How To: Cleaning up an old pocket knife 

When my dad died I found his old wolf pocket knife, thanks for showing me how to clean it

What a great video. My Dad (87) is a knife collector who has passed some of his knives on to me. Thanks for getting me started on cleaning up some of his knives. I know I'll appreciate them as much as he did.

Thanks for the tips. Two additional I’ve done is use an air compressor to spray some of the crud out, especially after using WD-40. Also, as a final touch put it in an ultra sonic jewelry cleaner.

Really enjoyed watching you bring that old knife back to life! It's great to think about how, once upon a time, that was someone's tool, and that tool still has use and character today, brought out with a little attention and care. Thanks for the great video.

Thank you. Someone handed me two older pocket knives last Friday. I cleaned one already and started to restore it. This is helpful as I continue to bring them back and sharpen them for use.

What he said... The best tutorial yet on how to clean and restore old knives

Thanks I've got my Dads pocket knife in a little rough shape. Now I know how to get it cleaned up.I carry it just because it was Dad's and I want to preserve it.

Nice to see a like minded individual who like to give things of yesteryear a second go round. I fear that our throw away society for the most part has lost any desire to preserve items which are still quite usable with just a little TLC.

Fabulous to see someone restore things rather than just buy new. Kudos to you and easy on the steel wool. Try scotch brite, less abrasive and wears away less metal but does the same thing. Rock on.

Thank you for this. I needed to restore my grandfathers pocket knife and there arent tutorials for it so thank you

Wow. That Kabar really turned out nice. I appreciate you showing how you cleaned it. I especially appreciate showing how you fixed the Blade by filing the kick. That's good info. Enjoy those old knives!

I have a Kutmaster pocket knife that my grandfather gave me back in the late 1940s. It's worn a lot of holes in my pockets through the years.

I restored cleaned a few old pocket knives but you tips will take my work to the next level. Thank You for the patience and video. Ken

Thanks for showing me how to clean a knife, I never would have known otherwise 😀

If the knife is a lost cause like that Kabar I dont care what someone does but when Ebay first came out, some of the big sellers destroyed 1000s of knives buffing out some of the oldest Case knives ever made, they no longer do this. Mineral oil is the best, of course ;) love videos like this

Wonderful video, Man! I’m working on restoring a couple of old pocket knives, one of which was my Grandpa’s and it’s nearly identical to the Implerial you show at the beginning. I agree with you that the key is to take your time to get it right. I find working with these older folders very therapeutic. Well done, Sir! 👊🏼💥🍺

Thanks.for the video.o learned a lot about cleaning old knives.

its so hard to find old knives in the uk, i love refurbing and giving an old knife a life again. great video sir.

Now I need to go buy some old knives to clean them using your methods. Thanks

I just watched this again to see the kick filing... Thanks so much Jeff, great job 👍

Man, you’re definitely an expert.. if I ever need one cleaned up I’ll send your way!!!!! Keep on brother

The best tutorial yet on how to clean and restore old knives

I carried pocket knives for my entire lifetime in 70 years old and still carry one today

Mean green is fantastic cleaner that is not hurting finishes on these old knives. I also use 0000 steel wool to knock off rust without losing the cool patina underneath.

thank you for educating me on cleaning knives , excellent video and explanation.

I like that Camillus camp knife -- certainly worth restoring. You did a wonderful job on that little Kabar.

Oh man, air compressor!!! I am so stealing that idea!

Great video. It's about time i clean my decade old knives. This video will help a lot. Thank you for posting this helpful video.

Three in one is fine as long as you do not suck the blade, have used it for years.👍

Jeff you're doing really good so far, i metal brushes on the backsprings to get debris n rust out of there, the ones i use are actually really fine, most ppl dont even know theres 3 different grades on them out there, you can get a pack of those, carbon fiber bristle brushes (same thing as the tooth brush, only lasts longer n just a bit tougher grit on it) and also a brass brush with as well for like 3.99, just look over in the paint section near the paint brushes and you'll find them. I also use Meguiars Plastx for the grips, and that stuff works the best. It will also clean and polish the bolsters as well as the shield for you. For the inside towards the liners and backsprings, i use steel wool as well, BUT i actually take a small portion of the steel wool n pull it off making into a small ball, just small then the size of a dime, then i take a pick n push it down in there n let it scrub off all the rust n clean up really good. Use rem oil next time, same thing as WD 40, but it cleans better n penetrates a lil deeper too

What are the odds I have the same knife as you there? Crazy coincidence

a toothbrush, DW-40, fine steel wool, and a container. IGHT THX MAN !!

Great video, the best I've found on how to restore old slip joints.

Great video. Nice to see a knife brought back to life again.

There are quite a few approaches possible. I try to do the restoration outside in the sunlight. All of the potential chemicals, tooth brush, rags, ice pick, ear cleaners are assembled. The first step I follow is to open up all the tools/blades if possible. This allows an inspection which may determine what gunk there is, the composition of it and areas which require special treatment. The gentlest approach is to dunk the unit in warm soapy water, rinse off and try to remove areas of gunk with rags/tooth picks/ ice picks during the drying process. Then, not knowing what germs may be about, a quick dunk in alcohol. WD40 is a water displacer. So, it can have a role. Typically, I don't have to use vinegar. It is used on large tool/axe/hatchet restoration. If there is actual rust on a knife, I try 0000 grit steel wool first. Then you can escalate to rougher grits or vinegar. The final lube can be a silicon based spray, 3 in 1 oil, vegetable oil. Make sure that your previously rusted areas are not left exposed bare to the air. A nice challenge is cleaning the area of a Swiss knife where the tooth pick and the tweezers may have been kept. Yep, now you understand the need for rubbing alcohol and thin enough tools to get inside the compartments to work on removing gunk. Part of the restoration process should include provision for keeping the knife protected after restoration. This means a dedicated and possibly inexpensive sheath/placement in a nearly air tight baggie (I prefer ziplock closure) and periodic inspection.

Great job! Beautiful little Ka-bar!

Pipe cleaners are great for getting crud out of the joints and the blade well.

This helped so much everything in here is super helpful I recently got a knife that was in super bad condition so this helped a ton!

Good technique and the nice results. I also like to use bamboo skewers, Nev-R-Dull, and paste polishes of different grits. And there are also several good alternatives to DW. The mineral oil also works well on stag. There's just something about 'old bones' that call for some labor, even if the blades are worn down. Sweet old Kabar.

I really enjoyed watching you work, excellent video. I found that turning my grinder around 180*, with the wheel spinning away from me, I have better control while grinding, buffing, and sharpening the knife. Liked and subbed!

Great job!! Very informative !! THANKS !!

Excellent, thank you.

I do the same thing with using a block to get the edge safe to scrub with the steel wool. One thing I do different is to add a layer of cardboard from an old box between the board and the knife. It kind of cushions when I am pressing into it. Maybe it's in my mind, but I feel like I get better results that way.

Great video, will try some of your methods in the future if I need to.

Excellent. Very helpful. Thank you.

Did a good job I've been collecting for about 44 years. I just have a suggestion on your initial cleaning when you were looking for something then to get down there where your blade lockdown at I go to Harbor freight and buy their real cheap set of dental tools sometimes you can get the whole set with all different sizes ends for about 499 I keep three or four of them cheap kids around and I kind of blunt the ends a little bit cuz I don't want to scratch the actual knife itself and you can get into all different size with with no problem at all and it makes it easy cuz you can use a hook blade a 45-degree bladestrike play they're really neat little tools just thought I'd throw a little positive that you're my friend I seen you quite a few old nice vintage knifes you have there I have over 3000 and always looking for more!

Totally enjoyed this video, very informative. Food safe mineral oil/ laxative is a great idea. Thank you for the video

Thank you for that, very worthwhile.

Thanks for the tips on cleaning up knife 🗡 I got when I was magnet fishing and I have finds old things. John E. May-0 ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

A small ultrasonic cleaner will do wonders for removing hard to get at gunk.I got mine from Harbor Freight and really like it.Best regards.

Jeff, great video and very helpful... your calm voice makes it easy to listen too and very informative. wish I can find my 1970 something Camillus cub scout knife, would love to clean that up but have no idea where it is anymore..

I really enjoyed this video, Jeff. Great stuff!

A scotch brite pad works good too

Super informative! Thanks

Nice job, inspired me to clean my collection again .

The tang stamp on this one dates it anywhere from 1950 - 1970.

That shrade in the bag with the metal handles are valuable

Very good tutorial. Thank you! I left an old stag fixed blade in my truck for over a year and really needed this tutorial. Also like how your channel has evolved. Keep making videos cause I'll probably burn through the ones you have. Take a subscribe.

No expert? :) Yes you are.Great work on a beautiful little knife.

You’re almost a half of a million views on your channel , That’s awesome congratulations early

Love your enthusiasm, I don’t know how I’m going to get hold of some old pocket knives as in the uk even the free to advertise sites don’t allow knives to be sold through them so I can’t figure out a way. But that aside you have sparked a dormant urge to restore some.

Im fully restoring an old pocket folder like this one. It has a long blade, screw driver and bottle opener. When I first got it everything was rusted and gunked shut. I let the whole thing rest in a bowl of vegetable oil for around 2 hours. After that the blade opened very difficultly but none of the other attachments would. I dont have a buffer like yours so I just used a very high grit sand paper and took all the tarnish off the outside of it, the inside and the blade. After that I let it sit in warm water for around 20 minutes, then took it out and began cleaning all the gunk from the channels and inside of the pivots. I had to use Q-Tips dipped in rubbing alcohol to really get it clean. After drying it off I have been lubing and working all the pivots of it with 3 in 1 oil. Slowly making process on the restoration wish I could do it as quick as yours though.

Excellent tutorial video! I see a lot of the techniques I use ( bufffer wheel/black compound). Great tip on the mineral oil. To file the recasso down so the blade sits deeper inside the handle, that was genius! I would have never thought of that. Thank you for the video. Will sub.

Nice job.

Thanks - good info 😎

Jeff , I'm a relatively new subscriber, going through some of your videos, and greatly enjoying your take on collecting, buying, & caring for pocket knives. But I've noticed that your last video was about a year ago...I sincerely hope you are well and planning on doing a few more videos. I know that in this fast paced world, things come and go, but I really hope that we can expect more from you. I'm currently into traditionals, specifically canoes & campers, but I like pretty much all of your videos....don't let the detractor's negative comments get you down.

Nice video, thank you.

Thank you for this informative video on simple knife cleaning.. I'm a newbie to collecting these old used gems. Thanks for pointing out the mineral oil, I recently used three-in-one and failed to read the warning label LOL yes got it all over my hands after lubing up a number of old knives. Not to mention it does stink . I too have been Leary of letting things soak for long periods of time let's say in vinegar or mineral spirits for fear the scales may slightly Pull-A-Part from the adhesive. Maybe using some baking soda or some Dawn dish soap like you did may help. I think ultimately it's trial and error sometimes. keep up the good work!!

Very nice work and a great video.

Nice job

Toothpicks are good for those narrow gaps

I use a combination of fine sand paper and polishing compound. Those two things not likely to hurt anything and if done properly can make your knife look brand new !

I bet that little Kabar, would be a great whittling/carving knife. With those blade shapes,,

Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed every minute of your video! Thanks for uploading. Fascinating!

Great process. Loved the video. New subscriber

Niiccceeee work mate! G'day from Australia 🇦🇺

Hey Jeff, brand new subscriber here. I stumbled across your channel and am so glad I did! I too also get old disused, neglected vintage/antique pocket knives and breathe life back into them. I have several hundred if I haven't broken a thousand yet. Never counted them though. Maybe one day so I can inventory them. I have inadvertently gotten some duplicates but not as many as you would think.

GREAt job. I recommend a Dremel to do some of the rubbing for you.

Cracked me up when hes cleaning the inside of knife and he i need something narrower than a screwdriver. How abiut a knife blade duh. Lol😅😅

Great video!! I have searched multiple times on YT for this exact video, an in depth step by step of somebody restoring a slipjoint. Thanks for filling the void! I have soaked them in 3-1 overnight before and then always do a thorough dawn rinse out afterwards. Im going to have to get a buffing wheel for my bench grinder, I have a bunch of older imperials and schrades that I could clean up. One thing I really want to get down is how to do a satin finish. I have tried 400-800 grit wet/dry but it always just looks bad :/

Ka-Bar is the name on the first knife and they have been around for a very long time and still make pocket knives along with other types also. They would probably clean that knife up for you and return it to you for a reasonable price. Imperial is now part of Schrade and they are good even though they are made in China like all Schrade knives.

Jeff, I really enjoyed this knife restoration video. I learned a lot. I found an Ulster folding pocket knife in a thrift shop a few days ago. It has a can opener and bottle opener/screwdriver on one side and two knife blades on the other. It was a bit rusted and grubby. To me it looked quite old. It was only $1.49 so I bought it. I cleaned it up with fine steel wool and a little 3 in one oil. ( I know - wrong oil!) It looks a lot better and everything snaps shut, so I was very pleased. The one thing that seemed wrong was that the two knife blades had "exposed" knife points, meaning both blades need some adjustment with a file. Your video showed exactly how to do that, so I'm very grateful. I'm not sure what model knife I have or how old it is. Do you have any advice on how to find that out? Thanks a lot, Tom

I let knives like that soak in two cycle gas overnight. Then, clean out the liners, rinse it again with two cycle and then blow it dry with compressed air. I then use some 400 wet or dry to clean out the liners, rinse with two cycle and blow dry, again. I use the 400 to get rust off the blades, sanding lengthwise on the blade to not leave scratches in the blades. I the hut it with jewelers rouge, rinse and blow dry, agin. I the lube the locking surfaces and work the blades until they are free and have some snap to them. I may let it soak again in two cycle and blow dry.

thank you for not using a belt sander, or a grinder wire wheel to clean up your knives. and thank you for supporting the blade on a block. after viewing some cats work , I want to scream. but finally someone who pays attention to the hidden details .

pipe cleaners work well

Great video thanks, I recently restored for the first time and really enjoyed it, have a lot to learn and this really helps. Any ideas on how to being back some life into a dull plastic handle?

I think to properly clean those old knives you should do a total disassembly. Knock out the pins & separate the different layers. Then do your cleaning routine. I think the results would be better.

I had an old knife that was so corroded. I couldn’t even get one of the blades out. I had a big old can of WD-40 like a half a gallon can or something and I poured some in a plastic ice cream bucket and submerged the knife in it overnight the next morning when I took it out, the knife fell apart in my hands.

When buffing the blades i would do it from the top so if it grabs it will throw the knife forwards instead of in your face

THIS IS COOL

Now the small blade has a flat edge would be great for whittling details.

Great transformation! I thoroughly enjoyed your process. My process is very similar. Can't wait to check out your other videos. Do you have any ideas for weak lockback spring tension? I haven't come across anything that wasn't very heavy involvement with specialized tooling.

That file you used to make a repair seemed to cut very fast. Is it that the steel is soft? I was taking the sharp edges off a knife in S35VN and the rate of re-profile was much slower. I picked up a diamond file and it went much faster. (probably not needed for older knives) Thanks again.. Great video!

Great video! Thanks. Do you know if old Imperial spring knives can be put back in working condition if broken?

I would use a "plastic razor blade" instead of something metal inside the liners.

Great video, just a little constructive criticism would be to speed it up just a bit. Other wise 👍🏻

How do you polish plastic handles?

You interested in doing another restoration video? Or, you mentioned you rehandle knives, I'd love to see how that process is like.

Is it okay to use lemon oil on most wood scale handles?