Building a knife handle with cord and epoxy

H

HFinn

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Sep 6, 2012
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Somewhere in the net I saw a picture of a neckknife that had an interesting handle. It was made of some kind of cord, sisal or hemp cord if I remember right. The handle was made by soking the cord in two-part epoxy and then wrapping it over the handle. Several layers were used. By using cords of different color it is possible to do two or more colored handle. When the epoxy has cured you have a sort of micarta handle that can be finished by sanding.

Has anyone else tried something like this? Pictures would be wellcome. I had in mind to use a hidden tang scandi blade for this kind of project. First I would make "bolsters" or plates on both ends of the handle of suitable washers, that would help making a tighter weave by having something to push against. The washer at the end of the handle would be hot-peened in place.
 
Sure, it's a popular easy handle.

This is my neck knife.

IMAG1373_zps1435d46e.jpg


I saw a nice variation the other day where the maker used slabs of leather on either side of the full tang to give it some girth before doing the wrap. In that way you could get some decent ergos.

Your ideas sound nice. If you do it, I'd like to see pics. ;)
 
Strigamort said:
Sure, it's a popular easy handle.

This is my neck knife.

IMAG1373_zps1435d46e.jpg


I saw a nice variation the other day where the maker used slabs of leather on either side of the full tang to give it some girth before doing the wrap. In that way you could get some decent ergos.

Your ideas sound nice. If you do it, I'd like to see pics. ;)
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Hey Strig..
Neat little blade. Is that hollowed paracord?
If I understand the op, could I build up enough layers that I could then grind or sand a palm swell into the handle? I'm picturing alternating brown and black to get a woodgrain look.
 
r8shell said:
Hey Strig..
Neat little blade. Is that hollowed paracord?
If I understand the op, could I build up enough layers that I could then grind or sand a palm swell into the handle? I'm picturing alternating brown and black to get a woodgrain look.
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Yes, something like this I had in mind. The idea was that maybe by soaking the cord I could produce something resembling micarta. A sisal or hemp cord might produce a handle that could be sanded to shape.
 
HFinn said:
Yes, something like this I had in mind. The idea was that maybe by soaking the cord I could produce something resembling micarta. A sisal or hemp cord might produce a handle that could be sanded to shape.
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Seems like a cool idea. I may follow this thread, and put it on my list of projects to try after the holidays.
Worst case scenario, you try it, and it makes a big mess. :D You couldn't hurt the knife itself.
 
r8shell said:
Worst case scenario, you try it, and it makes a big mess. :D You couldn't hurt the knife itself.
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That's the plan. Anyway epoxy will disintegrate with heat not even close to messing up the heat treat, so it is possible to take the remains off the tang.
 
soaking the cord and then wrapping it???? sounds way to messy to me----any cord wrappings i've done were wrap then coat (i use shelac).
 
I have been thinking of trying this. Multiple layers of wrapping. Hope it works for you so I know it is possible.
 
Would it be like micarta? Eh... I doubt it. Probably closer to a g10 type of feel, but it may end up being very cool!

Yes, it's gutted paracord. My biggest concern would be voids. Without a lot of pressure you will no doubt have them. Maybe wouldn't see them on the surface, but definitely once you start sanding. If you use something other than pc (read natural fiber) it will probably soak in better, but then your making my-carta which has been done with all sorts of stuff. Look up Shadetree Phoenolics (sp) for examples of off the charts cool micarta.

It should be possible to soften epoxy with boiling water, yes. People do that to remove scales, but I wouldn't want to deal with the mess you guys are talking about. :eek:

These are all educated guesses and opinion though. Prove me wrong. I'd love to see it! ;)
 
First experiment. This one has a wooden core, because I wanted to make a longer handle. The hemp cord/epoxy combination is quite hard, you can sand it without breaking the cords. I heated the epoxy in a metal cup slightly, this way it was more liquid and soaked the cord better. The method is messy, but seems to work.

28112013415.jpg
 
That looks kind of neat. Did you soak the cord before wrapping, as planned, or did you decide to do it after? Do you think the epoxy is soaked in enough that it won't absorb moisture, now? Anyway, good job :thumbup:
 
The process went like this with this one: I first put liberal amounts of epoxy underneath, then started the wrapping and put on the epoxy while doing that, keeping the cord tight with one hand. So I did not put the cord first in epoxy because I thought it would not be needed. The heated epoxy worked its way into cord quite nicely. I have used a Dremel sander with this one and seems the cord has been soaked through even this way.

Of course this is a first experiment. I will do another experimental run on some other knife before I try anything major, but I have been thinkig about applying this method to my Enzo necker. Clearly I need to practise my wrapping before that.
 
PC010039.JPG


Just could not get an even wrap in the butt of the blade, so this is the result. I am still quite pleased. I will fill the uneven places in the butt with a thinner cord of different color, black or red. Just have to file those places first clean.
 
In another thread I saw some pics of a knife with epoxy soaked burlap wrapped around the handle, then finished sanded. I believe the knife came from a company called Survival Logic. Very cool looking and may give you some ideas. It did me.

Very cool looking wrap. :)

Edit- and now that I've said that, I can't find anything on Survival Logic. :( I'll let you know if I find anything.
 
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nothing and i mean nothing will hurt our cord handle wrap . the only way i can remove one is with my metal cutting band saw.
they have been tested in the jungle ,desert , water, soaked in gas, one was hit by a 308 cal bullet and only came off at the point of impact!!
 
Knifemaker24@aol.com said:
look at my web sight ,my father and i are who started that in the U.S in the late 70s www.phillhartsfield.com
my dad has past now , but I have been doing it for over 20 yrs now have fun with your project all the best phill jr
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I am relatively inexperienced with knives still, but have heard high praise about your knives. Thank's for your comment.

I really would like to do something of a "gentleman's small fixed blade", but that is now beyond my capabilities. With time maybe this will grow into a new hobby.
 
Knifemaker24@aol.com said:
nothing and i mean nothing will hurt our cord handle wrap . the only way i can remove one is with my metal cutting band saw.
they have been tested in the jungle ,desert , water, soaked in gas, one was hit by a 308 cal bullet and only came off at the point of impact!!
Click to expand...

It is true.... The Hartsfield wrap is bullet proof :)

I really admired Phill Hartsfield and his cord wraps haunted my knife dreams for years to the point I love making them and happy I met him. Here is one of mine with much respect to the Hartsfield tradtion

 
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