Reviving an Old Timer, pt. 1

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poco

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Feb 20, 2010
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While I carry a large folder in my right front pocket from such makers as Emerson, Benchmade and Spyderco, for too many years to count, in my left pocket I've always had a Schrade 340 Old Timer. Last fall I lost my old companion when I loaned it to a co-worker who returned it by leaving it on top a pallet of freight. It wasn't until I got home that I realized my knife was missing but by then it was too late. My trusty Old Timer was on it's final journey in the back of a freight truck bound for who knows where.

I whined about my loss for about a week to anyone who would listen and then got on with life. About a month ago a friend came up to me at a club shoot and handed me an Old Timer he had purchased at a gun show for $8. Needless to say, I was overjoyed at his generosity. The newcomer was a little bit worn so I set out to spruce it up. Here's the knife as I received it.

OldTimer1-b.jpg


I used my Lansky to reprofile the main blade and then sanded the blades to a satin finish. When I got done they looked pretty good but I was worried they would rust easily, so, I went ahead and gave them three coats of cold blue. Here's what it looked like after the bluing was done. I could have applied additional coats but this renovation was already taking much more time than I anticipated. Any more patina would have to come from use. In this shot you can also see I filed off the Old Timer stamp and did a rough sketch of some engraving for the bolsters.

oldtimer3a-b.jpg


Continued in next post...
 
Here's the knife in the vise with one bolster done and the main lines on the second cut using a magnifying visor. Next step is to use the microscope to clean up initial cuts, shade the leaves and put in a bit of background.

Oldtimer4a-b.jpg


With the engraving done, I fired up the stove and boiled the knife for about ten minutes in some black dye.

oldtimer5a-b.jpg


The finished project in next post....
 
And here's the finished knife. It's not perfect but it will have to do for now. With over 7 hours in it, my efforts at renewing my new-to-me daily pocket carry was not unlike a feller putting a $400 saddle on a $5 horse. Still, there's not another like it in the world and that's got to count for something. :D


oldtimer6b-b.jpg
 
i love old timers and i like what you've done to that one -it looks unique & v cool.
cheers good post.
 
I had an Old Timer years ago and let a employee use it to skin some wire; he laid it down in the grass. When we got back to the HQ, I ask him for my knife and he could'nt remember where he put it...they are great knives.
 
Awesome.... I love the engraving , and that contraption you have on your vise , what is it ? Looks very useful for knife modding :) I did not know you could dye Derlin !? I have three or four Old Timer pocket knives in various configurations.


Excellent !


Tostig
 
That's IMPRESSIVE work, Poco! :eek:

I've recently been bitten by the Old Timer bug. Just picked up an 8OT and a 25OT. I'm going to save a copy of this thread for future reference, in the event I might get brave enough (one day) to try some of this myself.

Again, WELL DONE! :thumbup:
 
Very nice work. I bet the knife feels better from the spa treatment it received. Put a string on it (tied to your wrist) when you let someone else use it. Don't loose this puppy. Something about the Old Timers.
Again, Nice treatment to a Old Timer from a Old Timer.
 
Tostig said:
Awesome.... I love the engraving , and that contraption you have on your vise , what is it ? Looks very useful for knife modding :) I did not know you could dye Derlin !? I have three or four Old Timer pocket knives in various configurations.


Tostig
Click to expand...

Contraption is a jig for knife engraving, it's adjustable in two planes and adaptable to odd shapes. I didn't know you could dye it either but seemed like it was worth a try. Unfortunately, all I could round up was an old partial bottle that was a bit "clumpy." Next time we're in town I'm snagging a new supply and give it another go.
 
Very cool! My father has been carrying the same 340 around for the past twenty years. I always said if come across one I would pick it up. A few days ago I found a 330t in some pretty ruff shape in an antique store. Rust, pitting, etc. Some sandpaper and some wd40 and it looks and works like new. Just wish I was handy at engraving. Really trick.
 
That's a neat project. I really like the engraving, and the cold bluing is a nice touch.

I don't think I've ever seen anyone dye delrin before. Can you tell if it made the scales swell at all? I've been having thoughts about maybe trying to dye a Sodbuster orange...
 
Thanks for the nice comments everyone.

Kozak6: As far as I can tell, the scales did not swell and I boiled them quite a spell. I would say, give it a try. If the orange doesn't work out you can always redo them in black.
 
Wow,I'm impressed!I bought a new(rare now)USA made 340T a few months back.It pretty much rides in my left front pants pocket everyday.Too me it's just what I was looking for in a pocket knife.I commend you for the superb work you did on that 340T!!Jim
 
That looks really nice. I am quite jealous of the engraving, and especially your ability to do it. :D
 
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