Thread: WM . Olmsted

Its a great find. Id be trying to keep the scales if possible. Its going to have some pitting. I will be watching for its return.

Originally Posted by Gasman

Its a great find. Id be trying to keep the scales if possible. Its going to have some pitting. I will be watching for its return.

Yea I know how most feel about the original shoes but I just can bring my self to go through all the work on the blade just to but those back on. it be like wearing a Armani suit with work boots. But I will keep then in a draw. LOL

I like that blade, it is worth the effort.

Jerry might be right if they are original scales.
Side story. I once had an absolute pristine pair of vintage Chuck Taylor Converse black and white high top shoes. I was wearing them with my suit one time, and a woman goes off on a tirade on those shoes with a suit. She finishes it off with just what you you thinking wearing those #&#**$&#@(#*$ shoes with that suit. I quite calmly and politely said, it’s way too cold out for sandals.

Originally Posted by Audels1

Yea but it looks like the other has much more of a smile to it.

It looks to me that the other was reground or had some sort restorative work at some point.

Originally Posted by jfk742

It looks to me that the other was reground or had some sort restorative work at some point.

Maybe @gssixgun might remember something about it. I know its been a long time since he did that restore.

Originally Posted by RezDog

Jerry might be right if they are original scales.
Side story. I once had an absolute pristine pair of vintage Chuck Taylor Converse black and white high top shoes. I was wearing them with my suit one time, and a woman goes off on a tirade on those shoes with a suit. She finishes it off with just what you you thinking wearing those #&#**$&#@(#*$ shoes with that suit. I quite calmly and politely said, it’s way too cold out for sandals.

i always wear socks with my sandals! ( I tell my sons that it's part of my Dad uniform )

This is progressing ahead although there is more pitting than I would like to see. I think it would need a regrind to get any more out which is well beyond my skill level.
I still haven't decided if I am going to keep the original wood scale only because thy my very well be original to the Blade But I went ahead and made a set out of blonde buffalo horn and will decide when the time comes. So far I an leaning towards the Horn.

Some pitting is kind of par for the course with old blades like that. The trick, and it is a real trick, is to know when to quit. At least for me it is. Some people like "patina" but not me. You say patina I say rusty old crappy looking funk. Anyway the skinny is that leaving some pitting is not unacceptable (even though I personally hate it).

If it were me I would sand up those wood scales and put them back on, especially in light of the amount of pitting that will be next to impossible to get rid of. I think the new scales will make the pitting show more. That's the meter I always use at least.

You’ve cleaned that old blade up quite well.

There is a lot of metal left in the blade and an experienced craftsman could regrind a very nice new-looking blade for you. However, that blade has earned whatever pock marks she has over a long life. She’s not a new blade and I don’t think it is necessary or does honour to her heritage to make her look like one.

I’m with those who say clean the blade as much as you are able, but leave her with the blemishes she’s earned and keep her as original as you can.