Hi! Today, the restoration of a rusty Bowie knife. The condition is below average. I bought this item at a flea market. I liked the shape, the scabbard, the fittings, the details. Well, I'm starting to restore. And yes, the subject is mine, and therefore the restoration will be to my liking. Let's get started!
First, I disassembled the knife completely. The scabbard had a lot of unnecessary details, especially with the suspension. It's not clear why. And this is the first time I've seen such a structure on a scabbard. With difficulty, I pulled the blade out of its scabbard. It must have been damp for a long time and rusted inside, so it was difficult to take it out.
The scabbard was made very strangely. There was a metal plate, wood, which is not fixed together. An incomprehensible assembly. It was very strange. That is, what was the point of making everything so complicated + adding weight.
I threw out unnecessary parts (i.e. old wood and steel plate). I've set aside what I need. Likewise, I put aside the accessories of the scabbard for the next project, I kept the small brass details and the leather strap from the suspension.
I cleaned the brass fittings beforehand from old soldering and dirt using a sandblaster, and then using a burner. I cleaned Bowie's knife with a rust remover. To neutralize the acid effect, I used warm water and baking soda. Next, I cleaned the surface with sand, and began to sand the blade manually. From 80 to 600 grit.
The next step is the knife handle. I have adjusted the shape and holes of the handle. I also cleaned the guard with files and sandpapers.
I chose black hornbeam wood for the handle. This wood is hard and difficult to process, but it is durable and has a beautiful appearance and looks like a buffalo horn.
To give the desired curved shape inside the wood bar, I used a ~3 mm thick piece of steel. After shaping the desired shape inside the handle, I started assembling it. I initially used glue and temporary wooden pins. After processing the handle, I riveted everything with two pins through the washer, hiding it in the handle.
Next, I processed the handle, shaped it, soaked it well with wax for wood. For decoration, for the first time in my life, I'm cutting metal into wood a piece of copper, brass and bone. After finishing the handle, I moved on to the scabbard.
Based on the fact that this knife already weighs a lot, I decided to use thick leather for knife sheath. I did not make wooden ones, pasted over with heavy unnecessary fittings, but made a classic Bowie knife scabbard.
I stitched everything with a thick thread, riveted it with rivets. Next, I waxed the leather to be resistant to moisture. The suspension was made from the back of the scabbard and a strap was added to secure the handle. I soaked all the ends with wax and polished them well. And he covered it with a special protective ointment.
As usual, I tested this Bowie knife and I hope you enjoy this restoration. Please share this video, thanks! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
My shawmra's Cooking Recipe Video https://youtu.be/oTMWf-Gb1Xk
Sincerely, Alex. Thanks for attention!
Good luck and health to everyone! With best wishes, Alex!
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