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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default Old time CARBON STEEL Pocket Knives, worn or just broken

    Hi Guys
    I am trying to work out how many broken or worn, traditional Old Timey folding pocket knives there are still around the place.

    Maybe you might have one in old junk drawer or an unused toolbox?

    I am teaching myself how to refurbish old folding pocket knives. It is more manual hand metalworking exercise with a bit of bone and wood working thrown in for good measure.

    The thing is that some crazy people like me, get the old beggared up ones and pull them to bits and clean them up, remove the rust, hand polish, remake the broken blades, remake the back springs ,liners and pins , or basically whatever is the non serviceable part/s and bring them back to almost new condition based of course, on what state the original folder was in.

    I am hoping to secure the old time traditional brands from Europe, the UK and and USA. The newer ones from the east are often not worth fixing but even there I have had some success but they don't have the history.

    You might say Grahame,why not look in the second hand or op shops. Second hand places regard anything old as vintage or antique and price accordingly. All the op shops up here won't handle them, I have asked. There are any any amount of other kitchen and fishing knives for sale there is some bias or fear that a pocket knife from them may be used to harm someone.

    I am still new at this but I am having trouble sourcing suitable candidates. The are some there on thief/bay but they are way over the top price wise. I been caught a few times. Hence I am doing a survey here as to what might be available at a reasonable cost?

    I have put ads in the local Gumtree but people ring me up with with modern junk eastern knives that don't fit the description.

    What will I do with the repaired knives?

    I shall put them in my collection of old traditional folders which feature wooden or bone scales, carbon steel blades and a good pull(open) and snap( the satisfying noise the blade makes when being closed). Also refurbished models make good swaps for others like me that may not be able to secure a particular brand and model,series knife for their own collections. Also it is part of my small effort to save the planet resources, so I can feel good and smug about myself.

    My fear is that potentially good folders are being consigned into the bin and along with them a good bit of history.

    Once I know that the above might not be the case, I shall put an ad in the wanted to buy forum.
    Thanks
    Grahame

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    586

    Default

    I might have an 'old timer' one with a snapped small blade, and a very well worn/sharpened large blade to pass on. Never been into traditional folders.
    ...Although I have toyed with the idea of making an assisted opening Buck 110 folder- quite simple from what I understand with a few basic tools.

    Folders are my thing.
    But I go for the ones with interesting locking mechanisms and fancy metallurgy. s35VN, Cr14MoV, AUS-8, CPM M4, VG-10. Slip joints, lock backs, compression locks, frame locks, liner locks.
    Pride of the fleet is a Chris Reeve Ti-Lock. Unlike many knife heads I use mine- I can hear the knife geeks cringing as I type this.
    Heavy use sees me reaching for an Emerson Roadhouse with the wave feature. Current carry is the trusty Spyderco paramilitary 3.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,437

    Default

    Hi Grahame,

    I've some penknives (English word) kicking about, when I lay my hands on them I will take some pictures. One that I do have, memory of, is about 1.5" inches long, a single blade, maybe 5/16" diameter with Ivory or bone sides. As far as I'm aware it was made in the late 19th or early 20th century by Wilkinson, Sheffield, UK. It originally belonged to my Great, great, grandmother. Last time I saw it my wife had it squat away in a jewellery box.

    You might say Grahame,why not look in the second hand or op shops. Second hand places regard anything old as vintage or antique and price accordingly. All the op shops up here won't handle them, I have asked. There are any any amount of other kitchen and fishing knives for sale there is some bias or fear that a pocket knife from them may be used to harm someone.
    One of the problems here is that the law requires you to be over 21 to purchase a knife of any kind and second hand shops don't want the hassle of checking ID's etc. So the net result is that there are no knifes of any kind to be obtained from that source.

    The local scrapyard handles a lot of kitchen utensils from hotels, restaurants and schools often containing knives, they are kept in a secure container until they are sent to the steel works for melting down.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    I have a eye witness that you are welcome to if I remember it needs at least one scale replaced and most likely a new blade (worn down on the point and does not close so the point is covered)
    I think I know where it is I will check when Sun comes up.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    I was incorrect it is a Richards, if you want it Pm you address

    PC150010.jpg PC150009.jpg

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,779

    Default

    This one was my Dads....

    Are they an ok brand?

    Simon



    Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by simonl View Post
    This one was my Dads....

    Are they an ok brand?

    Simon



    Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
    Hi Simon,
    The Shrade Old Timer was quite a good brand.Its a USA made model manufactured before 1996 when the brand was acquired and sent to China for manufacture. Yes, this model is quite an OK brand ,post 1996 Schrades are not valued by collectors as much as the pre 96 USA ones are. Out here they are hard to get.I am unable to read the model numbers in front of the T.

    As a keepsake to remember your dad by it easily cleaned with a little bit of effort. If you like I can send some info on cleaning it up and sharpening it. I am happy to do so.

    These numbers allow you to look it up. From a repairers point of view they are a PITA to re assemble as the liner, handle scale and end bolsters are one assembly and held together with swinden keys instead of the usual straight (drive in and peen) pins.

    I have a couple but would not use them very hard as its possible to bend out the swinden keys by levering or twisting. The carbon steel will take a superb edge and can be honed up so you could lop the corner off a A4 printer sheet.

    Grahame

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Commander_Keen View Post
    I might have an 'old timer' one with a snapped small blade, and a very well worn/sharpened large blade to pass on. Never been into traditional folders.
    ...Although I have toyed with the idea of making an assisted opening Buck 110 folder- quite simple from what I understand with a few basic tools.

    Folders are my thing.
    But I go for the ones with interesting locking mechanisms and fancy metallurgy. s35VN, Cr14MoV, AUS-8, CPM M4, VG-10. Slip joints, lock backs, compression locks, frame locks, liner locks.
    Pride of the fleet is a Chris Reeve Ti-Lock. Unlike many knife heads I use mine- I can hear the knife geeks cringing as I type this.
    Heavy use sees me reaching for an Emerson Roadhouse with the wave feature. Current carry is the trusty Spyderco paramilitary 3.
    Hi Commander _ Keen
    As far as most knifes are concerned- they were made to be used not as a decoration - I use them. The knife has to be comfortable in the pocket and honestly that is why many of the ones I have live in the cupboard. Chris Reeve is a big name, but I live on a budget and accept I will never own one.

    I do like the mechanism and the open frame design The downside of folders is that the blade well fills up with pocket lint and crap.
    This junk can be abrasive finds it way into the pivot area which wears the knife out prematurely if not maintained. The Chris Reeve knife ticks those boxes there of well thought design and well chosen material.

    I have a Boker-Matic 700 series. It opens by pivoting the scale on one side of the frame and to align a slot to allow a push knob to project the blade out the end of the bolster. I can see why they weren't popular as it takes 3 times as long to open it than a normal folder.
    Me being me had to have it as it was a knick knack and I had never seen or heard of one before.

    That OT knife can be assembled and modified . The swinden key hole can be soldered up and ordinary bolsters made and then pined in the normal way. I'll send a PM tomorrow as I need to get to bed.
    thanks
    Grahame

    Grahame

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    177

    Default

    Here are my two favourites.

    A nice little two blade by J. DIRLAM & SONS Solingen Germany and a three blade by REMINGTON U.S.A.

    Pic_0325_502.jpg

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Picko View Post
    Here are my two favourites.

    A nice little two blade by J. DIRLAM & SONS Solingen Germany and a three blade by REMINGTON U.S.A.

    Pic_0325_502.jpg
    Good solid old knives ,Pico.

    Items that one can get 40 or 50 years of use from, if looked after.

    On the left looks like plastic scales but the other could be cellulose scales.

    For non cellulose scale knives, a good clean up can be achieved by soaking in methylated spirits.
    Identify scales as not being cellulose or they will melt in the metho. Generally they are old advertising knives with pics and text on the scales or sometimes bright colors.

    Cellulose off gassing effects the steel parts causing them to corrode badly if stored together with your mint closet queens knives.
    I wrap any cellulose knives up individually, oil them and wrap them individually and store them in a oiled rag in a biscuit tin.
    For non cellulose scales just put some metho in a wide mouth plastic screw top jar and shake the bejesus out of it for a minute.

    Clean the blade wells out with a sharpened ice cream stick. Work the blades and rinse again and oil. When sharpening them wash the Black substance off. It is carbon and it can get in the pivot area and it acts like grinding paste. Lubricate with a light oil. I like mineral oil
    , you know it as baby oil.Cheap at the supermarket.I oil mine here in Rust City every 6 months.


    I lost a few good cellulose scales -like the Queens Coronation a UK. Sheffield blade as I did not know how to care for them.

    They will re scaled in timber.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,779

    Default

    Thanks for the info guys. My Dads Old Timer has been sitting in my drawer for several years. I do a lot of outdoors stuff, hiking camping etc. So it has inspired me to give it a cleanup and put it to use.

    Simon

    Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

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