I Restored an Abandoned Sheffield Knife and Here's What I Found
Published: 2 days ago
105 Year Old Sheffield Knife Found in a Rusty Shed… and Saved
This abandoned Sheffield pocket knife was left to rust for decades in an old shed. In this video, I take you through the full restoration process – from crusted rust and seized joints to a smooth, working slipjoint you’d be happy to carry.
If you enjoy traditional pocket knives, vintage Sheffield steel, and honest restorations, this one’s for you.
What you’ll see in this restoration:
– Initial condition assessment of a century-old Sheffield slipjoint
– Careful disassembly and inspection of the blade, spring, and liners
– Heavy rust removal and corrosion treatment on old carbon steel
– Cleaning out hardened grease, dirt, and decades of pocket grime
– Straightening and tightening the pivot and backspring
– Polishing the blade while preserving original grind lines and stamp
– Sympathetic handle work to keep the knife’s age and character
– Final reassembly, oiling, and sharpness test on this rescued pocket knife
This isn’t a “make it look brand new at any cost” job. It’s a sympathetic restoration focused on:
– Keeping original Sheffield markings and stampings visible
– Retaining honest patina where it tells the knife’s story
– Making the knife mechanically sound, safe, and usable again
If you’re into:
– Vintage pocket knife restoration
– Sheffield knife history
– Traditional slipjoint knives and lambsfoot patterns
– Old carbon steel blades and proper rust removal
– How to restore a rusty knife step-by-step
…you’ll pick up plenty of tips, techniques, and mistakes to avoid.
Topics covered in this video include:
– How to safely break down an old slipjoint knife
– Best methods for removing deep rust without destroying the blade
– When to sand, when to polish, and when to leave patina alone
– How to restore knife handles without over-sanding or ruining the fit
– Lubrication and reassembly of a vintage folding knife
– Balancing collectability vs usability in antique knife restoration
This restored Sheffield knife could easily have been thrown away as “too far gone.” Instead, it’s now:
– Solid at the pivot
– Snappy at the half-stop and full open
– Cleaned, polished, and ready for another lifetime of use
If you like seeing forgotten knives brought back to life, hit subscribe to Slipjoint Sawyer for more:
– Traditional pocket knife reviews
– Vintage Sheffield knife restorations
– Honest buyer advice for collectors and users
– Comparisons of classic patterns like Barlows, lambsfoot knives, and Swiss Army knives
Let me know in the comments:
Would you have restored this 105-year-old Sheffield knife, or left it as a relic? And what knife should I rescue next from the rust pile?
0:00 Rusty Old Knife
0:35 Disassembly
4:08 Cleaning the rust
8:34 Making the scales
20:04 Assembly
28:47 Hafting the scales
39:15 Soaking in mineral oil
40:07 Polishing
44:44 Final product
???? WHY TRUST MY OPINION?
With over 1,100 videos and over 4 million views on this channel, I've restored, reviewed, and tested more traditional pocket knives than anyone else on YouTube. This isn't theory - it's hands-on experience from years in the workshop.
???? RELATED VIDEOS YOU'LL LOVE:
• https://youtu.be/5KZb3Vzx-QI
• https://youtu.be/gZd4k8qmIIo
• https://youtu.be/cYFJ2TwGv8I
???? WHERE TO BUY (Affiliate Links):
• Heinnie Haynes Affiliate link - https://tidd.ly/42wcqWF
• Brigantian Vintage Knives https://www.brigantian-vintage-pocketknives.co.uk/
• 10% Off at https://rosecraftblades.com/ with code Slippy10
• Rhoose Point Remedies, Outstanding wood restoration products! Affiliate link - https://rhoosepointremedies.com/product-category/wood-treatments/?wpam_id=15
• 10% off https://www.wubenlight.com/?ref=aofsfnod with code Slippy10 -
• 10% off https://www.viperade.com/ with code Slippy10 -
• 15% off https://shiresupply.com with code SlipjointSawyer15
???? BUSINESS ENQUIRIES:
Email - Slipjointsawyer@gmail.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/slipjointsawyer?igsh=aWttYWt0dGE0ZHA4
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@slipjointsawyer?_t=ZN-90wDeGIIDSA&_r=1
---
???? SUBSCRIBE for honest knife reviews, restorations, and collecting tips!
???? LIKE if you agree
???? COMMENT which is your favourite
---
DISCLAIMER: Some links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to keep making honest reviews. I only recommend products I've personally tested and believe in.
© 2025 Slipjoint Sawyer. All rights reserved.
This abandoned Sheffield pocket knife was left to rust for decades in an old shed. In this video, I take you through the full restoration process – from crusted rust and seized joints to a smooth, working slipjoint you’d be happy to carry.
If you enjoy traditional pocket knives, vintage Sheffield steel, and honest restorations, this one’s for you.
What you’ll see in this restoration:
– Initial condition assessment of a century-old Sheffield slipjoint
– Careful disassembly and inspection of the blade, spring, and liners
– Heavy rust removal and corrosion treatment on old carbon steel
– Cleaning out hardened grease, dirt, and decades of pocket grime
– Straightening and tightening the pivot and backspring
– Polishing the blade while preserving original grind lines and stamp
– Sympathetic handle work to keep the knife’s age and character
– Final reassembly, oiling, and sharpness test on this rescued pocket knife
This isn’t a “make it look brand new at any cost” job. It’s a sympathetic restoration focused on:
– Keeping original Sheffield markings and stampings visible
– Retaining honest patina where it tells the knife’s story
– Making the knife mechanically sound, safe, and usable again
If you’re into:
– Vintage pocket knife restoration
– Sheffield knife history
– Traditional slipjoint knives and lambsfoot patterns
– Old carbon steel blades and proper rust removal
– How to restore a rusty knife step-by-step
…you’ll pick up plenty of tips, techniques, and mistakes to avoid.
Topics covered in this video include:
– How to safely break down an old slipjoint knife
– Best methods for removing deep rust without destroying the blade
– When to sand, when to polish, and when to leave patina alone
– How to restore knife handles without over-sanding or ruining the fit
– Lubrication and reassembly of a vintage folding knife
– Balancing collectability vs usability in antique knife restoration
This restored Sheffield knife could easily have been thrown away as “too far gone.” Instead, it’s now:
– Solid at the pivot
– Snappy at the half-stop and full open
– Cleaned, polished, and ready for another lifetime of use
If you like seeing forgotten knives brought back to life, hit subscribe to Slipjoint Sawyer for more:
– Traditional pocket knife reviews
– Vintage Sheffield knife restorations
– Honest buyer advice for collectors and users
– Comparisons of classic patterns like Barlows, lambsfoot knives, and Swiss Army knives
Let me know in the comments:
Would you have restored this 105-year-old Sheffield knife, or left it as a relic? And what knife should I rescue next from the rust pile?
0:00 Rusty Old Knife
0:35 Disassembly
4:08 Cleaning the rust
8:34 Making the scales
20:04 Assembly
28:47 Hafting the scales
39:15 Soaking in mineral oil
40:07 Polishing
44:44 Final product
???? WHY TRUST MY OPINION?
With over 1,100 videos and over 4 million views on this channel, I've restored, reviewed, and tested more traditional pocket knives than anyone else on YouTube. This isn't theory - it's hands-on experience from years in the workshop.
???? RELATED VIDEOS YOU'LL LOVE:
• https://youtu.be/5KZb3Vzx-QI
• https://youtu.be/gZd4k8qmIIo
• https://youtu.be/cYFJ2TwGv8I
???? WHERE TO BUY (Affiliate Links):
• Heinnie Haynes Affiliate link - https://tidd.ly/42wcqWF
• Brigantian Vintage Knives https://www.brigantian-vintage-pocketknives.co.uk/
• 10% Off at https://rosecraftblades.com/ with code Slippy10
• Rhoose Point Remedies, Outstanding wood restoration products! Affiliate link - https://rhoosepointremedies.com/product-category/wood-treatments/?wpam_id=15
• 10% off https://www.wubenlight.com/?ref=aofsfnod with code Slippy10 -
• 10% off https://www.viperade.com/ with code Slippy10 -
• 15% off https://shiresupply.com with code SlipjointSawyer15
???? BUSINESS ENQUIRIES:
Email - Slipjointsawyer@gmail.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/slipjointsawyer?igsh=aWttYWt0dGE0ZHA4
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@slipjointsawyer?_t=ZN-90wDeGIIDSA&_r=1
---
???? SUBSCRIBE for honest knife reviews, restorations, and collecting tips!
???? LIKE if you agree
???? COMMENT which is your favourite
---
DISCLAIMER: Some links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to keep making honest reviews. I only recommend products I've personally tested and believe in.
© 2025 Slipjoint Sawyer. All rights reserved.