Identification/Advice

[Lightbringer]

I recently inherited some edged weapons of my grandfather's and thought the folks here on THR could help me with identifying several of them and recommending proper maintenance/restoration techniques.

The first two are my grandfather's WWII issue USN combat knife and LC-14-B "knife":











The LC-14-B still has its original manual and whetstone. The MK2 combat knife has some additional markings on the guard (USN MK2 and something else I can't quite read). Should I just use basic cleaning and preserving techniques for these? Would attempting to remove some of the corrosion do more harm then good?

The next pair of knives came in a degrading leather sheath. They are pretty heavily corroded and pitted, but they have a discernible maker's mark. Despite the mark, I have not been able to figure out the origin of manufacture:









Worth keeping/restoring? Or just common catalog items corroded into uselessness?

The last knife looks like it belong with the last two, but has no maker's mark:





Thoughts?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[hso]

The last knife is a "Theater Knife", probably made by some unknown machinist mate. They're pretty unique to WWII and just after. Theater knives are great WWII collectables.

As to caring for the others, use any good machine oil with liberal application of "elbow grease" and a tooth brush and scrub as much rust off as possible. Switch to a stack of terry shop towels and have at it again with oil and elbow grease until you just aren't getting any more rust off on the towels. The Woodsman's Pal and the USN Mk2 are in pretty good shape (probably not stored in leather sheaths) and won't take much effort. The theater knife will take a bit more effort. Be sure to keep them oiled and out of the sheaths. You'll do the same on the pair of knives that are in worse shape.

 

[Lightbringer]

Much appreciated, thanks!

 

[Brian Williams]

Just remove the rust, try not to remove the patina or aging of the metal.

 

[rcmodel]

There are two booklets missing from your Woodsman's Pal set-up.

The other two were called:
"LIVING IN THE JUNGLE with U. S. Army Knife LC-14-B". (Yellow cover)
"FIGHTING with U. S. A. KNIFE LC-14-B". (Blue cover)

The Navy Mark II was made by several companies during WWII.
Common blade marked ones like yours would be:
Camillus, N.Y.
Ka-Bar, Olean, N.Y.
PAL in a circle.
Robeson-Shuredge.
U.S. Conetta.
Utica Cut. Co.

Given the severe and aggressive rust working on all of them?
Patina be danged, I would give them an aggressive cleaning with a very fine wire wheel on a bench grinder or buffer motor, or use 0000 grade (Extra Fine) steel wool and oil.
Neither will harm the remaining finish, but will get to the bottom of the rust pitts and stop it.

If you don't get to the bottom of it and get it stopped, it will only continue to eat away the blades even further.

Use neutral color KIWI paste shoe wax, or Johnson's paste floor wax to preserve the leather handles.
DO NOT use neatsfoot oil, or any other oil or grease, as it will soften the leather washers and they will crumble.

rc