I recently aquired a WWII 225Q Cattaraugus knife at such a low price it was practically a steal. However, the blade had a few developing rust spots, some discoloration from being exposed over the past 70 years and isn't even sharp enough to cut a cereal box. I know its not worth anything in this condition, nor is it refurbished, so I decided im going to put it back in service and use it as a hunting knife since all I really carry is a Kershaw flip open with me.

I spent a few hours this past weekend restoring all the exposed metal to its original luster and shine, and minus a little bit of pitting the blade looks great. Its still dull though and i know nothing about sharpening knives like this, and I would rather have the blade modified to have an american tanto style point rather than the standard curved VS profile that they gave these hunting knives.

This is where one of you gentlemen come in. Id be more than willing to pay you to do the work and ship the blade to you.

Ill post pics when I get home.
Thanks

If you can clean up the knife you've got enough skills that you can put an edge on it, it's not an arcane science. There are all sorts of jigs, tools, and gadgets that will allow you to get a good working edge on it.

I'd strongly encourage you NOT to have it reground, it's a piece of history even with the pits.And by grinding it to a tanto and to do the job right is likely going to require re heat-treating it.

If you just have to have a tanto profile blade see if this guy still has this one for sale Tanto

The Catturaugas knife is about 70 years old and in working condition is a collector knife. I know you want to make it something else but may I suggest getting one of those reproduction pieces from China and do the tanto regrind. I will fix it for you to working condition and slightly blue the blade for free if you pay all the postage and it will remain a collector's knife that you can carry and use still if you like. I just don't want you to wreck essentially what would have been carried by some grunt in combat. I have done about 5 of these and they are completely repaired and no value will be lost. I even soak the leather to bring it back a bit. Let me know in a message if you want this.

Here it is as received.....
Handle


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Blade


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Blade had been wire brushed all over and had the dents in metal from that. There was no cutting edge on the knife and the tip had been broken off and an attempt to repair it had been done.

Work done:
- Reshape blade profile
- Bring flat edge grind from factory grind to tip.
- Bring cutting edge to useable tolerances.
- Smooth out and then bring final edge grind to smooth, polished finish.
- Clean up guard and butt.
- Blue metal parts, buff out to final finish.
- Soak handle 24 hours in mineral oil to replenish oils in leather. (color will diminish to a lighter shade as drys out)

To be done:
- Wax handle and blade



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Blade close up


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omg......

FUCK YES!

wow, you were able to sharpen it up and put a new forward edge on it and everything and virtually no length to the blade was lost

the upper tapper of the blade is restored and more defined, and the the big indention on the top where it was used to pry shit are all cleaned up! and you didn't take off a ton of metal either!

GoatHerder, this is some really really nice work. I cant wait to hold it in my hands

as soon as It gets here in the mail im going to have a custom made kydex sheet made for it to go on a molle vest! Its going back in the FIELD!

God bless you GoatHerder!

Welcome, man....lol.