'Box of Death' knives resurrected. round two

[PTRSAK]

I'm sure many of you saw my earlier thread "Breathing new life into 70 year old basket cases." http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,56107.0.html 

Well, today I received another "In need of Care Package"  With one commission repair job and a selection of varying aged but mostly vintage SAKs that all show the ravages of time and use, or in some cases time and ABuse.

Nothing is more of a challenge to me than dragging some of these old masterpieces of the cutler's art back from the brink. I certainly have many many hours of work ahead of me in this lot.

Mystery Box.




Overview





More detail pics of some of the contents to follow after I take stock and work out what can be saved and what might have to become donors.

[SAK Guy]

   

[PTRSAK]

Here's a nice little teaser pic...

[cali-SAK-attack]

 

[Corwyn]

Do I see horn and mother of pearl and a Tahara? 

[shibafu]

I'm sure many of you saw my earlier thread "Breathing new life into 70 year old basket cases." http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,56107.0.html 

Well, today I received another "In need of Care Package"  With one commission repair job and a selection of varying aged but mostly vintage SAKs that all show the ravages of time and use, or in some cases time and ABuse.

Nothing is more of a challenge to me than dragging some of these old masterpieces of the cutler's art back from the brink. I certainly have many many hours of work ahead of me in this lot.

You are doing God's work sir

[Poncho65]

Wow, what a fun box of stuff to get in the mail

[Chako]

I agree. I see some interesting items in that box. 

[cranked247]

Wow, what a box. 

[Sparky415]

 

What he said 

 

[PTRSAK]

Another teaser.
Most of these have damaged blades, there is also a snapped backspring and an awl with the last 5mm missing.

[ColoSwiss]

Lots of interesting goodies!   

[PTRSAK]

There's this old farmer's knife with a Sacking Needle. Bolsters are missing, blade is completely trashed.
First thing that comes to mind is cannibalizing this lockback and grafting the damascas blade in there.
Other options might be making a new blade or trying to find a suitable replacement. I think from looking at it that a 1908 blade would be close to fitting. have to wait until I get it apart to figure that out.

Cool old knife nevertheless.




This is a pic from SakWiki of a similar model

[Poncho65]

That is so awesome

Love this thread

[Aloha]

WOW and WOW. 

[pfrsantos]

BRING BACK THE LIKE BUTTON!!!!

 

[PTRSAK]

Thanks for all the great comments, I'll be having a ton of fun working on these old beauties and decided I had better share the before, progress and after pics with my fellow SAKaholics.

Stay tuned, there'll be some good stuff ahead.

[captain spaulding]

I'm drooling over here.   

[DaveK]

Another teaser.
Most of these have damaged blades, there is also a snapped backspring and an awl with the last 5mm missing.

(Image removed from quote.)

Two from my birth year there

[ddogu]

I bow down in respect... 

[Poncho65]

Thanks for all the great comments, I'll be having a ton of fun working on these old beauties and decided I had better share the before, progress and after pics with my fellow SAKaholics.

Stay tuned, there'll be some good stuff ahead.

Better than what we have already seen I can't wait buddy

[outtachaos]

much for that 1970 soldier? I am dying to have one...that is my birth year.

[PTRSAK]

much for that 1970 soldier? I am dying to have one...that is my birth year.

Unfortunately the blade on the 70 soldier is missing about 1/4 inch from the tip.
Here is a pic comparing it to the closest to a complete blade that I have with me (I'm not at home right now)



Small damage like the Wenger pictured can be "fixed" with a little reshaping of the blade and it will be hardly noticeable. But the Elsener Schwyz blade would nearly have to be turned into a round tip "butter knife" blade to reclaim it.
When I have had time to think about it and work out the best plan of attack I will post pic's of the final result.

[DaveK]

What are the '67s like PTRSAK?

[PTRSAK]

What are the '67s like PTRSAK?

Both the '67s have a minor amount broken from the tip of the blade. Probably only 1/8 inch. Little enough that it's possible to reshape the tip without it looking too off.
Also both of them have damage to the small screwdriver tip of the can opener. The only 93mm can openers I have in my spares are from newer knives and are not the old +PAT stamp model.
The scales on both knives are in nice condition especially seeing they are going on 50 years old.
Again, once I figure out the best plan of attack and do the best to maximize the quality of the restoration I will post some pix and see what people think.
 

[PTRSAK]

Looking at some of the other items in the goodie box, there are a trio of Victoria 84mm knives. All have problems, but with a little mix-and-match surgery there should be a nice outcome.
Horn scaled Climber Small anyone?  nah, that'll be a keeper.

[DaveK]

What are the '67s like PTRSAK?

Both the '67s have a minor amount broken from the tip of the blade. Probably only 1/8 inch. Little enough that it's possible to reshape the tip without it looking too off.
Also both of them have damage to the small screwdriver tip of the can opener. The only 93mm can openers I have in my spares are from newer knives and are not the old +PAT stamp model.
The scales on both knives are in nice condition especially seeing they are going on 50 years old.
Again, once I figure out the best plan of attack and do the best to maximize the quality of the restoration I will post some pix and see what people think.

Well, I might be interested when you've finished your assessment

[PTRSAK]

This gorgeous little Wenger was missing the tip of the main blade. I decided it was better to remove the minimum of material and be satisfied with a slightly rounded tip rather than sacrifice a little more blade for a sharp spear point. The small blade is good and has a sharp clip point for fine work. The only other minor issue with this one is that the corkscrew has almost no snap in the closed position. it appears the corner is worn off... that corkscrew must have done some work over the years 

[PTRSAK]

I've salvaged the awl from the broken bladed 55 ES m1951 and it will be making the move into its new home replacing the broken awl of this 62 Wengerinox.
Need to source some 3.5mm OD x 2.0mm ID material for the hollow rivet.
The only lathe I have access to is large, old, clunky and has an out of true chuck. I don't know if it's up to the job. I may need to innovate.

[PTRSAK]

This is the commission repair that some of the eagle eyed spotted in the original "box full" pix.
It has me scratching my head over how to get the best result. 
I'll be trying to come up with some way of retaining the MOP if at all possible, I have some oyster shells and will be experimenting with cutting a patch piece and also finely grinding some MOP from the shells and mixing with resin to make a MOP putty.

Next option is to cut the damaged areas back and make bolsters. Of course the ideal material for this would be nickel silver to match the liners but I don't have any. Spent a long time googling and the only thing I can find locally is wire for jewellery or full 1200mmx2400mm sheets.
From the USA, a $21 1/4 x 3/4 x 12" bar comes up with a $52 postage charge, That works out at over $AUS 100.00 to land a piece of bar here. 
Other metals that I do have on hand are Brass (probably too yellow), Stainless, Aluminium (English English spelling, before you "correct" me) and I may have some titanium that would be thick enough.
Other things that spring to mind are making scales and inlaying a section of MOP salvaged from the original scales or going straight to some suitably spectacular timber.