I have a high carbon blank that I am accumulating components to finish. It is a hidden tang blade and I plan to use chechen wood (aka chechem aka black poisonwood) for the handle. I have been searching for an appropriate material for a guard and pommel but so far have found few options. I have a bit of titanium and considered this as a guard but am concerned about the possibility it may promote rust on the non-stainless blade. Can anyone suggest suitable materials for pins, guard, and pommel?
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High carbon - pins and guard
- Thread starter tekwyzrd
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2007
- Messages
- 3,375
I don't know why the ti would cause rust. Make it fit well and then use something like JB Weld to seal it up when you do the final install. You could thread the end of the tang and tap a piece of the Ti for the butt. If you do any grinding on the Ti after it installed and the wood is in place go very slowly and carefully as the ti will heat fast and can scorch the wood. It shouldn't need any more care than any other carbon blade.
From what I've read, when dealing with titanium and other non-stainless metals, ti should be considered the more noble of the two, and the contact between the two could promote oxidation of the less noble metal. I would prefer not to use brass. The knife is an addition to my field/camping gear and will only see occasional use.