Saturday afternoon project

xxwjtxx

xxwjtxx

Joined
Dec 13, 2013
Messages
2,394
I acquired this little beauty on the flea market earlier in the week. It had been well cared for, but was also well used for the past two years. After she arrived today, I spent an hour or so giving it her very own little spa treatment and after all was said and done, I have to say that I am quite amazed -- even my wife (who is not a knife person) was quite impressed! The knife still might need her maker's mark refreshed (old style, almost not visible) but other than that, I couldn't be happier.

Spa included: handle scales, blade / tang, and resharpening -- total time was about 75 min; results: epic!

Kephart (circa 2012): 5/32" 01, tapered tang, curly black locust over black g10 with a white pinstripe.

Original:
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Before:
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After:
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Very nice you opening for business? Andy may not mind you taking on spa treatments :)
 
Hah, I was debating writing a tutorial, but from a liability standpoint, I would need to write it carefully... I would also want Andy's opinion in that some of my methods (if done improperly) would damage the knife / void its warranty. I'll kick it around, but honestly, I probably will never send another FB back to the spa unless it is really hosed or needs the maker's mark updated -- this was a nice little confidence booster for my DIY craftiness!
 
WT

Looks like you've got yourself a classic there my friend. Nothing like a new lease on life to make your day. Nice contrast with the pants by Heber.
 
Nice job! Is the makers mark still a decent deep etch and lost the coloring or is it almost flush and gone?
 
Thanks for the kind words all -- that tutorial might be forthcoming! ;)

allen456 said:
Nice job! Is the makers mark still a decent deep etch and lost the coloring or is it almost flush and gone?
Click to expand...

Allen, the mark is from the pre-deep etch days, so it is electrochemically applied on the surface but simple abrasives could easily remove it. Currently the "AR" portion of the mark is not visible but everything else is pretty clear.
 
Try using a paint maker and go over the mark area. Let it dry and then use some hopps no9 and lightly removed the excess. Even with an original "mark", there still would be a small depression or etch from the process. Might work, might not. Could be worth a shot. I have done this color fill process a hundred times on firearms, granted the marks were deep.
 
What a beauty. I'll take it;)

Nice job on the resto. Hope I can get lucky some day soon and score something similar. Really itching for a nice kephart.
 
Paint marker sadly didn't work; the etch is superficial and not deep enough for the paint to sink in, so when I'm ready to part with her, I'll send her to Cummings for a new mark ;)
 
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xxwjtxx said:
Paint marker sadly didn't work; the etch is superficial and not deep enough for the paint to sink in, so when I'm ready to part with her, I'll send her to Cummings for a new mark ;)
Click to expand...

Sorry it didn't work, it was worth a shot. Very nice improvements. The before pics now show completely the spa treatment you did, nicely done!
 
I would have to disagree ONLY because the old one wears off. If it's a safe queen then yes but a user the way Andy wants them to be. It would be gone in no time! Just sayin'
 
Man, that is just gorgeous. Makes me re-think wanting a synthetic handle, as that is the exactl grind and tang type I want on my next Kephart.
 
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