Bringing new life to an old TL-29 using simple hand tools

Thank you again, Evan. I am now addicted to modding knives, and just recently bought some nickel silver to make bolsters.

Here is a nicely modded TL-29 in desert ironwood.

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You really brought out the grain in that Ironwood. Looks great!
 
glennbad said:
You really brought out the grain in that Ironwood. Looks great!
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Thanks Glennbad, you have also inspired me. I am going to make an EO next.

Here is a TL-29 I just finished today. It was caked in rust when I got it. I had to sand it away, and finally stopped because it was too deeply pitted, but the blades where still sound. I took it apart and decided to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

I made some scales from some nicely figured Sicilian almond wood taken from my tree, and stained it with some chestnut and cherry stain.

This is my first time trying filework. It is truly a big pain in the butt that will take me some practice to perfect. I finally got the hafting down, however.

I like this knife. It is a little scarred and worn, like me, but still does the trick.

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Very impressive!!! Excellent fit and finish, smooth and even hafting, and hidden pivot pins?! Well done, my friend! Your skills have improved very quickly!!
 
The sanded pitting on the blade almost gives it a damascus look. Looks like a real classy carry piece now! I like it!
 
esnyx said:
Very impressive!!! Excellent fit and finish, smooth and even hafting, and hidden pivot pins?! Well done, my friend! Your skills have improved very quickly!!
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Thanks Evan! I have been cranking out around two a week since I started. It just takes practice. I got around 10 more TL-29s to practice on. My next quest will be to solder some bolsters on a knife, and eventually build one from scratch.
 
Great work guys quick question what is the bolster material on these camillus tl 29 s? Thanks for any information.
 
philllll said:
dma, you are on fire with those TL-29 mods! Make one into a barlow! Or a beerlow!! :D
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Per your request, Phil, I have made my first attempt at a TL-29 based locking Barlow.

This began life as a Colonial TL-29 with hollow handles. The knife was riveted together under the handles. Despite some brass coloration, everything on this knife is steel, as I discovered when sanding the parts.

I had to drill out the rivets and make some real bolsters from nickel silver bar stock. I soldered them on, and then spent forever grinding them to shape. I did not have the right diameter pivot pin for the blade, so I had to sand one down by chucking it in a drill and then using my belt sander and drill together to grind it down.

The scales are padauk wood cut with the grain running perpendicular to the centerline of the knife handle.

I could not get the pivot pin to hide completely on this. My reaming and peening were a bit off. I tried to fix it, and ended up knocking off one bolster, but got it back on with some 2 ton epoxy, which works quite well in this case, because the bolster was already ground to shape. I do not know if the epoxy could take the pressure of prolonged grinding.

Overall, it turned out ok for my first attempt at making bolsters. All I have to say for knife makers who do this for a living and produce flawless knives is that I tip my hat to you. This is an arduous and time consuming task, and, as the great Tony Bose says "The first thing you need is a case of the want toos."

Thanks again to Esnyx for his great tutorials, and for both Esnyx and Glennbad for inspiring me to go for it. I have 10 more TL-29s to play with, and some brass sheet to start cutting liners out.

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Man, dma1965, you just keep getting better, and faster, and more ambitious!!:thumbup::thumbup:
Nice work; I think your barlow looks great!
When are you going to start taking orders from whittler wanna-bes who'd love to get one of your TL-29 mods? :D

- GT
 
5K Qs said:
Man, dma1965, you just keep getting better, and faster, and more ambitious!!:thumbup::thumbup:
Nice work; I think your barlow looks great!
When are you going to start taking orders from whittler wanna-bes who'd love to get one of your TL-29 mods? :D

- GT
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Thanks for the kudos! Give me some time and I will probably do a giveaway, and perhaps let you test out a new design idea :)
 
Awesome work!!! Wow, you are progressing quickly! That barlow came out very nicely!! Look at you, cutting out your own bolsters and all! Way to go buddy!!
 
Awesome work DMA! Here's a TL-29 I just finished all by hand. Rehafted in Butterscotch Paper Micarta with Screwdriver converted to sheepsfoot.





 
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