[Jeremy V. Krause]

Crazy question here,

So my daughter spills apple juice and it pools around a small Tod's stuff eating knife of mine still in it's sheath. So I clean off the, now black blade with some fine sand paper and scotchbrite revealing some uneven pitting which I may try to even out.. I guess i'll call it "antiqued". . .

Anyway, the juice stiffened the whole sheath and made it "gunky". Since then I have cleaned of the gunk and it seems supple again. The leather is on the thick side like all of Tod's beautiful sheaths.

So, would it be safe for me to put my oiled knife back in it with no fear or could the sugar, or acid, or whatever from the juice be problematic?

I haven't done anything to the sheath besides clean the outside with a damp paper towel and nail clipper blade. I haven't touched the inside or soaked it or anything.

The stiffness went away by just bending it back and forth a bunch of times.

Thanks for the help!

[Christopher Finneman]

I dont think it should be a problem really.
And well if it is a eating knife eventually something like this would be around or get on the blade or sheath itself.
But if you got the juice off it and cleaned all I think should be done is oil and maybe cleane a lil more.
Like I said though a knife like this is made to be used and eventually itll get dirty or what have you. Would make it look used which I like alot better than a (virgin) clean blade.

[Jeremy V. Krause]

I guess I should say that I am concerned about any sugar, acid, whatever on the INSIDE of the sheath. Would keeping the oiled knife in the sheath be a concern.

I did not attempt to clean the inside of the sheath at all but I guess I could try. Maybe a Q-tip or something.

What says everyone?

[Jean Thibodeau]

I would be concerned if juice got inside the sheath more than just at the lip and if the apple juice was not wiped away before the juice soaked the leather deeply.

If only outside spillage I wouldn't worry about using the sheath as long as it has been well dried and waxed or oiled using something suitable for leather.

By the way I do find it interesting that apple juice darkens carbon steel to black as it should be useful for those antiquing projects some of us like. I've used yellow mustard and/or lemon juice with interesting effects.

[JE Sarge]

I'd try a gun cleaning rod and swab the inside of the scabbard with acetone on a patch to try to remove any residue. I'd do this a few times, then let it dry over night. Then, I'd swab it again the next day with boiled linseed oil. Store the weapon for a day or so after you have done this to see what happens.

[Leo Todeschini]

What a bummer!

I guess we all know that apple juice is acidic now.

The apple juice will be a concoction of acidic salts, sugars and starches and as such acetone or other similar solvents won't really touch it, but they will effect the dye.

Water is what you would need to remove it I am afraid, but obviously this will mess up the scabbard. All I can suggest is that when the scabbard is dry it won't be an issue and it may just be OK, otherwise there may be enough ambient moisture to cause a problem.

You then have 3 choices I think.

Throw away the scabbard

Keep the knife heavily oiled

soak the scabbard in water for a couple of days, handle it very carefully and let it dry and with luck it will retain its shape. Any slight loss of shape may be pushed back into place as it gets nearly dry.

Good luck

Tod

[Jeremy V. Krause]

[Leo Todeschini]

[Jeremy V. Krause]

[Jeremy V. Krause]

Update on my eating knife,

After 2 days of vinegar and salt solution it looks great. The pitting is pretty even and the bronze has a warmer tone. I kept it in the sheath over night with no seeming effects so, everything considered, I consider my endeavor a success.