Kaskara Stuck In Scabbard

Edster · 29th April 2013, 01:00 AM

Hi All,

I need some technical advise. I gave a kaskara to a friend some years ago. The blade is now stuck in the scabbard. It will not budge in spite of heavy tuggs. Should I apply a hairdryer heat to the scabbard or apply leather conditioner or another method to loosen it? The grip has silver and a bit of reptile hide, and I suspect that the blade may be significant. Need to get it back in shape.

Thanks for your help.
Edster

VANDOO · 29th April 2013, 07:26 PM

IT IS LIKELY THE BLADE HAS RUSTED IN THE SCABBARD, THIS IS COMMON AND WHY IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO LEAVE BLADES OUT OF LEATHER SCABBARDS WHEN IN STORAGE. IF THE SCABBARD IS NOT TOO OLD AND FRAGILE OR COVERED WITH SILVER YOU COULD TRY TAPPING UP AND DOWN THE BLADE ON BOTH SIDES WITH A WOODEN OR RUBBER HAMMER OR MAYBE EVEN A REGULAR HAMMER. THIS MAY BREAK UP THE RUST WHERE IT IS ATTACHED TO THE SCABBARD AND BLADE AND LOOSEN IT ENOUGH TO GET IT OUT. GOOD LUCK

Iain · 29th April 2013, 07:31 PM

That, or a syringe with oil, inserted carefully at regular intervals along the scabbard.

If it comes down to it, I would personally sacrifice the scabbard for the sake of the blade.

Edster · 29th April 2013, 11:04 PM

Vandoo, Iain,

Thanks for the approaches. I'll pass them on for application. I should have brought the sword home with me to provide proper therapy.

Ed

Rick · 30th April 2013, 02:31 AM

Leather Therapy; google it .
With long term heavy applications you might just save both scabbard and blade .

Mefidk · 30th April 2013, 04:09 PM

Ed - I sympathise with you. I have recently had a couple or three of kaskara arrive in this state.

Might I suggest that oil is your last resort (although I had to go there). The reason is that it will totally transform the colour of the scabbard. If it is rust then gentle tapping and working of the scabbard may loosen this. You have to be patient because any movement will start very small. Depending how old your scabbard is then the inside may be anything from wood to cardboard and this will affect how easy the process is, the softer the inner lining the more difficult it will be to brake it loose. Be careful of tugging down on the top part of the scabbard because if it moves and the sword is stuck in the bottom half does the scabbard will buckle in the middle.

If it does not work dry, then oiling with a syringe as Iain suggested is the next step, but the process then is the same.

If it's not rust then possibly someone has decided to protect the sword by coating it with grease before putting it in the scabbard - in this case the grease dries into the scabbard and forms a very effective glue as the scabbard dries. I have had two of these and both times I needed to soak the scabbard in oil to release the grease. Not all oil is good for this, use acid-free oil. I'm not sure about WD40 and leather. Its acid free but I don't trust it on leather.

Best of luck!

Edster · 30th April 2013, 10:51 PM

Thanks for the additional suggestions. Has anyone used the German military development, Ballistol, for the "oil" part? I've used it on leather as a conditioner and preservative as well as doing yeoman service as a metal lubricant. It just may be the answer to the proverbial maiden's prayer.

http://www.ballistol.com/

Mefidk · 1st May 2013, 05:38 AM

Sounds like it might be exactly what we are looking for - all purpose lubricant and protection for the antique gun and sword collector - never used it though. Thanks for the tip

Iain · 22nd May 2013, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edster

Thanks for the additional suggestions. Has anyone used the German military development, Ballistol, for the "oil" part? I've used it on leather as a conditioner and preservative as well as doing yeoman service as a metal lubricant. It just may be the answer to the proverbial maiden's prayer.

http://www.ballistol.com/

I decided to follow up on this and have ordered some. It's supposedly a good rust remover as well. I'll report back on how it works.

Edster · 25th May 2013, 01:54 AM

Tapping on the scabbard with a mallet released the "frozen" blade. It was pretty rusty but now working on it with oil. Will coat blade with Renaissance Wax before its reinserted.

Thanks again for all the advice.

Ed

Iain · 25th May 2013, 09:01 AM

Glad to hear you had success. Personally I store all my blades outside the scabbards for just this reason.

Just got my order of Ballistol in yesterday and will try it out on a few things today.

29th April 2013, 01:00 AM	#1
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 408	Kaskara Stuck In Scabbard Hi All, I need some technical advise. I gave a kaskara to a friend some years ago. The blade is now stuck in the scabbard. It will not budge in spite of heavy tuggs. Should I apply a hairdryer heat to the scabbard or apply leather conditioner or another method to loosen it? The grip has silver and a bit of reptile hide, and I suspect that the blade may be significant. Need to get it back in shape. Thanks for your help. Edster

29th April 2013, 07:26 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	IT IS LIKELY THE BLADE HAS RUSTED IN THE SCABBARD, THIS IS COMMON AND WHY IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO LEAVE BLADES OUT OF LEATHER SCABBARDS WHEN IN STORAGE. IF THE SCABBARD IS NOT TOO OLD AND FRAGILE OR COVERED WITH SILVER YOU COULD TRY TAPPING UP AND DOWN THE BLADE ON BOTH SIDES WITH A WOODEN OR RUBBER HAMMER OR MAYBE EVEN A REGULAR HAMMER. THIS MAY BREAK UP THE RUST WHERE IT IS ATTACHED TO THE SCABBARD AND BLADE AND LOOSEN IT ENOUGH TO GET IT OUT. GOOD LUCK

29th April 2013, 07:31 PM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	That, or a syringe with oil, inserted carefully at regular intervals along the scabbard. If it comes down to it, I would personally sacrifice the scabbard for the sake of the blade.

29th April 2013, 11:04 PM	#4
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 408	Vandoo, Iain, Thanks for the approaches. I'll pass them on for application. I should have brought the sword home with me to provide proper therapy. Ed

30th April 2013, 02:31 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,291	Leather Therapy; google it . With long term heavy applications you might just save both scabbard and blade .

30th April 2013, 04:09 PM	#6
Mefidk Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 157	Ed - I sympathise with you. I have recently had a couple or three of kaskara arrive in this state. Might I suggest that oil is your last resort (although I had to go there). The reason is that it will totally transform the colour of the scabbard. If it is rust then gentle tapping and working of the scabbard may loosen this. You have to be patient because any movement will start very small. Depending how old your scabbard is then the inside may be anything from wood to cardboard and this will affect how easy the process is, the softer the inner lining the more difficult it will be to brake it loose. Be careful of tugging down on the top part of the scabbard because if it moves and the sword is stuck in the bottom half does the scabbard will buckle in the middle. If it does not work dry, then oiling with a syringe as Iain suggested is the next step, but the process then is the same. If it's not rust then possibly someone has decided to protect the sword by coating it with grease before putting it in the scabbard - in this case the grease dries into the scabbard and forms a very effective glue as the scabbard dries. I have had two of these and both times I needed to soak the scabbard in oil to release the grease. Not all oil is good for this, use acid-free oil. I'm not sure about WD40 and leather. Its acid free but I don't trust it on leather. Best of luck!

30th April 2013, 10:51 PM	#7
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 408	Thanks for the additional suggestions. Has anyone used the German military development, Ballistol, for the "oil" part? I've used it on leather as a conditioner and preservative as well as doing yeoman service as a metal lubricant. It just may be the answer to the proverbial maiden's prayer. http://www.ballistol.com/

1st May 2013, 05:38 AM	#8
Mefidk Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 157	Sounds like it might be exactly what we are looking for - all purpose lubricant and protection for the antique gun and sword collector - never used it though. Thanks for the tip

25th May 2013, 01:54 AM	#10
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 408	Tapping on the scabbard with a mallet released the "frozen" blade. It was pretty rusty but now working on it with oil. Will coat blade with Renaissance Wax before its reinserted. Thanks again for all the advice. Ed

25th May 2013, 09:01 AM	#11
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	Glad to hear you had success. Personally I store all my blades outside the scabbards for just this reason. Just got my order of Ballistol in yesterday and will try it out on a few things today.