My First Attempt at Restoring an Old Knife with a Stacked Leather Handle

In this video, I take on my first ever old knife restoration project with a stacked leather handle. Watch as I disassemble, clean, and polish the blade, and create a new leather handle.
I'll share my restoration process and give you tips on how to remove rust and corrosion, and how to shape and fit the leather handle. Whether you're new to knife restoration or looking for some inspiration for your next project, this video is for you.
Join me on this restoration journey as I bring this old knife back to life. Don't forget to like and subscribe content and DIY videos!
#kniferestoration #oldknife #diy #handmade #leatherhandle #rustremoval #vintageknife #upcycling #metalpolishing #knifecommunity #restorationproject #homemade #doityourself #hobbyist #crafting #repurposing

[@swingbelly]

Very good video. Thank you. We learn from our attempts to complete a task. Such is life. Enjoyed your improvisation. When we don't have something, then try a different method and approach. The real issue is that YOU tried and hopefully enjoyed the final result! It was from your effort. Got me thinking about some of my own pending projects that I really know relatively little about how to approach and complete. Thank you, again.

[@wamindustries]

Thanks for the encouragement!!! Sounds like a fellow project enthusiast! I have a bunch of pending projects as well, and I may turn them into videos as well... So stay tuned.

[@robertupchurch9639]

The knife appears to be a war era MK 1 commonly called a SeaBee made by several different companies. The black and red spacers are typically made from a paper or wood fiber. I use a 1X30 belt sander to shape the handles then use sandpaper from 400 up to 1,500 grit to finish. Just finished restoring a MK1 and MK2 made by Western Cutlery. Making the spacers and leather washers for the split tangs is fun....

[@wamindustries]

Thanks for sharing! That's helpful!!!

[@billy6ization]

The plastic disks are BakeAlite. Old style polymer.

[@wamindustries]

That makes sense, thanks for sharing!!!

[@ricev7071]

Awesome but quick question; what can you use to give a stacked leather handle knife a "shiny" polished look without it coming off as if it was just an oil? What about leather varnish? Thank you.

[@wamindustries]

Thanks! I'm not 100% sure as I am new to leather working. What I did see was progressively increasing sandpaper grit until it is polished is supposed to work. For me, I didn't end up getting to a super polished look. I do wonder if leather varnish would do the trick... Anyone have experience with this???

[@KarmaCal57]

I wish you would re-edit this and take that annoying background music out so I can listen to and understand what you are saying. Thank you.

[@wamindustries]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@dmitryk754]

RH-34 by PAL. I don’t think that’s a kabar.

[@wamindustries]

I looked up that knife you mentioned... it looks close. I'll have to look at the stamping again, they are very faint.