Sad SAK Saturday

[UscgSal]

Above is not in bad shape just old like some of us!
I'm 70, found as a child in the attic, rhe knife not me. Def over 100 years old.
Pradel? France? Did they steal logos back then? Lol
Spartan tool set no scale tools.

[IMR4198]

Nice one Tony.  I like the colors a lot.  Looks like a Victorinox cross and shield and maybe something a little like Opinel's crown on the blade.  Maybe they borrowed a bunch of trademarks?  Best wishes.  G
 

[UscgSal]

  could be the Opinel mark?
Guess I'm not supposed to clean it up, correct?  Leave ancient as is 

[IMR4198]

   I am doing the plier based key chain thingie this month.  I plopped this Spartan down next to the Swiss+Tech 6 in 1 tool for some scale.  This was the stinky Spartan.  It doesn't stink anymore, and there is just the faintest hint of Vitalis smell remaining.  The aluminum liners in this Sad SAK are partially corroded, which makes a little gritty grating on opening.  Then if you use something like a folded paper towel to sponge away the scraped off residue, it restores the smooth function.  I never did get the blades completely straight, but they still cut just fine.  I sharpened the can opener just a little with a little slip of Arkansas stone.  Just enough to help it cut. 
Best wishes.  G
 
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[AzteCypher]

So, this one looked sadder when I first started cleaning it.  Previous owner had left the batteries in there for who knows how long.  Suffice to say that they leaked horribly and I tried to give it a baking soda wash with a brush.  You can still see the corrosion on the bulb.  I doubt the laser will work but I want to give it a try.  Need to finish cleaning it up.  Anyone know if I can find a replacement laser module?

[AzteCypher]

Success!!  It's not such a Sad SAK after all.

I was able to clean a lot of the corrosion off the laser module, by scrubbing it with a baking soda mix, brass bristle brush, and 400 grit sand paper.  The lens shows a bit of damage when you look at it up close but it doesn't seem to affect it past 2ft.  I'm pretty happy with the results.  Not too bad for a $40 investment on an unknown condition knife.

[IMR4198]

  Has to be a rare find.  Congrats on the restoration.  Best wishes.  G
 

[IMR4198]

    Had to do some repairs on two Vics this week.  Spartan and Tourist.  I finally got around to gluing on the scales of both. 
    I straightened the big blade on the Spartan and un-kinked the corkscrew a little.  The cross side scale was loose as could be.  I had previoiusly replaced the other scale, since the original was messed up from heat maybe?  Might have been soaked in some solvent.  The Tourist had both scales loose, and the cross-side scale was split.  Both SAKs are up to snuff now.  I had some Epoxy 330 on hand and used that.  I tried to be careful to not goop up the scale tool slots but clogged them up on both knives.  Used a thin spring steel probe to open them back up.  All good.  The Tourist toothpick is a little tight.  Not too bad. 
Best wishes.  G
 
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[psyjohn]

May I ask how you straightened the blade? I haven't had any success in my attempts.

[IMR4198]

   That mostly depends on how it is bent.  If it is twisted, or bent into an S-curve, there isn't much you can do with it.  The Spartan had a slight bend to one side.  I just pressed one end on a tabletop by hand and brought it back to straight.  There is some chance of breakage, so you have to be careful not to ruin a finger.
    I recently did a Wenger and it turned out okay.  Not perfect, but some better.  Also, another Spartan that had a tight S-bend.  Didn't help it much at all, but still got it back to usable.  I used a vise on that one. 
Best wishes.  G
 

[psyjohn]

Thanks, that is helpful.

[IMR4198]

   Happy Stinky Sad Sak Saturday.  Yes, this is stinky SAK number two.  You might remember how I tried to destinkify an EcoLine Spartan.  I went all out with the coffee treatment and did this one at the same time as the Spartan.  It is an old Wenger Commander.  Never had any scale tools and no place to put them.  Wenger cross is worn off.  Manicure tool instead of a small blade.  Someone tried to pry up nails with the big blade.  Not with the tip.  With the cutting edge midway down.  That stretches out the thin steel and really can't be fixed.  I have a couple of Wengers with this sort of damage.  I just sharpen them up and let them go.  If you use an aggressive cutting stone, you will end up with a gap in the blade.  Not good.  Got to go easy. 
    This one has had the Vitalis treatment as well.  Smells nice.  If I get around to carrying it some, that will fade.  I didn't use to favor the manicure tool instead of a small blade, but I have since changed my mind.  I prefer the little file now, actually. 
Best wishes.  G
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[IMR4198]

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 This one hasn't been posted to in a while.  Maybe I can get a decent photo of a badly bent blade on a Spartan in here.  Both blades are bent on this one along with the can opener.  I suspect that a previous owner was slightly bent as well.  Not an easy photo to take.  Blade tip is in an S curve.  I did straighten it a little but didn't want to break it off.  Best wishes.  G
 

[UscgSal]

It should be a crime to abuse a SAK!