Fixing Loose Leather Stacked Handle

[Mialum]

Hey there BladeForumers! I was recently gifted a small unbranded Japanese-origin fixed blade knife with a leather-stacked handle: which handle has several washers that are loose and moving up and down and rotating. The pommel doesn't seem to be of a screw-on construction (I did try tightening it, but it didn't budge at all). I've already soaked it in oil, hoping that that might swell and nourish the leather that has dried significantly over years of laying untouched in a Canadian garage; but this didn't do much. I don't particularly want to grind off the top of the pommel and reseat it, seeing as it's a gift and I want to keep it as untouched as possible, but I can't think of any other way to tighten up the handle.
Any ideas?

 

[Bill DeShivs]

You can insert leather washers by cutting them on one side and slipping them in. You can also do this with other materials. Put a drop of glue on
the joint after installation.
I doubt you can get it really tight that way though.

 

[Mialum]

You can insert leather washers by cutting them on one side and slipping them in. You can also do this with other materials. Put a drop of glue on
the joint after installation.
I doubt you can get it really tight that way though.

Although this is a pretty "obvious" solution, it strikes me as absolute genius! Thanks: I'll try it!