Buck 500 Duke - Custom Handle

L

Lance86

Joined
Dec 29, 2020
Messages
3
Hey gang-
I was thinking of trying my hand at a custom handle for my Buck 500 "Duke" knife. I have some cherry stock leftover from another project that I thought would look nice in place of the factory handle. I have zero experience making knife handles, but have a pretty loaded workshop that I know my way around pretty well. Has anyone ever done this themselves on one of these Buck folders and can you offer any advice?
1. Does anyone know if the rivets on modern Dukes are functional or simply decoration?
2. In terms of fitting the handle, are you guys roughly fitting the wood, attaching it and then finishing the shape by hand or are you using a design sized for scales of the Buck to start out with; If the latter, where are you getting those designs and do you have any to share?
3. Anything else I should keep in mind in regards to design, shaping or finishing touches (stains, waxes, etc...)?

This is a nifty approach I found on the web that uses a general approach to a re-handle, but I wondered if anyone was experienced with this specific model or a Buck knife of similar size:
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Thanks in advance and Happy New Year!

-L
 
Really the only other way to rescale a pinned knife would be to completely take it apart and repin the wood to the handle. But in practice I think following the video you posted and using just epoxy holds up just fine.
 
I bought this 500 in pretty rough shape as a project. The bolsters were damaged, so I thought I would do a bare head modification. I had done the same to a brass 112, but I wasn't prepared for how tough this old Buck was.
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On the pins, I cut the heads off and worked them out. Then fit the wood slab.
Before gluing it I ran a tooth pick thru both holes snug and cut them flush on the outside. If you don't do this glue gets in the blade well. After the glue cures cut them out of the blade well. Also, tape your blade. DM
 
Thanks for the tips, guys, and good tip on the Titebond 326; my next question was going to be about the type of glue y'all had the most success with on the scales.
 
I’ve been curious about the kind of glue to use myself. I have a chunk of Osage Orange/ Bois’ D’arc wood that I acquired from my SIL a few years ago that should be nice and cured by now as it has a nice orange color to it. My plan is to make a few handles and scales from it. I recently bought a table saw and slide rack just for the project. Titebond it is, I’ll be shopping for it tomorrow.
 
I cannot find a titebond 326. There is a titebond polyurethane which would work but if it has the same properties of other polyurethane glues, I wouldn't touch it. If it is non expanding, I'd be interested.
 
Sorry guys, Loctite not titebond. It is not a polyurthane.
Loctite AA 326 Methacrylate Adhesive. as I recall 326 and AA 326 is the same.
 
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