i need a few answers

G

grumpy_grinder

Joined
Oct 2, 2015
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481
hey guys , few questions here. ive always wondered how you fit a knife tang into a curved stag handle. it would appear that you would only be able to fit he tang until the curve of the handle.

take this knife for example , the tang would only be inserted to about a depth of 2 maybe 2 and a half inches , meaning this would limit the rough use the knife could handle ... no? the same ammount of force applied to the blade exercised on the that 2 inches of tang in the opposite direction inside of a small ammount of stag would come off as weak in my books. i'm just hoping someone tells me otherwise. i love the novelty and look of these knives and this is the kind of knives i would love to get into. But ... i use my knives and tend to be a bit hard on them.

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My next question is what kind of material would or could be used for the turquoise bolster here? And there seems to be a transition piece between the brass guard and turquoise piece? any idea how to do this? I'm not sure on the proper term. And how is a bottom bolster installed like this one?

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I purchased "the bowie knife" by Norm flayderman , i'm waiting for it to show up. i'm not sure if i'll find any of my answers there but i'm sure hoping some of you guys can help!
 
As far as the curved handle question, the bigger problem is drilling a hole around that much of a curve. You probably need to drill from each end. The knife tang can be cut to the same curve and then if it is a little off, it can be heated and shaped with hammer and anvil. I did this just yesterday although my curve was less than yours.
 
I never thought about drilling at both ends , good thinking col. I suppose an oxy-acythelene torch , vice and plyers could probably be used to bend the tang.

Just off the books , col as in retired colonel of the U.S army?
 
For the spacer materials, looks like brass and g10. Most common spacer material used for a hidden tang like this.

They typically come in thin sheets. Anywhere from .02 to .06 thick. You cut them to the desired width of the handle and stack & epoxy.
 
The transition piece in between the brass the G-10 is intriguing. It's small but gives it character. some type of small pin stripe. im not sure what it is or how he made it. leather maybe?
 
grumpy_grinder said:
The transition piece in between the brass the G-10 is intriguing. It's small but gives it character. some type of small pin stripe. im not sure what it is or how he made it. leather maybe?
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Thats the brass I mentioned. Brass guard, g10, brass spacer, then turquoise, etc.

Hard to tell from the pic but looks like there is a thinner piece of g10 right before the turquoise also.
 
No problem. Are you looking to start building? Or just curious as to how theyre made?
 
colu41 said:
No problem. Are you looking to start building? Or just curious as to how theyre made?
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definetly interested in starting building. everything would be done by hand as This is a hobby for myself.( i also like the notion of a hand made knife).I've always admired the western style knives. anything stag and that has this much attention and detail. I've made a few knives out of files but just tinkering around. I have some moose antlers from this year's hunt i'd like to put to use.
 
that is called reconstituted stone. some knife suppliers carry it. they take turquoise, crush it up, and mix it with epoxy resin.
 
If you go to the websites of the popular suppliers you will find all of the things you asked about and more. There is a list in The Stickys.
Texas Knife supply, USA Knife supply, Alpha, K&G, Jantz, Knifekits, and Sheffield are just a few of the most popuar.

There are spacer materials that are already in layers and of different colors. These come in three and five layer, and are popular for placing at the guard and butt of a handle, as well as on both sides of a bolster. The suppliers also carry all the handle materials you will want, including reconstituted stone.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
If you go to the websites of the popular suppliers you will find all of the things you asked about and more. There is a list in The Stickys.
Texas Knife supply, USA Knife supply, Alpha, K&G, Jantz, Knifekits, and Sheffield are just a few of the most popuar.

There are spacer materials that are already in layers and of different colors. These come in three and five layer, and are popular for placing at the guard and butt of a handle, as well as on both sides of a bolster. The suppliers also carry all the handle materials you will want, including reconstituted stone.
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thanks stacy , i'll look into it. i'm sure ill be buying something off of our suppliers sooner or later but I try to make everything myself. Not to save money ... more or less for novelty purposes. i enjoy at least trying to make something , and even if it doesn't work out im stubborn enough to try again. There's so much more to knife making then I thought. the possibilities are endless. Every day i scroll through this forum I learn something new.

I'll be trying to make a spacer with iron ore concentrate and casting epoxy or maybe brass shavings.
 
drill from both ends if you want a complete pass through. once holes are connected, you can use files and anything else you can find to remove material with.. sometimes have to get creative :-). I know some folks that have used hardened steel to make tools for reaching in and scraping.. Picture a birds beak at the end of a piece of steel. Drill bits on a hand held drill can also be used to hog out sections..

Here is an example of a very curved handle I recently did.. I forged the tang to the curve of the stag antler.

Cheers,
Jerid

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JeridJohnson said:
drill from both ends if you want a complete pass through. once holes are connected, you can use files and anything else you can find to remove material with.. sometimes have to get creative :-). I know some folks that have used hardened steel to make tools for reaching in and scraping.. Picture a birds beak at the end of a piece of steel. Drill bits on a hand held drill can also be used to hog out sections..

Here is an example of a very curved handle I recently did.. I forged the tang to the curve of the stag antler.

Cheers,
Jerid

sguard1web.jpg
Click to expand...

that's gorgeous jerid ... that's a beautiful knife!
 
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