Antique Knife Restoration

[NoisyDante]

Hey guys, I am trying to get my Dad's old Nepalese kukri knife restored.  He was in the Peace Corp for 5 years back in the 70's and he said he had this thing strapped on him almost the entire time.  I'm thinking maybe there's someone who could get the metal shining again, maybe sand and stain the wood handle, polish the brass hilt, and get the leather scabbard looking better.  Anyone know of a good place for something like this?

[triangleforge]

A friend of mine owns a business that does just that sort of thing, Awesome Metal Restorations just outside of Washington, DC; http://awesomemetals.com/about.html

Tell Joe that one of his old kayaking buddies sent you. Actually, that doesn't narrow it down much - he's got a lot of kayaking pals, and we're all old. Tell him Brad in AZ sent ya.

[RAT900]

don't sterilize it, do you have a sense of its condition when it came back with your Dad?

sometimes the most important part of an artifact's history is the the nicks notches patina and character marks it earned in service to its owner

I have an old captain's chair hand-carved by some g-g-g grandfather in the 1840's restored by a specialist from Sotheby's that was teaching a class in NYC

he used the piece as his example for the students,

they spliced the broken pieces analyzed the finish and glue and replicated it and left the rest as it was including earlier repairs from decades ago

the chair is still beautiful and was spared ham-fisted renovation in favor of rehabilitation

[Popeye the Sailor]

1) Post pics
2) My brother is a knifemaker and could do it
3) I wouldn't make the beast with two backs with it-sharpen it and strap it to your hip. Fight crime.

[rgramjet]

A friend of mine owns a business that does just that sort of thing, Awesome Metal Restorations just outside of Washington, DC; http://awesomemetals.com/about.html
y
Tell Joe that one of his old kayaking buddies sent you. Actually, that doesn't narrow it down much - he's got a lot of kayaking pals, and we're all old. Tell him Brad in AZ sent ya.

He is less than 1/2 mile from my cabinet shop.  Good to know he is nearby.

[NoisyDante]

Here are some photos.  It's just been sitting in the garage for a couple decades, I think he'd be interested to see it brought back to what it may have looked like brand new.

[WarrenJ]

Put an edge on it, give it a bit of oil and strap it back on.  Its a personal weapon, using tool, not a decoration.  It wouldn't be happy all spiffed up and hanging on a wall - it would be far happier edged up, oiled, sitting someplace handy.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Put an edge on it, give it a bit of oil and strap it back on.  Its a personal weapon, using tool, not a decoration.  It wouldn't be happy all spiffed up and hanging on a wall - it would be far happier edged up, oiled, sitting someplace handy.

So this.

Right now it's like the ancient, archaic ducpainter. Well traveled, mostly worn but still useful enough to be respected.

Making it look new will just make it look like some sort of toy.

[DucNaked]

So this.

Right now it's like the ancient, archaic ducpainter. Well traveled, mostly worn but still useful enough to be respected.

Making it look new will just make it look like some sort of toy.

You win the Internet today!

[fastwin]

So this.

Right now it's like the ancient, archaic ducpainter. Well traveled, mostly worn but still useful enough to be respected.

Making it look new will just make it look like some sort of toy.

Post of the year!! But true words for sure. Clean it, sharpen it, oil the scabbard and put it to good use. It will thank you later.

Hopefully someone will do the same with me someday.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Post of the year!! But true words for sure. Clean it, sharpen it, oil the scabbard and put it to good use. It will thank you later.

Hopefully someone will do the same with me someday.

I have a deal with your wife to spread your ashes at a turkey farm.

[fastwin]

  Happy Thanksgiving! My favorite holiday.

[ducpainter]

So this.

Right now it's like the ancient, archaic ducpainter. Well traveled, mostly worn but still useful enough to be respected.

Making it look new will just make it look like some sort of toy.

I know this wasn't your intent...

but...

I actually feel pretty honored by this.

[rgramjet]

Um, where do I send the case of vodka so I can say stuff like that and not get my hand slapped!

[ducpainter]

Um, where do I send the case of vodka so I can say stuff like that and not get my hand slapped!

I rarely slap a hand for telling the truth...as long as it's done tastefully.

Luksusowa...