So, Old and New, Really?

tomthebaker

tomthebaker

Joined
Dec 9, 2005
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I was thinking, which is generally dangerous and always ill-advised, and I found myself in a paradoxical conundrum.

If there is older, darker snakeskin micarta plus newer, lighter snakeskin, then it couldn't possibly be a one-off non-duplicable material. So, perhaps the older snakeskin darkened with age or oil from handling?

If so, a light touch with fine grit sandpaper should revive the colors, right?

If it darkens from handling, should we tell people "please don't squeeze the snake?"

Would saying that get someone arrested?
 
Old, no longer in my greedy paws:



Old, as indicated by the rope-cut handle, but much lighter colors:





Newer Custom Shop job:





So, who wants to be the guinea hog and degrease (Simple Green, or similar) and scrub or lightly sand some dull snakeskin? All (both) of mine are brighter colors. Any takers?
 
My guess is oils from use or intentional darkening with mineral oil. I am purty sure I don't own anymore SS, so how's about oil one side of one of yours.
Some dish detergent and a fingernail brush should lighten it back up. If nothing else, worst case scenario you oil the other side and scrub it up to match.
DO IT!
 
Shoot it with CRC Lectra Clean. Now were talking remove the oils. Used on some canvas micarta and it just pulled all the oils out. Use it in the turbines all the time.

Personally I like the heavy oil look (darkened). The snake takes on it own character and like you said you will have different color variants which in itself is pretty cool as well.
 
I can't believe that I didn't think about oiling mine, instead of asking some other hog to clean his!
 
here is a well loved fbm with snake grip's. i stripped the coating and sand blasted the decarb off. while the grip's were off i washed them with dawn dish liquid. that and comet mixed into a paste will remove even the dirty thought's of 16 year old male. hope this kinda answer's your question about dirty micarta. also, i only used the dawn to clean these.

before cleaning.

DSCF1198.jpg

DSCF1200.jpg


wet and clean.

DSCF1201.jpg

DSCF1202.jpg


drying out some, these look cool.

DSCF1203.jpg

DSCF1204.jpg


dry and clean snake skin.

DSCF1205.jpg
 
Wow, that is a huge difference. Thanks for sharing Oge. I still like em both ways, but good to know you can clean em up if interested.
 
oge14 said:
here is a well loved fbm with snake grip's. i stripped the coating and sand blasted the decarb off. while the grip's were off i washed them with dawn dish liquid. that and comet mixed into a paste will remove even the dirty thought's of 16 year old male. hope this kinda answer's your question about dirty micarta. also, i only used the dawn to clean these.

before cleaning.

DSCF1198.jpg

DSCF1200.jpg


wet and clean.

DSCF1201.jpg

DSCF1202.jpg


drying out some, these look cool.

DSCF1203.jpg

DSCF1204.jpg


dry and clean snake skin.

DSCF1205.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks, Bro! You certainly put the "Old vs. new Snakeskin" rumors to bed!

What a durable, beautiful material!
 
There seemed to be a few blades - I wanna say SF handles - that seemed to be "cut" with more red than brown in them. It's a matter of layers, I know. (Ogres have layers, onions have layers and Snakeskin has layers. And cake. I love cake. Cake has layers!)

My old AD is a bit dim. GW-era is brighter. It also seems to be. . . rougher cut. The grooves in the AD are so smooth as to appear polished.

It's too bad they can't make more. I THINK I have a set of 1911 handles somewhere around here. I stole them many moons ago before someone realized how valuable Busse 1911 handles were.
 
tomthebaker said:
If there is older, darker snakeskin micarta plus newer, lighter snakeskin

If so, a light touch with fine grit sandpaper should revive the colors, right?
Click to expand...


Yes, they are different, there was an older pre-snakeskin and it was simply called "Camo". It was mostly put on early Customs and a bunch of Apprentice Knifes by accident when Jerry left them alone one afternoon and went to town, he came back to hear "Look what we found in the closet" It didn't go well from that point :)

I doubt if sanding it will help and it will probably damage the finish..If you would like too, I'll take it off your hands as that is my favorite Micarta finish. LMK
 
Dennis in MA said:
I THINK I have a set of 1911 handles somewhere around here. I stole them many moons ago before someone realized how valuable Busse 1911 handles were.
Click to expand...

Dennis, we need to talk, I've been wanting a pair of these for a very long time...
 
1whobuys said:
Yes, they are different, there was an older pre-snakeskin and it was simply called "Camo". It was mostly put on early Customs and a bunch of Apprentice Knifes by accident when Jerry left them alone one afternoon and went to town, he came back to hear "Look what we found in the closet" It didn't go well from that point :)

I doubt if sanding it will help and it will probably damage the finish..If you would like too, I'll take it off your hands as that is my favorite Micarta finish. LMK
Click to expand...

Thanks for the generous offer, 1whobuys,and the info. I will let you know as soon as i finish scrubbing these with 60-grit.:D
 
Cake is good for the soul. thank ya'll as well.

it is pretty and tough stuff. when sand blasting the fbm the first time. before removing the grip's. some of the overspray touched the snake grip's and brightened them right up. it removed some of the top layer of micarta.


1whobuys, it was also called nucarta as well? pre snake skin. the red/orange snake skin is cool, but the light/dark green cut's do it for me. there is a red/orange snake pbs that look's bad ass though.
 
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