Bear Bone Handle - will this even work? (Picture)

Col Defender

Col Defender

Joined
Nov 11, 2011
Messages
1,398
Good morning - a couple of my hunting friends want me to make them a knife with a bear bone handle to commemorate their recent hunt. I've never done this before so I am making one for me as a trial to see what works and what does not work. Here's what I have so far:

The bone is now hollow and the brass butt plate is good and tight with Gorilla Glue (for now at least). I have not started on the blade yet except for a cardboard model. I see two options at this point.

1. I could make the blade with a long tang which would go into the bone to within about 1/4" of the butt plate. The bone cavity would be entirely filled with Gorilla Glue or JB Weld first. Given my level of skills, I think I have a pretty good chance of ending up with the blade perfectly straight in the handle and a good looking finished product. But I fear that the butt plate may eventually break off; I think the blade would be OK though.

2. I could make the blade with a longer tang with either a machine screw welded to the end of it or with the tang itself threaded and all of that run through the center of the butt plate with a nut on it. This would obviously be stronger but I worry that I would be less able to get the blade properly aligned and straight with the extra requirement of going through the hole at the back end.

Not sure what to do now. lf the "test" knife fails that is OK but it's not OK if a knife I sell fails. I would like to go with option 1 because I am more sure that I can do a nice looking knife that way but if I am just kidding myself in thinking that it will hold up over time and use I hope some of you more experienced guys will tell me that now.

And should I put a brass plate on the front end as well?

Sorry for the long post but I want to be clear about what is worrying me now.

Thanks so much.

Steve
 
I wouldn't use gorilla glue in the handle, it doesn't do gap filling very well at all. I'd probably
make a stick tang, threaded at the end with a nut brazed to the butt plate and a brass plate in front of the handle
as well. Check for a good fit, fill the bone with epoxy and thread on the butt plate, wipe off any
overflow and let it harden.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Bill
 
Strange, the gorilla glue I use expands like foam, fills every cranny and crack. But in answer to your question, if the bone is hollow how could you not fail to align the tang perfectly? Perhaps I don't understand your question. Here's another method. Go ahead and thread your tang, make sure it sticks out of the end of the bone at least a quarter to half and inch. Grease the tang, I use plain petroleum jelly, and fill your handle with the metal plumbers epoxy sold at most hardware stores. Now push your tang through before the epoxy hardens, and then withdraw it and let it harden. It'll take a little work to get the tang back in, but it doesn't take all that long. Go ahead and fix your nut down good and tight, and your are done. Oh, you asked about the front, didn't you. Well, you do need something to keep the handle from moving, whether a guard to fit the handle up against, or a good solid fitting attachment. Hope that helps a little.
 
Gorilla glue will foam up nicely, especially if the humidity is high or you put a bit of water in the joint. But the strength of Gorilla glue or similar urethane adhesive "foam" filling a gap does not really compare to the strength of a good epoxy filling the same gap
 
It's always been strong enough for my purpose, but I stopped using it because it's just plain messy. I've had good luck using the steel plumbers putty though. And with a thread tang to tighten it down , it all goes together nicely.
 
David Stifle said:
Strange, the gorilla glue I use expands like foam, fills every cranny and crack. But in answer to your question, if the bone is hollow how could you not fail to align the tang perfectly? Perhaps I don't understand your question. Here's another method. Go ahead and thread your tang, make sure it sticks out of the end of the bone at least a quarter to half and inch. Grease the tang, I use plain petroleum jelly, and fill your handle with the metal plumbers epoxy sold at most hardware stores. Now push your tang through before the epoxy hardens, and then withdraw it and let it harden. It'll take a little work to get the tang back in, but it doesn't take all that long. Go ahead and fix your nut down good and tight, and your are done. Oh, you asked about the front, didn't you. Well, you do need something to keep the handle from moving, whether a guard to fit the handle up against, or a good solid fitting attachment. Hope that helps a little.
Click to expand...

Thanks David - but what is the reason to pull the tang out before the epoxy hardens and then reinsert it? I'm not understanding why one would not just leave it in, tighten the nut, and be done. I'm wondering because I plan to follow your lead on this.

Thanks, Steve
 
Col Defender said:
Thanks David - but what is the reason to pull the tang out before the epoxy hardens and then reinsert it? I'm not understanding why one would not just leave it in, tighten the nut, and be done. I'm wondering because I plan to follow your lead on this.

Thanks, Steve
Click to expand...

Oh, you could most certainly do that. I pull it out, let the putty harden, and then put it back because I want to be able to dissemble the handle so I can occasionally clean the tang to keep it rust free.
 
I'd cut threads in the buttplate and have it good and solid like that.
If you don't want them to show you can have the hole not go trough all the way.
BTW no legal issues using bear bone?
 
Hengelo_77 said:
.
BTW no legal issues using bear bone?
Click to expand...
Legal issues? From using bear bone, or selling the knife? I have no idea - did you have anything particular in mind? The bear was taken legally and would this not be just like a taxidermist selling hides, mounted heads, antlers etc.? If there is something I am missing, please let me know. Thanks.
 
The last info I read was that they changed the restrictions on Black Bear parts and it is now legal to sell the bones, hide, claws, and skull. It was previously necessary to make some sort of craft item from them ( a knife handle qualifies) to legally sell black bear parts. So, it is legal for you to make and sell the knife in question. If you ever have a question about legality of animal parts, just call/email/write your State or Federal Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Even then, get the actual statute and look it up. The guy on the phone won't always be right.
 
Try using the lower jaw bones of a black bear for your knife handle. Here in West Virginia it is legal to use the jaw bones and legal to sell.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top