Renewing Older Scales/Handles

A growing number of collectors customize their automatic knives by changing scales, bolsters, blades, doing fileworks, ... Wether you're a guru or just a wannabe knife modder, this is the place to discuss it!

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Chris51P
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Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by Chris51P »

I have a couple of older knives that I would like to renew the scales/handles on. These are not safe queens but rather ones that I carry and would like to refresh without damaging. Thanks for any suggestions.
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whippersnapper
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by whippersnapper »

What is the scale material? Wood, horn, stag, etc.
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Chris51P
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by Chris51P »

Composition, plastic, bakelite
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Bill DeShivs
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by Bill DeShivs »

Can you post pictures of the knives?
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
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Chris51P
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by Chris51P »

I think I did it correct. Let me know if they don't come through.
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Bill DeShivs
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by Bill DeShivs »

Not much you can do with the Klein electrician knife. Maybe put some Armor All on the handles.
The Ackermannchen could be polished out to shiny, but it needs to be done by a professional or you risk ruining the handles.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
rnchesnut
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by rnchesnut »

I have found applying a wax 2 to 3 coats can restore a shiny luster to dull scales. Butchers wax, Rennaisssence wax are good products. But I have heard of knife owners using basically any kind of wax, even car wax. Hope this helps. And you can use wax on all types of scales. I don't know of any drawbacks with wax and it can be removed if the results are not satisfactory. But I am not an expert.
button_man
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by button_man »

Bill, this is my only (marked) Latama.... as you can see, the horn scales are starting to flake apart.
What can I put on them to stop this? I gotta protect my $45 investment...! Thanks!
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Bill DeShivs
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by Bill DeShivs »

There is not much you can do for that back handle. If I have to save a handle like that, I wick as much black Magic Marker as I can into the cracks, and soak them down with several layers of super glue, then sand/polish them. This requires they be removed from the knife.

You can soak it down with WD 40 and it will look better for a while-but this precludes ever saving it as above.
The front handle could use a coat of paste wax to preserve it.

Were it mine, I would do a restoration on the entire knife and replace the rear scale. That rust needs to be removed from the blade before it goes deeper.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
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Jackalope
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by Jackalope »

What about black shoe polish? Never tried it. It just came to me while reading this post.
I just noticed the red rust on the blade. You may want to send it to Bill for a tune-up.
button_man
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by button_man »

Bill, does your schedule permit this restoration job? I know that rust has to be cleaned up.... and I would love to see this knife restored!
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Bill DeShivs
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by Bill DeShivs »

I can work on it mid-February.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
button_man
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by button_man »

Yay! Thanks Bill !! I wish that I could apply one of my favorite Donald Duck quotations in this situation: "Figure out what it's worth, mister, and send the bill to Scrooge McDuck!" However, unfortunately I lack an uncle with "three cubic acres" of cash in a giant Money Bin..... so anyhow, what now? Being new here, I dunno how the protocols work..... do I PM you, or will you message me, or do we meet at the saloon in Deadwood Gulch, or what? --and thanks again....! :D
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Bill DeShivs
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by Bill DeShivs »

You send me an email to mickeybeep@aol.com
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
button_man
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Re: Renewing Older Scales/Handles

Post by button_man »

Roger Wilco !
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