wvruger

I have an old boyscout marked knife from my great grandfather ( no handle and blade is rough) and an old knife with no markings that should clean up nicely. Anyone know how to even find someone who does this kind of restoration?

SteveV

Why not do it yourself? There's an excellent book that will show you how.

"The Complete Book of Pocketknife Repair-A Cutlers Manual".

By: Ben Kelley Jr.

ISBN - 0-87341-387-3

Steve

wvruger

These are both fixed blade knives, one needing a whole new edge put back on it and is missing a handle. The other is complete but needs a new edge and cleaned up. Would this book help or is more more pocket knife and not fixed blade.

Lone Star

Who made the knives? Sometimes, a factory will restore them. But most of our knife factories are gone. Some survive as names, but modern Schrade and Camillus knives are made in the Orient. Case survives.

I've heard of some guy who restores old, valuable Case pocketknives, but no one doing what you need.

Maybe you can find a custom cutler who'll find time to refurbish your knife between making his own. It probably won't be cheap. The missing "handle" is a problem. Do you mean a handle scale, on a full-tang knife? He'll have to make a new handle from scratch, probably from bone or Micarta. He'll make both sides of the handle, so they'll match and endure.

A maker can easily regrind your edge bevels and sharpen. Some mall shops can do sharpening, but the only one that I know of that actually regrinds edges is that at Willow Bend mall in far north Dallas. The owners are very knowledgeable about knives and have a belt sander or something in the back for difficult re-edging. From your description, the entire edge bevels will need to be reground. They've done that for me on a couple of Swiss Army knives that I bought used and refurbished.

The custom maker can also polish your blade. It's probably going to need more than you can accomplish with Simichrome or Mother's Mag polish and elbow grease. especially if rust is involved. Is a blade actually pitted?

You said that one knife doesn't even have a brand on it? Probably not worth the effort, and it probably isn't a good knife to begin with. Reputable makers mark their knives. This will be worthwhile only if the heirloom knife is a good one and worth a lot to you sentimentally. Some good brands, like Remington and Schrade made Boy Scout knives. But those weren't their best items, so unless a lot of sentiment is involved and you have money, I'd forget it.

lafflin rand

Check with a local gunsmith if you have a local shop they may do it when slow to keep the shop going. Not every gunsmith is busy all the time.

Lee D

BladeForums.com and be prepared to post a couple pics

if you cant get answers THERE, i dont think anyone can help you

wvruger

Here are two quick pictures.

Larger knife has one marking on it BSA ( Ive always assumed Boy Scouts of America

Smaller knife has no markings, this was also passed down through my family however have no history on either knife.

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bwelch47

BSA stands for Birmingham Small Arms, a British company.
You,amigo,have a great find. The knives were usually issued to their commando units.

wvruger

Wow thanks for the input, always assumed it was some kind of boy scout edition knife. Is this something I should let skilled hands restore to what it should be or take on myself and make it my own?

Lee D

i didnt make the BSA connection either, and i own an old BSA competition gun
i would DEFINITELY have it looked over thoroughly by an expert before moving forward with this project. you really might have something special on your hands.

Lone Star

That dagger is NOT a normal British Commando knife, but may have been individually carried by a soldier. It looks very worthy of research and restoration.

Contact the Whut Izzit editor (Bernard Levine) at, Knife World and send the photo, about 5X7. Be patient for a reply, unless he gets excited about it and answers your question in the publication. Expect an interesting answer.

Address:

Bernard Levine
Whut Izzit Editor
Knife World
P.O. Box 3395
Knoxville, TN 37927

If your camera has macro capability, get a good, close, sharp photo of the logo, May well be a BSA product. I mean the British arms maker, not the Boy Scouts.
I don't think that it was UK govt. issue, but it looks like a fighting knife. May have been made for sale mainly in the wilder colonies, probably before WWI.
The blade shape reminds me a little of the Pattern 1888 bayonet for the Lee-Metford. I didn't realize that BSA made knives. I've owned and handled their rifles, and Lee-Enfields made by them, and they did nice work. This may have been converted from a bayonet by some individual.

Due to repressive UK laws that have gradually worsened since 1920, I think they now make just air guns.

Please post about what you learn. I'm very interested.

You might also put that photo on Gunboards.com, probably in the British Gun Pub forum. Scroll well down the forums to find it and the Lee-Enfield forum there.
They may be able to ID the knife and give a value.

wvruger

I posted this knife on the bladeforum under bernard Levines forum, so far no real hits. Ill keep everyone updated. Ill try to take some better pictures and send off.

wvruger

So far no real hits on the knife, the smaller blade is a KaBar or sister company. Saw one on Ebay selling around $75, no real value. However the BSA is likely a converted bayonet, however no real info. This Bernard Levine posted on the bladeforums stating no real info and didnt seem excited, actually didnt mention a word about the knife so I send him a private message asking for some history and info on the blade.

computerdynamics

The dagger with BSA is not Boy Scouts. They would never approve a straight knife with double edges for young scouts. I believe the previous post to be correct, British Small Arms Co. The other knife has what appears to have a duraluminum butt cap. May be a Marbles or Schrade? doesn't look like a Case to me but with blade wear probably has little value other than sentimental. I wouldn't reccomend trying to restore either knife by yourself or someone else. Any value would be lost except as a family heirloom. They are old but not old enough to be worth a great deal of money. If it's a project for Dad and son, go for it, if you are trying to get money out of them you've got a long wait for little cash. Not trying to hurt your feelings or anything negative but reality is just that, reality. I've been involved in making, selling, and restoring knives for many years and these just don't appear to be the "one in a million"?

These are just a few of the over 200 knives I own,

I've seen a few, trust me... ; )
Tony

Ballenxj

I'll second this thought.
This is correct. They are the same company that made BSA Motorcycles as well.
-Bruce