Old Browning Tracker Refurb

[rodlonq]

I was havin’ a good old stickybeak in Dad’s shed yesterday and found this little knife amongst other tools that haven’t been used for a long time. I told him I reckon it goes back to when Browning still made bows and he gave it to me, not that I was hintin’ or anything. It must have been amongst one of the various boxes of mixed goodies he bought from a second hand dealer or marketeer. Anyways, he couldn’t remember where it came from or ever having used it so I stuck it in my pocket and changed the subject to having a cold beverage before he had a chance to change his mind .

OldTracker1small.JPG (104.65 KiB) Viewed 1893 times

OldTracker2 small.JPG (58.66 KiB) Viewed 1893 times

I was amused at how much the sheath has shrunk. It is so stiff I thought it might break if I tried to bend it at all. The point of the blade is pushed firmly home in the photo above.

My first thought was I could post these pics on the forum and perhaps one of the experts there can tell me something useful about the knife. Anyways I tried google images and straight up got a little bit of info from a dealer who sells old Browning knives.

Browning Tracker1.png (156.09 KiB) Viewed 1893 times

Browning Tracker2.png (134.34 KiB) Viewed 1893 times

I am going to try and refurbish the knife. The whole thing has had a clean up with about 120 grit on what looks to have been a disc sander. The knife is about 1/8” shorter than the nominated 6 ½”. I will try to make a new replica sheath too. Thanks for looking.

Cheers...... Rod

[bigbob]

Nice score Rod! I must really be getting old as I can easily remember when Browning did make bows.

[perry]

Try rubbing a little Olive Oil or other quality Vegetable Oil into the Sheath, you might just be surprised. Slightly dampen it with a Cloth you have squeezed the water out of, this will open the pores a little and then apply the Vegie Oil. A little Vegie Oil on the Knife Scales and some 0000 Steel Wool might clean it up Ok aswell

regards Jacko

[rodlonq]

I thought so Bob

Try rubbing a little Olive Oil or other quality Vegetable Oil into the Sheath, you might just be surprised. Slightly dampen it with a Cloth you have squeezed the water out of, this will open the pores a little and then apply the Vegie Oil. A little Vegie Oil on the Knife Scales and some 0000 Steel Wool might clean it up Ok aswell

regards Jacko

Thanks Perry,

I'll try those tricks. It does have a lot of deep scratches from the previous clean up. I would like to try to bring it up looking like new, with the mirror finish etc.. As for the sheath, well thats just a challenge I cannot resist. It is very much along the style of leatherwork I enjoy, but I haven't made one so fiddly yet. The stamp pattern is similar to the sheath I made to hang up my head knife, but my basket weave stamp is one size bigger.

RK1-smaller.jpg (109.64 KiB) Viewed 1882 times

Cheers...... Rod

[bigbob]

Very nice work there Rod, very smick!

[hardgainer]

What a great old blade Rod. A great find........ good advice from Perry she will come up a treat.
Tony S.