Kabar refurb...

[cop911]

Have a Kabar that I gave to my brother, and when I got it back the handle had been stripped off and the butt was cut off. Anyone have any suggestions for fixing (not to original specs of course, but back to a useable blade)?

 

[L6steel]

You can buy leather discs from the knife supply companies and the butt cap could be made from a small piece of any kind of steel.I would recommend 416 stainless so it wouldn't need a protective coating or heat treating. If you have some leather, even scraps, you can cut that up and punch or drill a hole/slot in them for the tang. I always glued the discs together buy applying the glue and putting them on a 5/16" piece of all thread. With big flat washers and a nut on each end you can compress them and let the glue dry. Then I chuck the rod in my drill press and spin it on low speed and use a large wood raspe to rough shape it. Get it close to finished size and shape and then work it with sand paper thru 320 grit. Remove it from the rod being careful not to let it come apart. Easiest way to take the rod out is set it on a board with a 1/2" hole drilled in it and knock the rod thru the hole. That supports the leather. Once the rod is loosened some you can thread it the rest of the way out. Then you just assemble the knife and finish it up. In my early days I buffed everything, even the leather handles. It actually shines up nicely, but now I would reccomend rubbing in some saddle soap or neats foot oil. You can also dye the leather if you want to. To attach the butt cap you'll have to clamp it on nice and tight and drill a hole thru it and the tang and pin it, then shape it. Be careful not to get it too hot or you'll burn the leather handle. Whew, wrote another novel! Hope this helps you some!

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Take care!! Michael

Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!

My Web Site
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!

 

[C L Wilkins]

I totally agree with Michael on what he wrote except I would like to add one thing:

Your brother needs at least a good talking to!

C Wilkins

[This message has been edited by C L Wilkins (edited 05-25-2001).]