Help me clean this knife.
Seeks
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hey. Quite a while ago, I got a box of knives from my dad. Among them is this number:
It's a neat knife, but I think I'd prefer to have it cleaned. Is there anything special I should consider when I go about about cleaning it? It's looking kinda rough, and honestly, I'm not very knowledgeable on the cleaning of knives anyway.
It's a neat knife, but I think I'd prefer to have it cleaned. Is there anything special I should consider when I go about about cleaning it? It's looking kinda rough, and honestly, I'm not very knowledgeable on the cleaning of knives anyway.
Seeks on
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If thats the case get it dated.
This might help you. http://www.google.com/search?q=fairbairn+sykes+knife&hl=en&biw=1016&bih=563&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=dgWrTv-0EsGosQKFko2HDw&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQsAQ
http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/fs/p3/fs_knife_p3.htm
And that one at the top of the page looks almost exactly like mine. I can't find a number anywhere on the grip, but it is stamped 'ENGLAND' on the bottom of the crossguard, and it does have some other symbol on it as well.
Pics:
Alright, well I guess I shouldn't screw around with this too much, then. Thanks for the help, guys.
Really the worst thing people can do to old or antique items is try to "restore" them themselves. They often do more damage than good.
After cleaning the blade though you might want to consider taking it to either the Spyderco Sharpmaker or a Japanese Waterstone to sharpen it up if its lost its edge. Slow controlled, yet consistant strokes will get you a shaving edge on the Sharpmaker.
maybe that knife has tasted the blood of 4 men.....
I would say that means don't do anything at all, unless you're bringing it to someone trained to deal with antiques; like someone at a museum. This is assuming you want to keep it as-is, as a show piece and not use it.
So, enough repeating what everyone else in the thread has said.
That's an awesome looking knife. I unfortunately don't have anything else to add except that I'm fairly jealous.
Have a metalworker or antique dealer who deals with weapons have a look at it if you want some advice on what to do with it.
-Consult with an antique dealer/metalworker/historian. Make sure you're dealing with something that is, in fact, genuine. If it's fake, it doesn't really matter what you do with it, so make sure it's worth spending the money on it that being careful with something takes.
-If it's genuine, I'd see if it can be cleaned, professionally, without significantly diminishing the value of it. If what you have really is a piece of history, it's best to try to keep it in as good a condition as possible.
-Don't sell it unless you really just don't want it, and even then see if you have a friend or family member to whom you can gift it. Preferably store it somewhere, either in a closet or someplace similar. It may not have a lot of value now, but, and especially if it has potential as a family heirloom, if kept in good condition for the next half century or so, it could become very valuable, either financially or sentimentally.