and tongs, plus simple grinding and polishing tools, all of which can be done in a garage except perhaps the charcoal fire. :)

Since it is easy to derust and polish a blade, the main issue here would be the handle. Assuming a wood handle, then it's your woodworking skills that determine what's possible, whether you're polishing, fixing or replacing a handle. You can find rehandling threads on this forum with a bit of searching. If you're not experienced with woodworking, this would be a great project on which to learn, starting with an inexpensive knife, of course. Usually, less is better. Cleanup is easier than polishing. Polishing is easier than repair. Repair is easier than replacement, unless the old handle is too far gone to fix.

If you have a piece with real historical or artistic value, the first question is how far do you want to take a restoration and do you have the ability to match the original. Many people have ruined antiques (not just knives) by trying to make them look new. When it comes to rehandling, the traditional khukuri handle is not easy to create from scratch. I've seen threads in which people rehandle a khukuri using a western style handle, whether because they like the shape or find it easier to make. Personally I don't care for that, but if it suits the owner that's all that counts.
 
I actually found some pretty cheap antique dha with good blades but chips in handles , was going to try to maybe restore them as a project, I mean they arent anything special other than being old, but everything still seems relatively solid on them. but as you say it may be better just to give the blade a polish and call them "all original" instead of chancing ruining a collectors item.
 
Rather than start a new thread I figure this is a good place to add on since I saw the words good blade with bad furniture.
Out of the goodness of his heart Gehazi provided that lovely Dhankuta (Bura, my first). It arrived yesterday. He even sent it dang the cost I want it there tomorrow and it nearly was. It's a beauty and not nearly the project I anticipated. Beautiful.
On the wall.


So what does this have to do with good blade bad furniture you ask. Well if you keep your pants on I'm getting there, don't rush me.

Along with the beautiful Bura he threw in a damascus AG Russell that belongs to his dad. (He affectionately refers to hims as "Old Man". I affectionately refer to him as Mr. Old Man since I don't know how big he is.
Anyhow the story goes a pet squirrel ate most of the handles off this nice folder. I goofed as usual and neglected to take any before pictures but suffice to say the old had to go, what was left of them.
I spent yesterday evening and most of today bonding, getting to know this lovely little knife and fitted it with you guessed it "New Furniture". It's really a cool little knife, I love it a lot but alas it's in a box ready to go back to Mr. Old Man. Hopefully he's pleased.

Photo evidence.







I used some stabilized box Elder Burl with red dye. Should hold up forever. Rather than repinning the slabs I shortened them a bit and left them buried under the surface so they don't show. Acraglased and pinned, should be near bomb proof.

Anyhow if my arms were long enough I'd probably pat myself on the back, ok I used my 18" AK and did so very carefully.

I'll deflate my swelled up head and nobody will be the wiser.

Kal should show up tomorrow to help guard the blade rack. A Bura living with bawanna, I'm pretty overwhelmed I have to admit.

I'm beholden once again.
 
Merci. I'm trying to impress with my multilingual skills. In case I screwed up. Thank you.
 
Ok, I've been put in my place. Not a clue, couldn't even sound it out, cept monsewer and trumpet and september. I think.

I'm sure it's nice.
 
much love bawanna, we all have tremendous respect and affection for you , sir, this is why you get gifts from all of us. and yes the old man could not be happier with the new scales, he was extremely impressed with the work as am I . I love this forum, I love the members, this place really makes my hobby into a true pleasure and stress reliever, not only dealing with spirited blades, but good natured people.

and technically we did a fair trade, you fixed my old man's pocket knife and you got a slightly used bura dhankuta -- allllll is well. and the scales could not be more beautiful man!
 
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I just returned from the post office. The little AG Russell is headed back to the land of country music and a box for Steely too.

We call that two birds with one stone around these parts.

Thanks for the kind words and I'm a very lucky guy to get to hang around with you folks.
 
Me thinks you and I are a lot alike. A little different. Does kind of roll off the tongue though when you ponder it. Green Donkey seventh trumpet cheese. This isn't something the average person would just pop off the cuff you know? Rather profound.
 
Thanks. Sometimes words just start to flow together in my head and then magic and stuff happens.
 
Bawanna and Gehazi,you two take the cake,nice too know there is some real people left on this planet.nice job on the handles and the payment in return..just wow..great bunch a people in here..
 
Feel the love bargs. We all share it. I mean not like we need to get a room or anything like that but caring ya know?
 
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