Thread: Restoring older Bengall

I don't have it in my hands quite yet, but here are photos from the auction:



gallery of images of "carved" horn scaled "early 1700s" Bengall*

What would be the best way to approach handling the "ding" towards the heel end of the edge? Turn it further into a smiling blade?

What about the scales - what would be good methods of preserving these? Mineral oil? Neatsfoot oil? Anything special to do to preserve the carved (or pressed?) bits from deterioration?

[ * my "scare quotes" are referencing the descriptions from the auction. I'm guessing the scales are probably pressed? And the characteristics of the blade and scales look early 1800s to me ]

I would try high honing it out, before lifting the heal. But I'm more Leary about the regrind that I see, it goes above the spine in a few places, and looks uneven. May give you troubles honing.
As for the scales... Make any needed repairs before soaking them in " NEATS FOOT OIL" for several days.
I like using a small plastic tackle box. I put the oil in zip lock bags, drop the scales in the oil, put them in the box and close the lid. The box contains the mess, and you can reuse the bags of oil many times.

Originally Posted by outback

I would try high honing it out, before lifting the heal. But I'm more Leary about the regrind that I see, it goes above the spine in a few places, and looks uneven. May give you troubles honing.
As for the scales... Make any needed repairs before soaking them in " NEATS FOOT OIL" for several days.
I like using a small plastic tackle box. I put the oil in zip lock bags, drop the scales in the oil, put them in the box and close the lid. The box contains the mess, and you can reuse the bags of oil many times.

I hadn't even noticed the regrind creeping over the spine. What would be the best way to address that? Strategic taping? (That is, adding more tape where the spine is worn/ground.) Or honing with no tape?

For the neatsfoot oiling - can one over oil? If I put them in a bag and go away on holiday for a week or two, would that be ill-advised?

All I can say is remove the chip, one layer tape, see what hones up. They may be small enough that the rest of the spine keeps it flat on the rocks .

I've forgotten a set was soaking , for almost two weeks. After cleaning them up and giving them a polish, I found out they were streaked horn. "Bonus"!!

Depending on how dry they are, I'll put the soak box on the window sill, and let the sun heat the oil up. Thins out the oil, and helps with penetration by expanding the pores in the horn.

As far as the honing goes if it were mine I would send it to Glen (gssixgun) for honing or someone with plenty of experience. I consider my self an experienced honer but in this particular situation I would let him do it for me due to the age and rarity of the blade, just MHO.

That chip will hone out, looks to have a bid of a frown near the heel anyway, and the heel will need a bit of reshaping or it will cut you.

I just found 3 old Sheffield’s I had soaking in Neatsfoot for well over a month, maybe 2, yesterday.

They all shined up nicely. I do something similar to Outback, I put them in a Ziploc bag, they all go in together, and the bag in a 6X8 in, flat glass storage container with a plastic lid. I too keep reusing the same juice.

I do clean with WD40 and steel wool before the Neetsfoot bath.

Finished restore - see here

Originally Posted by Euclid440

That chip will hone out, looks to have a bid of a frown near the heel anyway, and the heel will need a bit of reshaping or it will cut you.

I just found 3 old Sheffield’s I had soaking in Neatsfoot for well over a month, maybe 2, yesterday.

They all shined up nicely. I do something similar to Outback, I put them in a Ziploc bag, they all go in together, and the bag in a 6X8 in, flat glass storage container with a plastic lid. I too keep reusing the same juice.

I do clean with WD40 and steel wool before the Neetsfoot bath.

I didn't do any abrasive cleaning of the scales because I was concerned about the pressing. Do you think steel wool would harm these or would it be worth a try? (Also, can Ballistol substitute WD40?)