I picked up this very disreputable Kropp at a junk stall today for $5. I bought it mainly for the challenges its restoration would offer. Apart from the broken scale and rusting it had a frown of about 1.5mm / 1/16". I 'bread-knifed' the frown away on a diamond lap and took the blade back to the condition shown in the final picture using assorted woodworkers whet stones, Carborundum papers and a Tam O'Shanter/Water of Ayr stone. I think the blade must have been ground (in Hamburg) with some inherent problems. The spine is wedge shaped over its length making honing without using tape an impossibility. The rust was mainly superficial and where there is pitting it is away from the sharpening area.
It is now impressively sharp - well the front end is!
I will make some scales from indigenous hardwood. Possibly something exotic like Mulga.
It is now impressively sharp - well the front end is!
I will make some scales from indigenous hardwood. Possibly something exotic like Mulga.
