WWII Ka-Bar knife left in the rain

[John Andrews]

Tom, I restored two WW2 knives brought back from the South Pacific. Both knives had wood pomels and the leather was almost gone. The blades were badly pitted and the two pommels were built on the knives different from each other. One was a pin, the other was a steel dog holding the pommel on. I managed to remove the pommels without damage. It's may take you some time to remove them without damage, just take the time to figure out how they are attatched. I removed the rust, left the pits, and cold blued the blades before I replaced the leather washer handles. Not bragging, but they turned out pretty good, with all the original parts back in place. The leather I used was veg tanned tooling leather, and wet and compressed them on a bolt and washers before I used them. After drying, I placed them on the tang in the same order they came off the bolt, etc.

 

[vormwald]

Just a couple of pics of the restored kabar and the newest member of my home. A 1980's Kabar recently acquired...

http://www.j4fteam.no-ip.org/knife/Then_Now2.jpg
http://www.j4fteam.no-ip.org/knife/Then_Now.jpg


These 2 Kabar knives will soon have an oak case once I complete the work on the newer knife to make it look like the older one.

Yes, I'm learning the art of metal polishing like my father before me.

Semper Fidelis,

Tom Vormwald

 

[vormwald]

Update to this discussion. I went back in service along with my 2 oldest Sons, US Marines and US Army. I could not go back into the US Marines as I was to old. I'm now in the US Air Force, Ohio Air National Guard I have 4 years till retirement. I'll never forget the Service Greg Covington had done for me and for my Fathers knife. My Son (Marine) carried my knife and my dogtag in the Battle for Ramadi (Ar Ramād&#299 in 2006. Some things have to go full circle...

 

[deltablade]

vormwald, I just came across this thread, and am fascinated by the story. yet your pics are now gone. any chance you could repost so I could see the before and after photos?

Update to this discussion. I went back in service along with my 2 oldest Sons, US Marines and US Army. I could not go back into the US Marines as I was to old. I'm now in the US Air Force, Ohio Air National Guard I have 4 years till retirement. I'll never forget the Service Greg Covington had done for me and for my Fathers knife. My Son (Marine) carried my knife and my dogtag in the Battle for Ramadi (Ar Ramād&#299 in 2006. Some things have to go full circle...

 

[rje58]

vormwald hasn't visited the forums in almost three years, according to his profile information. I would love to see the pictures, too. But it's not likely at this point.

vormwald, I just came across this thread, and am fascinated by the story. yet your pics are now gone. any chance you could repost so I could see the before and after photos?

 

[vormwald]

vormwald, I just came across this thread, and am fascinated by the story. yet your pics are now gone. any chance you could repost so I could see the before and after photos?

I will try and locate them both and repost now that I came home so many times over and retired. Sorry for not returning for so long.

 

[timos-]

I remember when this thread popped up in 2013. Looking forward to seeing this kabar

 

[vormwald]

I wish I could add the photo here but, no way to do so!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...99905721068.2115603.1361282798&type=3&theater