All About Pocket Knives

I bought a Schrade 175 Draper Felt knife. The right scale, with the advertising text, was covered with a clear varnish of some kind that was crinkling and flaking off. It came off with light scraping with my fingernail . But I left the varnish over the text because I am afraid the text will come off if I try to remove the varnish. If you enlarge the photos, you can just see the slightly brown tinted varnish over the text.

If I can get all the old varnish off, I will consider applying a light clear coat over the text.

what is the safest way to remove the varnish without harming the text?

Thanks

Use basic painting techniques....

Clean it with wax and grease remover.
Lightly scuff it with scotch-brite.
Touch up the red as needed.
Spray clear coat.

But why? Just use it the way it is. I think it looks pretty good already.

Thanks!

I think it looks good too. I want to keep it looking good if I can. I wasn't clear about why I want to remove the varnish. It was coming off in big flakes so i suspect the varnish over the text will start to flake off as well, and I am concerned that when it does it will peel the red paint off with it. I really like the stylish red logo on the ivory scale.

AEM wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2026 1:28 am I really like the stylish red logo on the ivory scale.

The covers might be Delrin or some such thing.

A timely pocket carry might remove the varnish that is loose.

It looks like a friendly pocket carry.

Yes, the scales are a Delrin-like plastic. I meant ivory colored, not ivory the real thing. That would really be something!

I love the knife, especially the sheepsfoot blade and the color scheme. And the logo is classy.

Is the logo on the surface, or are the letters pressed in and then painted?

Stockman

Can't help you with your question, BUT great looking knife.

"Is the logo on the surface, or are the letters pressed in and then painted?"

The text is raised above the surface of the scale, raised pretty significantly at that. I can feel it through the varnish. I don[t know whetgher it is paint or some kind of applique'. The fact that it is raised makes me think that it would wear pretty fast with pocket carry. I think that may be why the varnish was applied.

I have several 175s, some have seen hard use. I have seen the advertising worn thin on some of the hard use knives, but in most cases I have not seen it completely worn off.
I would suggest a thin leather case to cover the knife if you're concerned about it being damaged by change or keys in your pocket.