Britains Pride, a clean up

**mycarver** · 01-02-2012, 10:18 PM

Thought this was a cool looking blade and I decided to clean it up. The orig. scales were cracked but were horn. I happened to have an extra set so I used them after a going over as well. I like the look of the horn, in basic black, polished like a mirror. Yet , it's different looking than acrylic in black. Something about natural materials that just looks great. Here is what I did while trying to save the script on an otherwise cruddy blade. I made single dome washer for the hinge and double for the wedge end ( but the is no wedge in this case) .

**mycarver** · 01-02-2012, 10:19 PM

These were the scales I used. Cleaned up OK. Good enough to reflect the swing arm lamps. It's a keeper.

**Legion** · 01-02-2012, 11:19 PM

Awesome. Want to share more info on the scale resto?

**mycarver** · 01-02-2012, 11:32 PM

Well, pretty much basic stuff. I sanded with 220, went with 400, then right to the buffer once all the nicks and scratches were removed with the sanding. This horn is pretty forgiving as polishing goes. There were a few areas left but hit it again with the sandpaper ,, buffed and off it went. Finished with a bit of swirl remover for the final shine. Basically that's it. 10 minutes and you're done. I'm not into the " coat with Oil , bla, bla, bla,, and it looks OK " ,,, well , not to my eye it doesn't . I want a shine like I'm sure it had from the factory. I don't think it left there looking ,, well,, sort of OK.....

Really , don't you think it looked sort of like this? Or scratched up and oily?

Horn,, and it looks like plastic,

**tomjr** · 01-02-2012, 11:33 PM

job well done

**Legion** · 01-02-2012, 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by mycarver

Well, pretty much basic stuff. I sanded with 220, went with 400, then right to the buffer once all the nicks and scratches were removed with the sanding. This horn is pretty forgiving as polishing goes. There were a few areas left but hit it again with the sandpaper ,, buffed and off it went. Finished with a bit of swirl remover for the final shine. Basically that's it. 10 minutes and you're done. I'm not into the " coat with Oil , bla, bla, bla,, and it looks OK " ,,, well , not to my eye it doesn't . I want a shine like I'm sure it had from the factory. I don't think it left there looking ,, well,, sort of OK.....

I've seen NOS ones, and I'm sure they didn't look that nice from the factory. That shines like it has a CA finish!

**mycarver** · 01-02-2012, 11:56 PM

Well sir, thank you very much! But if you have some sand paper and a buffer you can do it too! And , though I'm not sure for certain, I think the finishes from the factory were better than what I started with or would achieve with a bit of oil. If I'm trying to re-create it,, I'm sure they did it. Even NOS,, over time I'm sure there is some fading etc. there. Maybe I'm too shiny,, but I have to say , I like it.

And wow,, I was happiest with saving the script! Seems the scales are the winner here. Heck,, that was the EASY part.

**Legion** · 01-03-2012, 12:07 AM

Yes, I was wondering about the script. Did you re-black it scrimshaw style?

**mycarver** · 01-03-2012, 12:22 AM

Well on another post I described my method of using acid to blacken the letters. Scrimshaw , If I'm not mistaken is adding a black "ink' or paint to the inscribed sections. This should be somewhat permanent.

Using acid to darken the letters precludes you from wiping away any over runs. You're either right on or it looks like a kid did it with a crayon.

**Lexbomb** · 01-03-2012, 12:31 AM

Fantastic, great work mate

**Legion** · 01-03-2012, 12:38 AM

I haven't found the other post... So I am not going to cheat and look...

So, you coated the blade in a resistor and then used... phosphoric acid to darken the letters which you scratched out?

**mycarver** · 01-03-2012, 12:56 AM

It's a Nitric acid and Selenium mix that I did freehand after saving the letters. Sorry,, it's 4 AM here and I have to call it quits for the day. I'll catch up tomorrow.

**Legion** · 01-03-2012, 01:05 AM

Cool! Careful with that selenium. It's nasty stuff. (Not that nitric acid is much fun, but that is more obvious.)

**hig789** · 01-03-2012, 02:44 AM

very nice work as usual. Those scales are gorgeous.

**mycarver** · 01-03-2012, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by legion

Cool! Careful with that selenium. It's nasty stuff. (Not that nitric acid is much fun, but that is more obvious.)

I used to use a Hydrochloric and Muriatic mix to etch steel when I made some knives. Nobody will sell it any longer. They act like I'm some kind of terrorist or something. Or that I'll accidentally drink it which one person did. Now that was nasty stuff but it did a great job eating steel.