Handle fix? if even possible....

keroscene · May 9, 2015

I apologize it this has been done before, as I'm sure it has. Sorry, but I really suck at finding info.

Anyway, this knife was given to me by a coworker. It was her grandpa's and she really wants it fixed. My question for the gurus here is, can this handle be fixed? Or, am I just better off replacing the scales? I'm pretty sure she doesn't care if they're replaced, but it would be better if I could keep the originals and sand them to eliminate blems.

thanks in advance.....

guess i should mention the problem (though the photo is pretty evident). handles are warped, causing gapping.

Pondoro2310 · May 9, 2015

You could carefully flatten the insides of the scales by rubbing them on sandpaper that is laying on a flat surface. Of course they'll end up thinner by the size of the gap. If you plan to epoxy them back on the epoxy will fill any remaining gap so you needn't get them perfectly flat. Does she want it to look perfect or does she just want to use Grandpa's knife again?

keroscene · May 9, 2015

Thanks for the response. She just wants to use the knife.

HeavyHanded · May 9, 2015

You might be able to just soak it in water and padded vice it till it dries. Tap the rivets down a bit. If I had to pull them off I'd replace them.

keroscene · May 9, 2015

I actually wondered if something like that would work. Thanks for the advice. If that doesn't work I'll Remo e them.

Appreciate the help guys!

BluntCut MetalWorks · May 9, 2015

Try
Pull sand paper through the gaps to clean scale & tang as much area as possible. Then hard clamp warped-scale to flat against tang. Use hair dryer at med heat blows at it for 10 minutes or so. Or put the knife on a car windshield dash for an hour or so. Let the knife cool down to room temperature for 30 minutes. Pour thin CA (CyanoAcrylate - super glue) between scales (yes both side) and tang. Wait between 15 to 60 minutes - then unclamp. With lucks, grampa's knife is functional again, while looking like it was a few years after he made it.

wiredbeans · May 11, 2015

Was this made by the grandfather? I think the wood scales was not treated/cured; therefore it tend to warp when they get wet and then dried up... There's really nothing to prevent it from warping again unless you put a couple more pins in them.

But first soak it in water over night and then clamp in down until it's dry to straighten the wood, make sure it's dried really well, then sand it to the desired finish, and then drill the pins out and then coat it with resin to seal it up, this will prevent the wood from expanding and warping until the resin coat wears off.

All that work you might as well make new scales with micarta since you need to use resin anyways and that will last forever.

Obsessed with Edges · May 11, 2015

^^That's what I'm thinking as well. After all the sanding and reshaping, if the wood isn't sealed with something, it'll likely shrink, warp and/or crack again, eventually; especially if the knife gets used in wet conditions. Even wide swings in humidity could do it. Something like Danish Oil (blend of boiled linseed oil and varnish) would work well to permanently seal it, and it's pretty easy to apply as well (very easy, actually).

David