Hemp wrapped handle

David Stifle

David Stifle

Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
10,188
Hi Guys,

I'm making a primitive style knife, and thought a hemp wrapped handle may be ideal, but I've never done one. I do have an old cleaver, one of the giants with a 15" blade, 30" OAL, which has a beautifully wrapped hemp handle. The blade has 1884 stamped on it, but I doubt if the hemp wrapped is that old. I've looked at it very closely, and still can't tell where the wrap starts and stops. Well, anyway, have any of you guys done a hemp wrap, and if so, do you have any advice? I know it sounds a little silly, but ANY wrap handle presents certain challenges.

Dave
 
I'll state right off the bat that I'm not going to be of much help, however hemp is certianly a tough fiber and should hold up pretty well. I have done turkish knots that tighten up and its very hard to tell where they start and end.
Thanks,
Del
 
David Stifle said:
Hi Guys,

I'm making a primitive style knife, and thought a hemp wrapped handle may be ideal, but I've never done one. I do have an old cleaver, one of the giants with a 15" blade, 30" OAL, which has a beautifully wrapped hemp handle. The blade has 1884 stamped on it, but I doubt if the hemp wrapped is that old. I've looked at it very closely, and still can't tell where the wrap starts and stops. Well, anyway, have any of you guys done a hemp wrap, and if so, do you have any advice? I know it sounds a little silly, but ANY wrap handle presents certain challenges.

Dave
Click to expand...

Doesn't sound silly to me at all; in fact I think it's a really great idea. Hemp is a very strong material. I think you can probably order spools of it from some textile places or maybe rope supply, since that's mostly where hemp is used today.

I think a Hemp wrap would be great; maybe mixed in with some kind of epoxy or resin binder. A Hemp wrap plus Beewswax binder would probably have a really cool natural look. I wonder how hemp micarta would hold up.

I don't know how impervious it would be to chemicals though. Those really caustic solvents like acetone or alcohol will mess hemp up, so maybe you'd need some kind of sealer?
 
I have done many hemp wraps... shoot me a pm if this is the style you are looking for...

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I have also done quite a few hemp wraps. I spray the thing with Shellac whilst wrapping it, and then spray it more after it is done. I have taken to 'capping off' the ends with wetted-out carbon fiber tape, and then soak the hemp in a thin wood restoring epoxy.
 
Sorry to bump an old thread but have a couple questions about this. What thickness hemp cord is preferred for this style of wrap? Can anybody provide links for more info on how to execute this wrap?
 
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