Stripping a usmc kabar

T

totallynotalex

Joined
Apr 14, 2009
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Has anyone done it? I'm interested in doing it to mine and was just wondering if anyone had any tips. Thanks in advance!
 
blazerman said:
Has anyone done it? I'm interested in doing it to mine and was just wondering if anyone had any tips. Thanks in advance!
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I have done it two ways, method one, use the shit outta it until most of it falls off from use, then sand the rest out of the fuller. This method takes about a year. :D

Method two- Lowe's sells some epoxy paint stripper called Jasco (pure evil in a can), tape up the quillions (cross guard) and handle with BLUE painters tape. Hang the knife upside down, and spray the blade liberally with the Jasco. Avoid the handle as much as possible. Wait 10-15 minutes, and the paint should be bubbled up and some might be falling off already. Don't breath any fumes or come into contact with with the Jasco or the paint, you will regret it.

Scrape off the loosened paint with a plastic/metal putty knife and wash in COLD WATER. After that, you should be good to go.

Here's what method one looks like, :D Don't let the broken part bother you, it had nothing to do with the paint, that had to do with the owner. :D

100_1353.jpg


Moose
 
"Aircraft paint stripper" - this is a gel sold at auto parts stores. Very similar to Jasco above, but non-spray.
 
I grabbed some zip strip last week in preparation for this lol without really thinking about it. Do you think if i poured it onto the blade, would that work? Btw moose that knife is beautiful!
 
I have used zip strip plenty of times. It has worked great for me. I would avoid skin contact as it starts to burn about 10 seconds after contact with skin. I left it on for about 20 minutes in each application (paint started to come off within minutes every-time I used it).
 
blazerman said:
I grabbed some zip strip last week in preparation for this lol without really thinking about it. Do you think if i poured it onto the blade, would that work? Btw moose that knife is beautiful!
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Thanks, that knife has a few stories behind it, as it spent quite a bit of time in the mountains, before it got moved to "the stove". It finished its service and life as a wood splitter, hanging next to my wood burning stove. Real funny, it broke the same day I got a brand new 1217 from Kabar. After it spent 3 seasons as a seasoned hardwood batonning knife. In the years before that, it was my primary woods knife. It took a beating, for about 6yrs. All the paint on it, except the fuller, came off during use. I sanded the fuller out. Even the swedge got cleaned off, as that's where my baton landed most of the time.

Tough ass knives, and lotsa history with those guys.

Post pics and let us know how your project turns out.

Moose
 
Remember that he used Jasco to remove the finish on that knife. I find that the citrus stuff will usually do the job but will probably take longer. If your interested in forming a patinated finish on the stripped blade see if your local hardware or paint store carries a rust treatment called Osopho you might try it on the cleaned metal. A little different result than NavalJelly although both products use phosphoric acid in their formulas.
Of course if you find one of the earliest current knives, 76-77 they will already be finished with a parkerized treatment.
 
blazerman said:
Has anyone done it? I'm interested in doing it to mine and was just wondering if anyone had any tips. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Garandimal and the Three Bares...

- Snowseal or wax coat the leather.
- mask the leather w/ tape.
- Citristrip® jell (brush/Q-tip)
- utility razor-blade.
- repeat if needed.
- brass brush for the cracks/crevices.
- hose off.
- Vinegar patina (finger applied) (5 min.)
- repeat for desired results



GR
 
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Citristrip always works for me and is a lot less obnoxious than others imo.
 
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