Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
- Meridian_Mike
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Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
I got this knife (among some others) and it is in pretty bad shape.
There is 2 or 3 Camillus folders in the bunch but I figured I would start with the Boker. The scales have gassed and broken to pieces. The liners are steel so it looks like no brass in this knife. Here is a couple of befores.....
This poor knife was COVERED with crap. Looks like maybe old oil mixed in with the dirt and old scale material.
I had a busy weekend, so I didn't have a chance to do much. I did get it apart and fitted one scale. I chose Culpepper's Catalina Crimson for this rescue. I filed and sanded a piece of the scrap so I could see what it should look like when finished.
I like that red..... it shore does clean up purdy!
Mike
There is 2 or 3 Camillus folders in the bunch but I figured I would start with the Boker. The scales have gassed and broken to pieces. The liners are steel so it looks like no brass in this knife. Here is a couple of befores.....
This poor knife was COVERED with crap. Looks like maybe old oil mixed in with the dirt and old scale material.
I had a busy weekend, so I didn't have a chance to do much. I did get it apart and fitted one scale. I chose Culpepper's Catalina Crimson for this rescue. I filed and sanded a piece of the scrap so I could see what it should look like when finished.
I like that red..... it shore does clean up purdy!
Mike
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
- New_Windsor_NY
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Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Hurry! Save the Camillus knives!
Kid: "Wish we had time to bury them fellas."
Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales
Skip
Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales
Skip
- Meridian_Mike
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Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
LOL.... yep, I am throwing life preservers as fast as I can throw....New_Windsor_NY wrote:Hurry! Save the Camillus knives!
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Anything will be a save on that one, Mike!
Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Poor old knives.
I hope you can make them worth carrying again, Mike.
I hope you can make them worth carrying again, Mike.
Joe
- Meridian_Mike
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Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Well, I am going to give it the "old high school try".....LOL.glennbad wrote:Anything will be a save on that one, Mike!
So far, it has cleaned up pretty good. The gassing of the cell had destroyed the shield. It was so thin that it cracked badly while I was taking it out. SO, no shield on this old guy.
The blades evened out pretty well. Not a lot of blade loss after I got a good shape back to them.
SO..... Onward!
I sure hope so.... I think it will make a good 'un to tote.FRJ wrote:Poor old knives.
I hope you can make them worth carrying again, Mike.
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Old Boker USA knives have some of the best steel I've used. 1085 sharpens up easily, and is very tough. I currently tote a 3588 Serpentine Penknife, and even though the blades are very thin; it will handle large tasks like a big knife.Should really look at getting myself some more Boker USA users; at present I have only four.
Can't wait to see the finished result. Thankfully, unlike the similar one from the '70s my Granddad had, it didn't self-destruct. When I became knowledgeable about how dangerous celluloid can be, I became worried abut it in Granddad's collection--we opened the toolbox up, and as expected, the Boker had outgassed, destroying it; and another knife next to it. Several others ended up with rust, putting, and tarnished bolsters. At least I got a few Case, Schrade, and Camillus users out of the deal when I cleaned them all up.
Can't wait to see the finished result. Thankfully, unlike the similar one from the '70s my Granddad had, it didn't self-destruct. When I became knowledgeable about how dangerous celluloid can be, I became worried abut it in Granddad's collection--we opened the toolbox up, and as expected, the Boker had outgassed, destroying it; and another knife next to it. Several others ended up with rust, putting, and tarnished bolsters. At least I got a few Case, Schrade, and Camillus users out of the deal when I cleaned them all up.
- Meridian_Mike
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Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Yep, I really had no idea how dangerous that stuff was when I first started collecting knives. But, I have had a few lessons and the knives I have that have cell scales are NOW in a separate spot....... where they can't do harm unto others.cody6268 wrote:
...... When I became knowledgeable about how dangerous celluloid can be, I became worried abut it in Granddad's collection--we opened the toolbox up, and as expected, the Boker had outgassed, destroying it; and another knife next to it. Several others ended up with rust, putting, and tarnished bolsters. At least I got a few Case, Schrade, and Camillus users out of the deal when I cleaned them all up.
It's a shame sometimes to look at a real beauty that is still intact and just think that one day it will self destruct. What a shame!
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Mike, I thought Bokers were suppose to loose their shield. I that was an identifying characteristic of a Boker.Meridian_Mike wrote:Well, I am going to give it the "old high school try".....LOL.glennbad wrote:Anything will be a save on that one, Mike!
So far, it has cleaned up pretty good. The gassing of the cell had destroyed the shield. It was so thin that it cracked badly while I was taking it out. SO, no shield on this old guy.
The blades evened out pretty well. Not a lot of blade loss after I got a good shape back to them.
SO..... Onward!
I sure hope so.... I think it will make a good 'un to tote.FRJ wrote:Poor old knives.
I hope you can make them worth carrying again, Mike.
- Meridian_Mike
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Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
LOL.... you may be right. I have several that have lost their shield.doglegg wrote: Mike, I thought Bokers were suppose to loose their shield. I that was an identifying characteristic of a Boker.
Only problem with this one was, it was pinned on and the dog gone shield was HOLDING what was left of the scale on....LOL.
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
You've found some nice red bone...for the last couple. Can't wait to see this one finished!
Heretical Refurb / Mods of cheap old folders, since late 2018
- Meridian_Mike
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Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Part 2 of the Boker rescue.......
It was a HOT day Saturday so it was a good day to be in my shop.
I got the scales glued on earlier in the week, so they had over 24 hours to dry. I started filing one side and sanding some so I could see what the finished product would look like. Here is what the blades and springs looked like after a basic clean-up. I also had to re-shape all the blades. I worked on the blades for an hour or 2 before I decided I didn't need to take any more metal off.
This is getting close to re-assembly time. Well, no pics of getting the shape like I wanted. I had to continue to take off scale material to thin it out like it needed to be. SO..... boo-boo #1, I started with scale material that was to thick. That was among a few other things I didn't like....BUT, I am still learning. Here is the final pic of my latest restore attempt. Onward!
Mike
It was a HOT day Saturday so it was a good day to be in my shop.
I got the scales glued on earlier in the week, so they had over 24 hours to dry. I started filing one side and sanding some so I could see what the finished product would look like. Here is what the blades and springs looked like after a basic clean-up. I also had to re-shape all the blades. I worked on the blades for an hour or 2 before I decided I didn't need to take any more metal off.
This is getting close to re-assembly time. Well, no pics of getting the shape like I wanted. I had to continue to take off scale material to thin it out like it needed to be. SO..... boo-boo #1, I started with scale material that was to thick. That was among a few other things I didn't like....BUT, I am still learning. Here is the final pic of my latest restore attempt. Onward!
Mike
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
- Meridian_Mike
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Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Before and after......
Thanks for looking everyone!"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
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Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Meridian_Mike wrote:Before and after......
IMG_5130.JPG
IMG_5162.JPG
Thanks for looking everyone!
Very nice!!!
Life is too short to carry an ugly knife!!
Shawn
Shawn
Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Well done Mike. I'm particularly impressed with the reprofiling you did on the main blade. Excellent work all around.
Phil
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- Meridian_Mike
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Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Thanks Phil.... I was another learning experience and once again..... I learned a lot.philco wrote:Well done Mike. I'm particularly impressed with the reprofiling you did on the main blade. Excellent work all around.
Mike
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
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Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Congratulations. That is a thoroughly impressive restoration.
Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Very nice, Mike!!! She's got a whole new life ahead of her
Heretical Refurb / Mods of cheap old folders, since late 2018
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Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
That after shot shows a great looking Boker, ready for some EDC! Another one saved while having one foot in the grave.
"Sometimes even the blind chicken finds corn"
Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Quite the transformation, great job!
Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Good work Mike.
The reprofile and rescale looks nice.
The reprofile and rescale looks nice.
Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Nice! I like the before and after pictures. It doesn't look like the same knife.
If the thunder don't get you then the lightening will!
- Meridian_Mike
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Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Thanks everyone!
I am having fun fixing these old guys. If I can at least make one a carry knife, I am tickled! It don't have to be a show piece....LOL.
Mike
I am having fun fixing these old guys. If I can at least make one a carry knife, I am tickled! It don't have to be a show piece....LOL.
Mike
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
- Steve Warden
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Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Super job, Mike.
I like that one!!
I like that one!!
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Re: Here is a Boker I am trying to rescue
Mike you did good. Glad I got to see 1st to last in the process. Great job.