Loose guard/leather rings on K-bar USMC

V

VVhiterice

Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
26
I have a K-Bar USMC and it got banged up pretty bad causing the guard to on the top (when blade is facing down) to bend almost parallel with the blade. I bent it back but now there is about a 1mm or 1/16 of an inch gap between the leather rings and the guard wiggles a bit. Still a very usable knife but is there any thing I can do beside epoxy to fix it. It there a way to make leather swell or something that will make it still look nice??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
 
I had the same question. My pilot's saw back knife had a little looseness to it. I mink oiled it and it seemed to help......BUT don't do that until someone else chimes in. I have no idea what the long term effects will be.
T
 
I've got a Western L-46-5 with a similar problem.It has a leather ring handle with leather rings in the middle and synthetic spacers at either end. Theres a paper thin gap between the guard and the synthetic spacers.The space allows a little up/down guard wobble.
 
using mink oil or something similar (sno-seal???) and a hair dryer to see if the handle will swell back up and tighten the fit, leather washers over time can and will dry out some and ive read that this sometimes works. I had to do it to my catt 225Q knife WW2 era w/leather handle and a slightly loose guard.
mine wasnt terribly bad though, 1/16 sounds like a helluva gap
Might be worth a try before you go at the knife with epoxy.
good luck
ivan
 
Ok thanks for the advice, will try the mink oil but the leather doesn't feel dry as it is only about 5-6 years old since i bought it new. If it doesn't work think will try wrap sting between the the leather washers and maybe glue it shut or something.

I would normal just loose the handle but the tang is so small.

Mostly been using to try out new edges or sharpening techniques
 
You can buy kits to redo the leather stacking, or rehandle it with another material. I am working on one right now, and it is alot of fun. I do not care to keep it (Robeson Mark 1 Navy knife) authentic. I bought it to be a camping fixed blade, I am going to put a Lignum vitae wood handle on it. I have not decided to fashion it the same shape as original, or just custom fit it ergonomically to my hand. That is half the fun. Good luck, and have fun.
 
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