Is there life after the death of Kraton?

[Happy Camper]

When a Kraton handle dies of old age, it would be nice to salvage a perfectly good blade by retrofitting some micarta or wood handles onto the tang. Is it possible? How would it be done? Is it impractical?

I've seen the question posted on the Custom Knives forum, but not a one answered it. Is it taboo to even bring up the idea of some custom work on a factory knife?

If so, let me know and I'll stop my heretical questions

-Thanks!

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-Gregory Zolas
tinsta@hotmail.com

 

[Boriqua]

GO for it !! I bought a Bud Nealy aichuka (sp) at a new york show a few years back with the rubber handle scales. It cost about 195 back then. I didnt have it a week when I ordered some bocate highly figured beautiful wood scales from Jantz and went to it. Came out looking like one of his much more expensive models and .... I had fun doing it.



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ALex

http://home.att.net./~a.boriqua

 

[Marion David Poff]

It is very possible to make a new handle.

The problem comes in here....

Since the tang is probably sub-sized, the method of handling it would be mortise tang, that method is fairly complex, hard to do at home without tools, and expensive for a maker to do.

And most makers would prefer not to touch factory stuff.

Though Allen Blade may be willing to do it for you, he has a soft spot for this sort of thing.

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

Talonite Information and Resource Page, including other cobalt materials.

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.

 

[Happy Camper]

Thanks for the info, guys!

I read a lot about Kraton having a finite lifespan, and that worries me (although I have not yet noticed any problems with my own Kraton handled knives I've owned for over a year now).



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-Gregory Zolas
tinsta@hotmail.com