Posted on 09/21/2013 2:48:13 PM PDT by jagusafr
In cleaning out my deceased brother in law's things, I found a Ka-Bar with USMC stamped on it in what looks like the original sheath, WWII era. It's in pretty good shape but needs restoring. Anything I need to know as I set about the task?
Why restore it? Restoration often decreases “value,” and in any case the value of this weapon may have nothing to do with outward prettiness, and everything to do with what it will mean to your great-grandson.
I wouldn’t restore it at all.
Don’t you watch Pawn Stars, Storage Wars, hardcore Pawn or any of the other staged “reality” sjows that deal with this kid of thing?
NEVER restore old weapons — it DESTROYS them!!
Don’t mess with it.
fwiw, I’d leave it original.
If it still works, then keep it like it is.
It’s a weapon - not a lamp.
This is what a lot of guys who collect stuff like this do.
Use regular old WD-40 on the exposed metal. Just use an old towel, not anything especially abrasive. You can put it on and let it soak for a while, then rub vigorously. You should get all the crud but none of the metal or parkerizing off this way. When your done with that put a little light oil on the blade (I like Remington aerosol gun oil, but any light oil will do). Unless the leather is really dry I’d leave it, if it is I’d use a little oil on it (and / or the sheath) too.
This is more a good cleaning than a restoration, which I agree is probably not something you need or want to do.
If you do want to go that route you’d need to strip the handle leather off, remove the finish, do a good sharpening, re-parkerize and then put a new leather wrap on it. You probably want to find a knife-smith to do that for you, if you need to go that route. (Say if the above doesn’t result in satisfactory results, or the blade is deeply pitted or rusted).
Consider me well and properly reprimanded! I’ll give it a great honing and put it to work.
Do not “Restore it”. A light coat of good quality gun oil on metal surfaces, and possibly a light dressing of mink oil on the leather.
The sample shown here is in exceptional shape. The blade has not been sharpened. This condition is hard to find because these fighting knives were produced as utility tools.
http://www.quanonline.com/military/military_reference/fighting_knives/usmc_kabar.html
I wouldn’t mess with it at all.
You can even find it at WallyWorld now; used to be a pretty specialized gun oil.
You need to know don’t do a thing to it. Consult with an expert it may be of more value as is.
If you can deal with the unusual aroma, it's good stuff.
“It’s a weapon - not a lamp”.
I remember seeing Antiques Roadshow where they had two Tiffany copper or brass candlesticks. The woman spent hours polishing them. Was she crestfallen to have the expert tell her she probably destroyed about $15K worth of their value.
I’d leave it. I had my dad’s knife from WWII (UDT 12) and it was a bit rusty and the snap on the sheath broken. Sent it to my nephew who is a copter pilot in the Marines. He loved it as is.
Break Free CLP and a piece of a terrycloth towel. Spray on the blade and let it sit for a few hours, then spray on cloth and rub the blade to get as much of the rust off as possible. Wipe off excess and let it sit overnight then put back in sheath. I do not know what can be done to the sheath to keep it from deteriorating without destroying the value.
OK - So don’t fix anything. Fine with me.
I like the “patina” look.
(That’s what I call my extra weight and greying hair. My Patina.)
Any dings or wear on an old Ka-bar are honorable scars. It should wear them with pride.
Put in a shadow box.
It is there if you ever need it.
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