Rust Bucket

I picked up some rusty junk to practice on, and noticed that one of the blades had some file work along the back.

I regret that I didnt think to get any "before" pictures. I was greatly saddened by what I found as I cleaned it up.

I have sanded as much as I felt was needed to clean up the wretched rust, and buffed it out so it doesnt look as horrible. I even made her shave ready, just to prove it was still a viable blade.

Looking at it, if these pictures are good enough to tell, are these pits too damned deep to remove without risking structural integrity?

My own feeling is its too far gone for a full resto. Anybody else agree? or disagree?

Always a tough call on hollows & I wouldn't guess from a photo but a softer satin finish shows a lesser contrast between polished metal & pitting.

if it's rusty junk to practice on, why does it matter?

Practive your sanding, buffing and honing.

Practice scale removal and replacement.




I picked up some cheapies off e-Bay for exactly that reason. If they are too far gone, oh well. Rather that than learning on a real treasure.

I have that exact blade but is a Lawton cutlery , and says "Harvard" on the blade

does it really matter? probably not. I just didnt expect a Boker to show up in that scrap heap. It just kind of breaks the heart to see such a travesty.

Since it was once upon a time a quality item, I didnt feel like just wrecking it further.

It may be ugly, but unlike some of the other broken rust bits, this is still a shaver.

Perhaps I will donate it to some newbie without a blade. Proof that it doesnt need to be sharp looking to be shaving sharp!

Not to mention that I asked in the opening of this thread what people thought about the possibility of this pitting being too deep to remove. Comment on that would be appreciated too!

I can't tell from pics & only further sanding will reveal the pitting depth but the risk of breaking or foiling the blade must always be considered. A hollow blade can be 9/10 broke thru sanding & still work. Knowing where that last 1/10th begins is not easy.