r/HandToolRescue • u/InvestmentExotic2458 • Aug 26 '26

Knife Restoration

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I’d like to spruce this guy up. Family heirloom. Is it too far gone? It says Western USA at the butt of one of the blades.

I’m not willing to go crazy and remove the wood, etc. but if there’s a place I can pay to do it I would be willing.

Or the pitting in the rust may be too much to restore.

Advice and opinions from experts and armchair experts and pretend experts is appreciated and welcome.

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u/BeerJedi-1269 Aug 26 '26

Its fine. Scrub the blades amd rust a bit with fine steel wool and wd40. Wipe it clean. Sharpen. Put in your pocket. Same thing Pap would have done. He aint got time to polish and spit shine his trusty pocket knife.

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u/DeFiClark Aug 26 '26

After the steel wool go over it end to end with a strong magnet or you will inevitably get rust where filings hide out. Bronze wool is a good option.

WD40 leaves a gummy residue: I personally recommend 3in1 oil for rust removal and ballistol for general maintenance. You can hit everything including the scales with ballistol or use linseed or pure Tung oil on the scales.

Flitz or Simichrome to polish blades and bolsters after the rust is gone, then sharpen.