Chiruwa Construction

[oldschool45]

Can somebody please post a top down picture of the handle of a Chiruwa constructed knife? I'm trying to figure out if they are full(whole shape of the handle) or partial tang(pins through a partial tang & peened end cap) built.
Thanks

 

[Karda]

Chiruwa Handles are where the tang is the full width of the handle. The actual handle material are two "slabs" on either side of the tang and held on with Laha and solid pins. Some are made with a Buttcap, like the CAK and it is held on by peening a small nub on the end of the tang. On models without a buttcap such as the ASTK the tang is just contoured to match the shape of the handle.

 

[oldschool45]

Thanks Karda! That is exactly what I needed to see. It means that re-handling a Chiruwa is simple compared to doing a folding knife. Now I just need a blade and some big slabs of ironwood or cocobolo

 

[Karda]

I don't know if i'd call it simple.
First you will have to drill out the pins and they can be quite the pain.
Then you will probably have to boil the handle a bit to soften any laha holding the handle on. On most pieces the handle is fitted, at least partially, underneath the bolster with the rest of it filled with laha.

On rat tail tang styles the procedure is simpler. You grind off the nub that holds the buttcap and keeper on and then boil the handle until it softens the laha enough to allow you to quickly pull the handle off.

 

[greenwoods]

That's the funny part. I have had a CAK blem for a few years and there was a small space from handle shrinkage and I planned on putting on some Bocote scales as soon as I broke the horn off from use...lololololol...they've never budged

I love that baby, bulletproof.

Mark

 

[oldschool45]

Drillpress or drill or press out the pins. I've drilled pin holes in my own hardened blades(rockwell in upper 50's 1095) with cobalt bits as part of my learning curve:grumpy: Will direct heat a la prestolight torch with mapp gas soften up the Laha or does it need to be boiled? If all else fails I'll lock it up in a vice and use a cold chisel or grind it into submission.

 

[amflud]

You won't be able to get to the laha with a torch, unless you plan on burning off the scales. The laha is sandwiched between the each scale and the tang. It's probably best to just boil it.

 

[oldschool45]

Guess I'd better find a pot at a garage sale because that's gonna be some interesting looking soup Toss in some onions & vinegar to get the Patina started?