How do I make new Handle for this old Camillus knife??

C

cnyk

Joined
Oct 17, 2011
Messages
3
I recently received this knife for free.. The leather handle was rotted BADLY, so badly I decided to grind it right off.. It was unrecognizable.
Anyway, I was originally thinking I'd made a paracord wrap handle, but the handle metal seems so thin, I'm wondering if that will work. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can refurbish this knife.. Its an old Camillus, USN (US Navy) knife. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks! ;)

knifeq.jpg
 
How about grinding off the end, cuting small grooves in the handle area and puting on a piece of stag...And filling it up with JB weld......Or did you want to keep it original?.......carl
 
I have one just like it with USMC on it, but without the guard....I was just thinking about how to do mine...I would have to make a guard...Or you could use a piece of hardwood instead of stag.........Tell you what, you come over to my shop and we will do both at the same time...I have the stag and some othere handle material.That is if you are close..............carl
 
Thanks for the offer Carl, but unfortunately I'm in Syracuse, NY... Actually, I live about 20 mins. from the now defunct camillus knife factory. :(

Grinding down the back is a bit beyond my expertise.. I dont even really have a grinder.. I got the damaged leather off with a Dremel tool..
 
You can buy leather washer handle kits from a number of knife supply houses. Try Jantzen or google leather washer knife handles.--KV
 
i have an old leather washer handle knife that belongs to a buddy i'm just getting started on replacing the washers. if you want some help i would be glad to give you a call and tell you what to do. i have done quite a few over the years i have been making knives. rje196021@gmail.com
 
You could probably smack the pommel off with a hammer after clamping the blade in a vice. Then replace the stacked leather and use a thinner pommel you should have enough meat left on the peined end to hammer over again (through riveted tang).
 
you can also bend/break the tang trying to beat the pommel off and create more work. there are ways to get the pommel off and not damage the tang or pommel.
 
Man, now I'm really confused lol... Thanks for the info though. I didnt realize I could buy the leather washers and do it that way, that seems like a good way to go. I even saw some "kits" on ebay. I am however concerned with getting the pommel off. Is there any other way besides pounding with brute force? I'd hate to wreck the knife! I wish there was a guy locally I could just have repair the thing.... What would it cost to have a pro do the job? I dont have a lot of $ but maybe it'd be worth looking into.. Is there anyone who does this sort of thing?


Thanks!

K
 
2 tang holes, 2pins and 2 slabs of micarta offset, pin & epoxy then sculpt the scales
 
i can do it for you but i can also tell you how to do it yourself. its too much for me to type out.
 
use thicker paracord -like 5mm static line from the local mountaineering store. -it will give more bulk to your wrap.
If you want a wrapped handle it would be far the cheapest way.
 
KaBar sells the kits really cheap.Leather washers and i think a new pommel.Ive lost track of the link,but just contact KaBar.I would highly recommend richardJ for the job if you just want to have it done.He will do it too cheaply for you.
 
The pommel is either pinned on or the tang is peened. Either way its not too hard to remove without damage.
 
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