handle repair, Camillus pilot knife

[deltablade]

I recently got a 1972 camillus pilots knife in pretty rough shape, in that the leather washers have shrunk so there is about 1/16" extra space in the handle, and the guard is loose. and I wonder how difficult it would be to remove the pommel and redo the leather washers. The pommel has some type of metal sealing the end over the tang.

 

[collecter]

Oil (boot leather treament type such as mink oil) the handle until the leather is saturated then gently hammer the leather all around. Use something like a piece of wood with the edges softened to do the hammering with.

Your basically pounding the edge of the leather making it fatter.

 

[fast14riot]

Neatsfoot oil, I like it a little better. But is the leather dry and crumbling? It can go beyond the state of repair,but you also can warm the leather with a hair dryer to help it absorb the oil a bit quicker. Let it sit over night and repeat.


-Xander

 

[deltablade]

I tried your suggestions and it worked. tight now. yet one piece of the leather is pretty soft, so I think it will eventually have to be replaced. wonder how I get the pommel nut off.

 

[deltablade]

I soaked the handle for 3 days in Danish oil, Watco, then removed the top quillion. The leather in the handle expanded remarkably well, so that the handle is pretty tight now. I can wiggle the guard just a bit if I push on the quillion with my thumb. and the leather is a little spongy on one of the washers. yet overall, I think it has a few more years of camping in it, before the handle needs to be redone. Thanks guys for your advice.