First time knife maker-need advice

S

slooshark1

Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
4
I would like to make a bone or antler handle for my knife but I would like to have leather washers and brass sheet layers at either end of the bone to help absorb shock if the knife was ever dropped. I was planning on using a piece of elk antler as the bone part and I was going to use an old belt to cut the leather out for the washers. Does anyone know where I can get some brass to go in between the leather washers? Also, I see a lot of colored layers on other knives. What materials are those layers? Where can I get my hands on some brass sheeting and where can I get a chunk of brass for the hilt on my knife? What about material for the pommel? What should I use and how do I shape it to look nice. Last but not least, how do I compress the leather washers so that the handle does not become loose in the future? I have limited tools and have made the blade with a file so far. A friend of mine heated up a snowmobile leaf spring red hot and pounded it flat. Then we cut out the profile of the knife with a torch and I've filed into shape from there, and I will heat treat it after I'm done doing all the work on it.

Thank you in advance,

Slooshark1
 
The brass and colored spacer can be gotten from any knife makers catalog such as Texas Knife makers or K&G.

As to the leather washers...Ray Smith showed me a trick for that. Use a table vice to compress the leather washers as thin as you can and then assemble the whole thing with Gorilla Glue. Let everything swell and expand and grind it all down from there. For shaping your handle you can pick up an inexpensive 1" x 30" belt grinder from Harbor Freight for about $40.00 I think. This was my very first knife grinder.
 
bladsmth said:
Brass can be had at any hobby shop,or from the knife suppliers.The site mentioned by gringogunsmith is www.knifehow.com .
Stacy
Click to expand...
hey as a newby you can go here too for info on,,, stuff:)
http://www.knivesby.com/knifemaking.html

Stacy for some reason this is the first time that I see that you are from Norfolk :confused: :D
I'll be there next Oct for a weekend in VB, maybe I can bug you some in person:D
thanks for the e-mail:)
 
Look up Rangeroriginal.com Rob! is on this forum and runs a good, new supply company and is located in Canada. I have used him and it was a pleasure!
Welcome to bladeforums- great handle by the way!!
 
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