Got blade...how to handle?

SamuraiDave

SamuraiDave

Joined
Apr 6, 2001
Messages
2,632
I got my CS SRK stripped of its black epoxy coating, took the rubber handle off of it, and I polished the bade to 400 grit and blued it. Being a "2nd" I got years ago I did attempt to straighten out the grinds, but being already tempered it got rediclious, and am now content on how it looks.

The question I have is "How the heck do I fit a handle to this tang?"

It is a "quasi-stick" tang, meaning that it is 1/4" thick and ~1/2" wide, not round like most of the stick tangs I have done. My main concern is having the blade held into the handle with only epoxy.

Ideas and suggestions are welcome!
Thank you.
 
You can drill holes big enough to do a regular hidden tang with corby rivets, or pins. It just takes some finesse. Get yourself some tough drill bits and drill a hole or two through the tang and use some corby rivets, even drill small holes and just use nails. JB weld the guard, fill block hole with epoxy and put together and run rivets, nail, or pins through the block and tang. Let dry -- sand to desired shape. :D

Be warned, those CS tangs are tough cookies. I rehandled an old Recon Tanto and had to use a cobalt drill bit to go through the tang. :grumpy:
 
tanto1.jpg
 
Cobalt drill huh? Yeah I already figured that they were tough when I tryed with a regular drill bit and scratched the surface.

That does look good though. Hmmm... ideas...
 
I didn't know what it would look like til Mike posted that picture link. The one I did was like that tang except I already had the tang holes. If the tang is hardened you better use a carbide bit.

I just sunk a tang hole in the wood stock using a long 1/4 inch wood bit. I had to extend the hole with with files. Once I squared up the wood face I layed the tang on top of one side to mark the pin holes.

Roger
 
Dave
Try a carbide spade bit. Make sure you put a block underneath the hole for when the drill breaks through or it will chip the edges.
this will drill the tang.
Make the block fit then drill with the spade bit . It will go through both at the same time to line the holes up. Should be easy.
Keep everything square! Then finish it up.
 
Oops, my bad -- I orginally meant carbide bit, not cobalt. Anyway -- good luck and have fun. :D
 
Cold Steel knives are carbon steel if my memory is correct. Why not spot anneal the tang? This will allow you to use much less expensive bits.
Otherwise carbid bits are the only way to drill hardened steel. Medium to high speed on your drill press and light pressure. I also don't use coolent or cutting fluid when using carbide. If you use coolent the bit needs to be constantly emersed.

Tom
 
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