Handle removal

[foxmd]

Hey Guys, I remember seeing a thread about how to properly remove a handle on the hidden tang models. Anybody remember the link? I want to add a guard to my user BGR and retain the original grip so...I'd like to get it off as gently as possible. Thanks for your help gentlemen( and/or ladies )

Tony

 

[Nasty]

Hidden?

Heat...all the way through. The laha should soften and you should be able to pull it off.

 

[foxmd]

Thanks Nasty. I guess I was just wondering what the best method of heating was to avoid damaging the wood...heat gun?, boiling water submersion with handle in plastic bag? Miyagi-san hand rub?

 

[Aardvark]

Fox, I've heard of putting it in boiling water, but that's always made me uncomfortable, especially for a wooden handle. I've used a heat gun. It doesn't take much to melt the laha.

Removing the keeper (the little triangular thing at the end) requires careful use of a belt sander. Keep touching the bump in the middle of the keeper to the belt and check the results often. The bump is the end of the tang, which has been peened over. Once you've removed the peened part, the buttcap should pop right off. Oh, and you should do this before you heat it, because it's very likely that the buttcap has glue under it.

My apologies if I've made the instructions too simplistic.

 

[Yvsa]

Thanks Nasty. I guess I was just wondering what the best method of heating was to avoid damaging the wood...heat gun?, boiling water submersion with handle in plastic bag? Miyagi-san hand rub?

Fox the standard rat or kangaroo tailed hidden tang khukuris have the tang going all the way through the handle and then peened over. The other type of hidden tang is a partial rat tailed tang that just goes partially through the handle. Sometimes they are pinned with a single pin, the Hanuman is a good example.
So if the handle has a butt cap with a shiny steel colored area in the center then you will have to file the peened area of steel off in order to get the handle off and I'm wondering if this is what you mean by, "hidden tang?"
A heat gun used on the area above the cho with the blade wrapped in a wet cloth for insurance has been used with success by some folks IIRC.

 

[Yvsa]

Aardvark posted while I was busy using too many words as usual. :thumbup:

 

[foxmd]

Thanks for the info Guys ( Yvsa, Aardvark, and Nasty). Yvsa, yes I was refering to the peened rat tang. I knew better:foot: ...just wasn't paying attention to my terminology. Thanks to all for the advice. Just shows again the quality of folks that hang out around here.

I'll post some pics when I'm done....just in case anybody would want to see such a thing

 

[Yvsa]

Thanks for the info Guys ( Yvsa, Aardvark, and Nasty). Yvsa, yes I was refering to the peened rat tang. I knew better:foot: ...just wasn't paying attention to my terminology. Thanks to all for the advice. Just shows again the quality of folks that hang out around here.

I'll post some pics when I'm done....just in case anybody would want to see such a thing

You bet, pics are always good and it will be very interesting to see your rendition of a guard on a khukuri.:thumbup:
IIRC I think it is N2S that has a khukuri with a guard, looks really neat and doesn't appear to be an add on, maybe N2S will see this thread and post a pic.