Finger guard repair on 148

[Barry E Harris]

I just got a Schrade Walden 148 I bought off fleabay in the mail. Leather handle is like new; blade is in decent shape; but the darn finger guard is loose. I know how to solder a guard on a new blade blank. That is usually done from the handle side of the guard. I am extremely dubious about trying to solder this finger guard from the front. I feel like its likely the leather handle would get messed up. I don't want to take the handle apart. Any ideas on how I could stabilize this finger guard (some kind of epoxy maybe)? From now whether or not the finger guard is loose will be one of my routine questions to sellers. This has also made me curious about something else. How did Schrade attach this old style pommel (like on the 147, 148, etc.) to the tang?

 

[Codger_64]

The guard is slipped over the tang to the choil, then spacers, leather washers, spacers, then the pommel is pressed on to tighten the assembly, then the pommel pin (1) is inserted and smoothed. This is just what I can figure from looking at a bunch of them. If the guard is loose, it is likely because the leather washers have shrunken. You might rub the handle with pure neetsfoot to re-swell them, or you could carefully add a dab of suerglue to the guard with a toothpick. If it is for display, I wouldn't bother doing anything. But that is just me. A slightly loose guard on an old knife does not bother me, except on a user. I have a user I actually dipped the handle in neetsfoot, drip-dryed it, and wiped of the excess. Two such treatments tightened it nicely and conditioned the leather...but it also darkened it.

Michael

 

[Barry E Harris]

Thanks Michael. I'll try the neatsfoot. It is a user; but, also for display. The blade has not been abused but has enough use on it that a darker handle won't be the end of the world. I don't know if a slightly loose finger guard is a huge safety issue; but, when you feel it move it can make you lose your point of reference and that can be a safety issue, IMHO. This is a little odd in that the movement is side to side and not front to back. On the pommel issue, I had never noticed the pin on these Schrade pommels, hence the question; but, when I looked real close, I could see it. It is usually much more noticeable on other knives, such as the old Westerns. Thanks again!