WW2 Navy Knife Restoration Question

thepapercut

thepapercut

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I was recently given my grandfathers knife from his Navy days in World War 2. From what I could tell online, this appears to be a Western model 46-6 version 2.

My question is what, if anything, I could do to the knife? Im familiar with Ren Wax etc, and would like to put an edge on the knife. Id have no problem letting it get some light use again. As you can see the sheath is pretty much shot, but it’s staying with the knife. I might find a replacement just to hold it better. Not throwing out the original of course. But as far as the handle and blade, is there anything I could do to put some life back into it? The stacked leather handle is very dark, would that benefit from anything to slow the shrinking and dryness? The hilt is wobbly from the leather shrinking I’d imagine.

Open to all thoughts and ideas. Just want to treat the knife well and keep it around so I can pass it down to my kids.

Anyone have more info on the knife itself? Thanks all.

https://imgur.com/a/HSlZB1U
 
Preserve, not "restore" to "like new".
Saddle Soap and leather conditioner for the handle.
Be aware the Government specifications did require the leather washers on the Ka-Bar and Navy Knife have an anti-fungal solution applied. (they still do on the Ka-Bar.) which turned the washers black.
As far as I know, using saddle soap won't remove that anti-fungal solution, making the handlle brown, but will help remove the dirt.

For the blade, just clean and neutralize any red rust (an oily rag or oily 0000 steel wool) and put an edge on. I wouldn't remove the patina.
 
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Oh I dunno
I am not 100% sold on the preserve not restore

That's his grandfather's knife

If the goal is to just preserve and pass on....well fishhunter is absolutely correct

But if the goal is to ..continue using granddad's knife well...getting it ready for a new lifetime, with all new patina and wear makes sense

But ..I reckon that will come down to papercuts intentions and his grandad's wishes

Ps
absolutely no disrespect intended fishhunter
Just something I am honestly wrestling with here concerning my old man's knives (both gifts from him and the few he had left that I inherited)
I asked him once what he wanted for me to do with the knives he gifted me..and laughed at me but never answered.
 
Rsmith_77 said:
Oh I dunno
I am not 100% sold on the preserve not restore

That's his grandfather's knife

If the goal is to just preserve and pass on....well fishhunter is absolutely correct

But if the goal is to ..continue using granddad's knife well...getting it ready for a new lifetime, with all new patina and wear makes sense

But ..I reckon that will come down to papercuts intentions and his grandad's wishes

Ps
absolutely no disrespect intended fishhunter
Just something I am honestly wrestling with here concerning my old man's knives (both gifts from him and the few he had left that I inherited)
I asked him once what he wanted for me to do with the knives he gifted me..and laughed at me but never answered.
Click to expand...
None taken. 😁👍
 
Thanks all. I knew we would get into a little debate about what’s best practices. I was expecting that and appreciate everyone’s input. Which is why I was excited to share this one with you all. Like we all agreed, I’m going to get the leather looking better as best I can. After that I’ll knock off some rust (not much to begin with) and then try to put an edge on it. I might pick up a replicate sheath, just to put less rips and wear on this one. I can safely stow the original away.

I think at the end of the day, my grandpa would be thrilled it’s still around and with someone who values it.

USS North Carolina for anyone wondering.
 
afishhunter said:
Preserve, not "restore" to "like new".


For the blade, just clean and neutralize any red rust (an oily rag or oily 0000 steel wool) and put an edge on. I wouldn't remove the patina.
Click to expand...

THIS!

At this point, we're talking about the great grandkids being the inheritors of this family artifact. It should not be used, should be preserved as a artifact of family and the service your grandfather did for his country. Why use an old artifact like this, with some risk that it gets broken, or lost, or more beat up, when there is other knives to use? Retire it to a place of honor in a shadow box, with some photo's of the man who carried it, and a 3X5 card with some notes on the man himself.
 
Not a big fan of oiling the leather unless it's dried out and cracking. You don't want it to get soft. I believe waxing the handle is a much better choice.

I'm going to tag Bill DeShivs Bill DeShivs because he is very knowledgeable and experienced at restoring older knives and might have better insight than most of us.
 
Lexol. My first thought when it comes to old leather. Mineral oil was my second thought. See if the leather absorbs anything. It might swell enough to tighten the guard. Then beeswax. Around here, SnoSeal is a ready source.

For the blade , I would remove dirt, treat red rust, and preserve patina.
 
Rsmith_77 said:
Oh I dunno
I am not 100% sold on the preserve not restore

That's his grandfather's knife

If the goal is to just preserve and pass on....well fishhunter is absolutely correct

But if the goal is to ..continue using granddad's knife well...getting it ready for a new lifetime, with all new patina and wear makes sense

But ..I reckon that will come down to papercuts intentions and his grandad's wishes

Ps
absolutely no disrespect intended fishhunter
Just something I am honestly wrestling with here concerning my old man's knives (both gifts from him and the few he had left that I inherited)
I asked him once what he wanted for me to do with the knives he gifted me..and laughed at me but never answered.
Click to expand...

His laugh was his answer :)
 
I recently inherited an old Sheffield 'bowie' ..it is my Dads from when he was in Scouts ....I moistened the leather with Dubbin/ Saddle soap....just a little bit ..its like shoe polish ...neutral in colour...I like the handle to be ever so slightly sticky...not dry..
The blade is still sharp..Knife is around 80yo...to polish it up ti new looking would remove too much of its life...and can never be put back....i vote for preserving .
 
If the pommel moves, I would peen the two tang pieces that are visible through it. Doing that is a difficult job without damaging the blade.
 
I have fixed handle rattle on old ww2 mk2 style knives by taking a cloth tape like athletic tape and wrapping 1 thread around, many times, under the guard then smoothing over with jb weld. You have a black plastic spacer there so it should work fine.

Photo taken outside in daylight, the light grey line between black spacer and guard is the jb weld filler over a “washer” that I essentially made out of wrapping tang with cloth tape
https://imgur.com/a/UUwTyDz
 
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