Vintage Kutmaster Pocket Knife

[Motorman55]

Any pocket knife collectors out there?

This knife has been sitting at the bottom of an old tool box that once belonged to my FIL. As you can see its been in a closed position all these years.

I would like some ideas on the best procedure to restore the blade and bring the wooden handles back to a nice presentation.

Blade is marked: Approved U.S.C.G. 1944-796, Kutmaster, Utica NY USA

Thanks in advance.

 

[lauver]

Motorman,

Just out of curiosity, what was your FIL's occupation?

My advise to you is dip that knife blade into Evapo-Rust for as long as it takes to remove the oxidation on the blade. Just so you know, Evapo-Rust will not damage the chrome.

 

[Stadger]

Judging by the age of that knife, it is probably carbon-steel and holds an edge far better than today's stainless toys. If that is pitting on the blade the only way to clean it up is to polish it down and get past the pitting. A buffer wheel starting with an aggressive dressing would be where I'd start. It's a nice knife but not priceless.

 

[bob from indiana]

I have a knife like that. They were on life jackets on ships. My Dad was on a merchant ship in WW2 and brought one back. I am not sure of the brand of mine. I have never seen another one until this post.

 

[safariknut]

You have a pretty collectible pocket knife there. My advice as far as restoring it is:
Use a # 2 lead pencil to remove any active rust.It will not remove pitting sadly.Most of the handles on those were a black composition material(an early plastic).Usually a light wiping with a rag soaked in mineral spirits will clean them up nicely.If it does have wood handles I would advise using the same procedure.To clean out the inside if needed use a Q-tip moistened with PB Blaster or some similar material.If the Q-tip won't fit use a Popsicle stick wrapped with a cotton cloth.You might need to use a bit of compressed air after doing this to dislodge anything remaining.I would not recommend using any abrasive to clean the blade as it will destroy any collector value it may have. The outside may be polished up a bit using Mother's Mag Wheel Polish rubbed on lightly and then with a dry cotton cloth.

 

[Motorman55]

Motorman,

Just out of curiosity, what was your FIL's occupation?

My advise to you is dip that knife blade into Evapo-Rust for as long as it takes to remove the oxidation on the blade. Just so you know, Evapo-Rust will not damage the chrome.

My FIL was a Army Cat mechanic during the Korean War, life long welder, steel fabricator and foreman in civilian life. A great guy who passed away a couple months ago.

 

[Motorman55]

Thanks all for the tips.

As far as I've been able to find out, this knife is a 1944 WWII War era USCG 'rope knife'. Where my FIL got it from I'm not sure. I do know that his brother was in the Navy during Korea. So maybe he got it from him at some point or it was just one of those items that you pick up along life's path.

I like the blade shape. Its still very sharp and I plan to go ahead and clean it up, re-sharpen the blade some and use it.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I like the shadowed contrast, I might try a high polich on the shiny part, and a light acid patina with ketchup on the dark part.

 

[safariknut]

The reason you don't find a lot of them around in good condition has to do with the way they are designed to be used. For cutting rope the rope was laid flat and the knife put to where it was to be cut and the spine of the knife struck with a hammer or whatever was available to use as a hammer. Many times the pivot rivet would break;rendering the knife useless.
When sharpening the blade you should draw the blade parallel to the stone similar to sharpening a chisel. Many people attempt to sharpen them like a regular pocket knife with the result that the point is rounded off and a curve induced in the cutting edge.
Here is a Camillus version I have in my collection.