Gap in my handle,,,

G

Grouser1741

Joined
Apr 17, 2018
Messages
319
I have a hidden Tang Bowie style knife with a butt cap on the handle. I'm trying to fit a natural burl wood handle up to the Brass guard. Everytime I try to file it in one place to get rid of the Gap it just moves the Gap somewhere else. I'm tired of chasing it and I'm going to run out of handle before I fix it. I'm trying to think of a way of putting dye or marker powder something on one and transfer it to the other to show me where to file but it's just not coming to me. Can someone please explain how to do it at a 3rd grade level. Thanks
 
Try putting a piece of carbon paper between the guard and the handle material with the carbon against the handle and move it enough to rub off some of the carbon. That should show you the high and low spots. check you fit after one or two strokes of the file or sandpaper or ? to remove very little material at a time.....
 
TIPS:
When fitting a hidden tang handle to a guard, After the rough fit-up, chamfer the hole out toward the edge, leaving about 1/16" of flat area around the perimeter. This makes final fitting much easier because you are only fitting the edge.

Dye the resin to match the wood color. This makes tiny gaps disappear.

Glue a piece of leather to the handle end and trim/sand it flush. Cut the tang hole in it and slip on the tang. By clamping with firm pressure in your handle jig, the leather will conform to slight irregularities in the guard and handle. I like black dyed leather for this job.

Make a handle jig. It will allow a perfectly aligned and tight handle to guard fit up and glue job.

Here are some handle jigs:
th
IMG_2256-825x510.jpg
 
Joseph H. said:
You can glue some sandpaper with the backside to the guard. Than move the handle to remove the wood. It wil mirror the surface of the guard.
Only worksnif the guard is flat...
Click to expand...
That's a GREAT idea! That's what I like about reading the forum, I keep learning new tidbits that make knifemaking easier.
 
I just ran into this as well with a fighter I’m making. I had to keep holding it up to a light to see where the gap was. Then using sandpaper on a granite plate slowly pull with the handle top down putting pressure where needed. Pretty long and tedious problem.
 
Grouser1741 said:
I have a hidden Tang Bowie style knife with a butt cap on the handle. I'm trying to fit a natural burl wood handle up to the Brass guard. Everytime I try to file it in one place to get rid of the Gap it just moves the Gap somewhere else. I'm tired of chasing it and I'm going to run out of handle before I fix it. I'm trying to think of a way of putting dye or marker powder something on one and transfer it to the other to show me where to file but it's just not coming to me. Can someone please explain how to do it at a 3rd grade level. Thanks
Click to expand...
Piece of thin leather will solve that problem fast and will look good. Glue everything in jig , shape handle and when you are close to finish soak that thin piece of leather with CA glue and sand it to finish.. if necessary apply more CA ...It will look like black G10 on finished knife ,hard and can be polished :D
This knife /down on picture / is done that way with same reason .....:D
As knife maker you need to learn to cheat sometimes......or more often :p

JGBYtvU.jpg
 
Yes, I suggested earlier, but it would have to be fitted prior to mounting the handle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top