Dismantling a Warthog, or "Hey, Wanna See My Tang?"

BRL

BRL

Joined
Apr 27, 2011
Messages
3,201
So I knew, because of the handle rattle, that at some point I was going to be forced to drill out the lanyard tube and pull the handle off my Warthog in order to epoxy it. The first-run versions of this latest revision apparently had an issue with this and mine was no different. But I was cool with that as I have some mods planned anyway, so tonight I had a few too many beers and decided to haul out the drill and paint stripper. Story of my life, really. Hell, I've got at least three kids because of that phrase.

Anyway, on to the pics.

Here's my safety-first workbench, ready to get to bizness:
IMG_20110815_193802.jpg


Ok, now to try to pick out which bit to use. Oh, wait, these are in inches... not gonna work on a Taiwanese blade :p
IMG_20110815_193810.jpg


OMFG I AM DRILLING MY KNIFE AM I INSANE?
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Progress
IMG_20110815_193945.jpg


C'mon, get the <beep> out you <beep> son of a <beep>
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Oh you made me get the saw out oh no you di'int
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Kraton suffered a little from my crazy skills
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Ta Da: The Aristocrats!
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Here are front and other front shots of the Warthog tang and handle next to a not-scientifically placed tape measure
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IMG_20110815_195417.jpg


Closeups of the Warthog tang:
IMG_20110815_195432.jpg

IMG_20110815_195424.jpg


Inside the handle. I batoned directly against the back of the handle today really hard with a 3" branch and there looks to be no damage inside:
IMG_20110815_195250.jpg


Simulating the blade placement against the handle, showing that there's appx 1/4" of handle covering the tang tip
IMG_20110815_195541.jpg

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More tang closeups, including a shot that most likely shows a slight swell from the press:
IMG_20110815_195832.jpg

IMG_20110815_195905.jpg

IMG_20110815_195819.jpg


TO BE CONTINUED...
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I for one thank you sir. I wish it was a full handle width full tang, but at least it is a full tang. I am looking forward to the end result as well. I also have one & use it hard. I try hard not to strike the handle though. I have numerous times on my Beckers, but they have a full width full tang, so the metal takes most of the impact-not the handle.
 
Interesting.........

Tell me more.

:D

Moose
 
So your putting the old kraton handles back on? Why not make your own and really customize the sucker
 
clich said:
So your putting the old kraton handles back on? Why not make your own and really customize the sucker
Click to expand...

I really like the Toooj handle, I would put it back on, once the handle was epoxied in place. It really works well for the blade shape and weight.

Plus, other than doing a micarta hollow out, there's nothing that I would want as a handle material.

Moose
 
clich said:
So your putting the old kraton handles back on? Why not make your own and really customize the sucker
Click to expand...

I really like the Toooj handle, as Moose said. I do kinda have in the back of my mind that long term, someday/maybe I'll do a custom handle just for fun, but the handle as it is now is is cool and totally keepable.
 
Thanks for doing this man, its nice to see that tang in there. I'm assuming that the tang on the Heavy Bowie looks similar. I'll be interested to see what else you have planned for this knife.
 
I should note that I'm going to try 'something' on the handle and may end up needing to make a replacement anyway :)
 
No disrespect intended to Toooj's handle - I kind of like those too - but a stripped warthog with a nice leather handle would be a one-of-a-kind treat.


---
Beckerhead #42
 
a stacked leather handle would be nifty and solid on that tang. oh yeah.

i'm wondering if doing a tapered wrap with fiber glass cloth/epoxy would do a nice job, then sand it smooth-ish, and then HAMMER that thing into the original tang. voila. super tight, mechanically speaking too, backed up with solid glass weave... be a lot less messy too on assembly.
 
Stacked leather would be the awesomest!! BRL if you want I have some scrap. email me if you want.
 
Good suggestions and thanks for the scrap offer Nick. Only problem? I have no idea what I'm doing. Hell, I had a really hard time just drilling out the lanyard tube, heh. In fact, I'm trying not to think about the fact that I have no idea how I'm going to replace that lanyard tube when the time comes to put my knife back together.

I'm pretty, but maybe not all that smart.
 
BRL said:
Good suggestions and thanks for the scrap offer Nick. Only problem? I have no idea what I'm doing. Hell, I had a really hard time just drilling out the lanyard tube, heh. In fact, I'm trying not to think about the fact that I have no idea how I'm going to replace that lanyard tube when the time comes to put my knife back together.

I'm pretty, but maybe not all that smart.
Click to expand...

there's a faq on how to do this on the HI forum for rat tail khukris. it involves lots of epoxy, mess, and some time, then you have to sand and shape the handle

the simple thing to do right now would be to try some plastic shims, and see if that works out.

as for the rivet, so what the japanese sword thing and hammer a pin through as a starter. i'd use teflon or something, but perhaps you can find some nice tubing or metal or chopstick ;) glue it in if need be.
 
You can find a roll pin at your hardware store. Those would work nice to put it back together.
 
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