Patina or Rust?

[Soonerpop]

Nice job. They’ll love it.

[FireMan]

You really did a nice job on em! Look great. Like to see her look when you give em back.

[Mr. Bones]

Very Nicely Done, Sir...

[Jared49]

I say you done well, lad!!

[DavidNorcross]

I think they look great! Good job!

[Brian_M]

Okay. They're as done as they're gonna get.

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but they cleaned up fairly well.





A little bit of color came off the blades after the oiling, but not nearly as much as I expected. What is left behind looks pretty good (to me, anyway...).

I didn't attempt any handle repair on the bigger one. The more I looked at it, the more I think it is home made. There's some irregularities in the handle, blade, and rivets that make me think it wasn't a professional job. I didn't want to do anything to risk making it worse in case it is home made. It took a very sharp edge.

The smaller one looks a lot better now also. The mineral oil brought out a lot of color.

Thanks again for all the advice. It went a lot easier than I expected, and having all the suggestions before starting was a big confidence boost.

[Mr. Bones]

Always delighted to prevent folks from makin th same mistakes I done did, in my largely misspent youth lol (An Adulthood, btw)

Brian_M

[Mr. Bones]

Mineral oil is def what I use on th old knives I have in my possession...cuttin boards, as well...

[Brian_M]

Thanks to each for all the suggestions and ideas.

I have the first couple coats of mineral oil on. I’ll wipe them off in a while and put an edge...probably try to add a couple "after" pics when I’m done.

Again, thanks.

[Brian_M]

"Stuff’s only Original once" makes it easy to understand. Thanks

[Brian_M]

Thanks for these links. They turned into internet rabbit holes for me.

Also, the phrase that if it doesn’t flake off it’s good is a good summary for someone like me.

[smokenoob]

We’ll just call that rustina, smoke on!

[Mosca]

The larger one looks like it might be an Old Hick. Those are nice knives.

[Mr. Bones]

I have a plethora of Old knives, includin several my Gramma's but am, by no means, an Expert...

That bein said, I have funked many things up, when younger, by tryin to 'Restore' it... It's bad enough, when it's a thrift shop, or even ePay find...

When it comes to Family cutlery, th max I would do is give it a good sharpenin on yer E5, genereous application of suitable oil to th new edge, an let that patina shine on down fer Generations of yer family...

Stuff's only "Original", once...

[DavidNorcross]

That looks like patina. I use Old Hickory knives as my go too. You may have some rust in there but nothing that you cannot overcome. Clean them up, oil them and use them.