Hunting Knife Restoration Tips Sought

[S.Workman]

Originally Posted by trenchwarfare

If the spacers, and ferules are out of alignment, the handle is probably loose from stag shrinkage. First, see if the pommel will unscrew with just hand pressure. If not, try wrapping in leather, or rubber and use a vice. Don't use too much force, if corroded, you might snap the tang off. If the pommel just turns around the nut, penetrating oil, and a spanner wrench is needed for the nut. Once you get the handle off, clean the blade with whatever method is needed. Really need some pictures to know how rusted the blades are. If not bad, oil, and steel wool will do the trick. Then, clean the handle components of crud, and re-assemble, using a drop of epoxy between them. Screw the pommel back on. It can be a little tricky, keeping them all aligned. They weren't made that way. Handle components were tightened down with the pommel, and final shaping was done after assemblage.

OK, so the end of the tang is threaded in there? I had thought it was peened over, but thats good news. Can you not see the amount of rust on the blades? The only one Im only concerned about is the etching on the one blade, its not too deep so I don't want to get too aggressive with the polishing.

[trenchwarfare]

You hadn't posted pictures when I replied. Must have been while I was typing. OOOO steel wool, and oil is all you need for the blades, It won't hurt the etching. The pommels look loose to me. There has been some sort of spanner wrench in the slots.

[S.Workman]

Originally Posted by trenchwarfare

You hadn't posted pictures when I replied. Must have been while I was typing. OOOO steel wool, and oil is all you need for the blades, It won't hurt the etching. The pommels look loose to me. There has been some sort of spanner wrench in the slots.

Yes, some kind of tool has gnarled the bejeezus out of the brass. I think I can dress it with a very fine file and then use automotive sand paper the polish it back up. I don't know how much time I will spend on them, but they are nice little knives. Its funny, normally I can find some kind of particular collectors website on any variety of knife, but not these. One thing is, Im given to understand that the "RJ Richter" is the importer, not the manufacturer.

[Rick]

Are the grips all loosey goosey ?

If everything is still tight then you might consider just shaping the spacers back to match the grip contours .

Here's an old Othello that has been cleaned up .

Moved to Miscellania .

[Chris Evans]

Hi,

Those knives bring back memories, I had some myself....

Their restoration is a job for a professional knife maker.

Cheers
Chris

[S.Workman]

Originally Posted by Rick

Are the grips all loosey goosey ?

If everything is still tight then you might consider just shaping the spacers back to match the grip contours .

Here's an old Othello that has been cleaned up .

Moved to Miscellania .

Not terribly loose, just not tight…loose enough that the spacers are all at different positions and can be pushed about with ease.

[Rick]

It looks like some of the spacers have been possibly replaced which is probably why the pommels and brass nuts look a bit marred, although I would bet these are no newer than mid 20th century .
Maybe the leather dried out at some point .

Chris, it would be nice if the value of these hunters was worth having a pro restore them; but here in the US I think professional restoration would be more a labor of love .
I like the patina they have; it would be a shame to remove that .

The example I posted was a trade incentive item from a shirt company .

As an observation; I think we are treading more on a modern blade forum's territory here .

[Chris Evans]

Originally Posted by Rick

... although I would bet these are no newer than mid 20th century .
Maybe the leather dried out at some point .

I bought mine in the 1950s.... Sigh....

Chris, it would be nice if the value of these hunters was worth having a pro restore them; but here in the US I think professional restoration would be more a labor of love .

Financially speaking, I do not think that they would be worth the money involved, but as a memento of yesteryear, well, that is a personal decision to make.

Cheers
Chris

[Shakethetrees]

You need a screwdriver that fits the brass pommel nut. Grind a "U"shaped groove in the center deep enough to fully engage the slots on either side of the tang and unscrew. When you grind this, make sure the screwdriver blade is kept cool or you'll lose the temper!

I would take note of the fiber, brass, horn, (or whatever), spacers and use some CA cement (superglue) to fix them into alignment. Do this away from the antler grip. Make sure alignment is perfect and let the glue wick in between the layers. Once it has set this can be handled like a single unit and glued to the antler.

After the blade has been cleaned and polished to whatever degree you prefer, stack everything back as before and screw the brass nut down snugly enough to where the pommel won't turn.

This type of restoration does not involve any real tricks or technique, just forethought and a bit of elbow grease. Work slower rather than faster and constantly check your progress.

Oh, and use hot wax on the whole piece...

Then,

You're done!