just ordered a 15 inch AK!

[yoyobeerman]

I got it by emailing Auntie, and it was only 88 + shipping!! Only have two problems.
1.) How do I fix its hairline crack? It is a horn handle BTW.
2.) How do I actually pay her? Okay guys, I'm not going to lie, I have no idea how to complete this transaction, if one of you could go over the process I would love that. All I know is it uses PayPal. I have till Friday (payday)

 

[davidf99]

I got it by emailing Auntie, and it was only 88 + shipping!! Only have two problems.
1.) How do I fix its hairline crack? It is a horn handle BTW.
2.) How do I actually pay her? Okay guys, I'm not going to lie, I have no idea how to complete this transaction, if one of you could go over the process I would love that. All I know is it uses PayPal. I have till Friday (payday)

2.) The usual procedure is that when you order by email, Yangdu sends you a return email stating the shipping cost and giving her Paypal address. If you didn't get that, send her another email. If you ordered a DOTD, you need that return email because someone else might have claimed the blade ahead of you. Also make sure that one of your emails tells Yangdu your shipping address.

1.) It's easy to fix a hairline crack, whether the handle is wood or horn. Mask off the handle around the crack and fill it with superglue or epoxy. I like to press the glue into the crack with a piece of scrap plastic or wood. Peel off the tape while the glue is still soft. That's pretty quick if you use superglue. After the glue has hardened you'll probably have to mask it again and do a bit of sanding to level it off and get the repair to the same degree of smoothness as the handle around it.

If it's really a hairline crack that might be enough. If the crack is wider, I'd use a good epoxy (such as Devcon Two-Ton), and the sanding might take a little longer after the epoxy has hardened. There are some tricks to make the color of the fix match the handle color, but that might not be necessary for a hairline crack. Other people will probably give you their favorite techniques, or you can ask again after you have the knife in hand and can see the crack.

One additional note: Sometimes a hairline crack in a horn handle will close by itself due to swelling if you soak the handle in mineral oil. However, if the crack is deep, I'd prefer using glue to make sure the structural strength is there. You can always do the soaking later, as it's good for the horn regardless of whether there are cracks or not.

Yangdu is very fast shipping once she receives payment. She seems to have some kind of magical relationship with the Post Office. However, if you really are "in the middle of nowhere" it might take a little longer.

Good luck and please post to the forum afterward, preferably with pictures.

-- Dave