Help with an older Solingen knife

[Lark Bunting]

My grandfather on my mother\'s side was an avid outdoorsman, fisherman, hunter, and ironically, he too was a mechanical engineer. Unfortunately he passed away at the age of 47 when my mother was pregnant with me. I find it funny that NOBODY else in my family hunted and that I only picked up this passion a year ago. He sounded like the perfect mentor.

I remember ogling this knife in my mother\'s display case when I was a kid. Well, last year she passed it on to me. It still had a very sharp edge but is pitted as you can see. It has a cracked piece missing in the handle and the blade is a bit loose.

I was wondering if I could touch it up and tighten the handle but I am afraid to really do anything with this knife.

It is a Solingen and has a marking of 446. I believe the sheath is original. Any thoughts on restoring this knife? I would love nothing more than to have it present when I skin my first big game animal.

 

[Lark Bunting]

The handle on mine looks just like this (image found on GIS)

 

[americanbwana]

What do you want this to look like when restored? That knife has a story, cleaning it up to much May erase history.

Maybe clean the sheath up with some saddle soap (test on a small section on the back first).

A little fine rubbing compound on the blade to shine it up.

Sharpen it up and use it on you first elk.

 

[Lark Bunting]

What do you want this to look like when restored? That knife has a story, cleaning it up to much May erase history.

Maybe clean the sheath up with some saddle soap (test on a small section on the back first).

A little fine rubbing compound on the blade to shine it up.

Sharpen it up and use it on you first elk.

How about the loose handle? Any idea of how that could be tightened?

I do not want the thing to look new, just cleaned up.

I wouldn\'t have a clue as to how many deer that thing has cleaned. Elk too. My grandmother tells me stories of him and I\'d guess it\'s a lot. I\'d love nothing more than to be able to use it...I just don\'t want the handle or blade to go missing inside of a big stinky animal.

 

[americanbwana]

What are you doing Sunday?

I can take look at it and you can buy me wings.

Besides that sleeping bag is still available. Same bat channel as last time?

AB

 

[Lark Bunting]

What are you doing Sunday?

I can take look at it and you can buy me wings.

Besides that sleeping bag is still available. Same bat channel as last time?

AB

Sunday might work! Let me check with SWMBO and I\'ll let you know. I know she\'s in class all day Saturday so I should earn a couple hours away on Sunday. I\'ll text you tonight.

Also, I think I figured out the handle: <!-- m --><a class=\"postlink\" href=\"http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/877142/\">http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showt ... id/877142/</a><!-- m -->

 

[Bob Frapples]

Look at it carefully when tightening it, it looks like the fist leather ring is 1/2 gone. Tightening will put a slight side load on it. The leather will be brittle and can and most likely will break.

I found an old pal 36 knife when we cleaned out my grandparents house. It had the almost identical stacked handle, but was black not pretty like that one. Just use caution.

 

[OldMan]

I like it the way it is.

 

[bowhunter]

I would replace the top broken ring to so you can tighten the handle squarely. I would then clean it a bit and enjoy. I am sure someone here can do that for ya. We have a lot of talent in many fields on this forum.

 

[bowhunter]

I bet there is probably even a knife maker among us.

 

[Lark Bunting]

I put some liquid wrench on the nut last night. I\'m hoping to have time this weekend to take the brass nut off (lol, my knife has brass nuts) and see about replacing that top ring.