Ka-bar Handle question

Joined
Nov 20, 2006
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A while ago I was messing around with my Camillus Ka-bar, I had my collapsible baton open, and I wanted to collapse it, so I got the bright idea of beating the butt of it on the butt of my Ka-bar to make it collapse, :eek: that didn't work, all I managed to do was collapse the leather handle slightly enough that the crossguard became loose. I thought of how I could permanently stop the problem, I managed to beat the leather out again to tighten things up, but how can I prevent that from happening ever again. I was thinking of soaking the handle in something that will cause the leather washers to swell up permanently and not affect the leather negatively. Maybe Melted arctic dubbin or mink oil in a double boiler, just put the handle in there overnight or something like that. Also it's got the rubberized black stuff on the handle.:confused:
 
In general you can apply a leather treatment to swell up your leather washers, but you do want to consider rust as an issue. Sometimes just cleaning a handle using saddle soap and water does some good.
 
This might be a dumb question, but is it a rubber-covered leather handle, or a rubber handle in the traditional shape? I could be wrong but I think all the ka-bars are either leather, or kraton 'rubber', not both? One way to find out, cut it open, ho ho.
 
Well after many years of storage and a few of kitchen use, my handles finally started loosening up this winter. So I've been applying mink oil every now and then all night, and setting it up top of the radiator (not in contact), which is on very low (actually its on off, but it still radiates). Seems to be helping some, but this was the 4th or 5th application and its sucking up the mink oil (but the leather is nice and "comfortably" warm).

How much of this stuff should I apply? Until it stops taking it? Or would that cause problems when it cools (its not hot by any means, but above room temp)?
 
This might be a dumb question, but is it a rubber-covered leather handle, or a rubber handle in the traditional shape? I could be wrong but I think all the ka-bars are either leather, or kraton 'rubber', not both? One way to find out, cut it open, ho ho.

I think he may mean the spacers between the leather (at the grooves) and at the top and bottom? thats the way it was on my Ka-bar anyway.
 
It's a thin rubber coating applied over the whole handle, which is leather. Appears to be flaking off already in places.
 
This is still a little experimental on my part but I have been trying Olive oil on some of my leather goods. Was given the idea by a friend who told me dogs don't like it much and will avoid chewing leather treated with olive oil. Had a elephant hide quiver that is about 100 years old to restore, very brittle and dried out. Soaked it over night in olive oil took about a month to dry. Leather is still nice and full looking. Hopefully this quiver will now be around for another 100 years.
 
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