Robert Klaas Monolith knife, need advice

Jmora · **on:** December 08, 2010, 07:17:16 PM

new knife came in today, its one I've been wanting to get for a while, more well known in Germany than here, Robert Klaas Solingen Monolith. One of the relatively few knives still handmade in Solingen (not all their production, but some like this):

this is not just pron though, the poor knife seems to have been sitting in the box for a while (it was made 1997), there is a dull copper coloured rust stain on one side of the liners, and there is a bit of grit when opening the knife. What is the best way to get rid of the rust without scratching any other part of the knife? I also wanted to ask, what is the best way generally to clean these things, I'm used to SAKs, which I can just throw into sudsy dishwashing water, rinse dry and oil.

The other thing that may be apparent from the photo above, the liners don't completely meet the backlock on the back bolster. Would this be grounds for sending it back, or is that a flaw that is common to these knives? It annoys me a bit, but I don't know if I'm being fussy. My 1981 Puma knife (below) has a similar, though not quite as pronounced flaw.

Jmora · **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2010, 06:23:12 PM

I might take it to a jeweler tommorrow, they'll have an answer to the tarnish/rust thing. I have had a look at photos on the internet of these models, and none of them are entirely tight along the backlock, shame, but otherwise I really like the shape of this thing.

jekostas · **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2010, 07:22:20 PM

Honestly, it's tough to know what's the best way to clean it without knowing the type of wood and how it's finished on the knife... as for the rust, a little bit of a VERY mild abrasive such as jeweller's rouge and some kleenex might be your best bet.

Jmora · **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2010, 07:47:34 PM

thanks, I think whatever it is it has to be very gentle, and done very slowly. The wood is snake wood, the finish I don't know.

Jmora · **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2010, 03:17:30 AM

I spoke to the seller today actually, the blemishes are apparently just a copper 'bloom' that grows on the liners of these sort of german knives and can be polished off, she recommended 'puma paste'.

I have to be sure to keep the things as oiled as a supermodel, as they can rust on the inside. I'm used to SAKs, all they want is to be thrown into sudsy water every now and again.