Need Help with stag handle

winchester73 · Mar 5, 2015

Help I just bought a knife and when it arrived it was as described but the stag handle will turn 1/4 in your hand. It is an old German fixed blade that has the brass slotted not in the pommel. How can you turn this nut without a special tool?

Bill DeShivs · Mar 5, 2015

Crudely, with needle nosed pliers or snap-ring pliers. Or, you can cut a screwdriver to fit.

Mikael W · Mar 5, 2015

winchester73 said:
Help I just bought a knife and when it arrived it was as described but the stag handle will turn 1/4 in your hand. It is an old German fixed blade that has the brass slotted not in the pommel. How can you turn this nut without a special tool?

You can do the tool out of a Screwdriver, by grinding a slot in the center of the tip.
A wise thing is to soak the threads in rustsolvent and also heat the pommel carefully with a hot air gun.

Another trick is to leave the pommel as is and turn a strong sewing thread where the spacers are.
This fills the gap and tightens the handle.
Seal with super glue or epoxy.

Instead of sewing thread, a fishing line like Fireline from Berkley works perfectly!

Regards
Mikael

winchester73 · Mar 5, 2015

Can't get the nut to turn with a screw driver and can't find a pair of needle nose pliers small enough. Guess I need to go to the hardware store and stay off auction sites.

winchester73 · Mar 5, 2015

know anyone who could fix this reasonably?

winchester73 · Mar 5, 2015

Would soaking the handle in mineral oil expand it any.

Bill DeShivs · Mar 5, 2015

Don't soak the handle! Can you unscrew the nut?

winchester73 · Mar 5, 2015

No bill I have't been able to unscrew it. That's the best option but can budge it with the tools I have. If I could fixed this and polish and sharpen it, it would be a great old German knife. The way it is I feel like I got taken.

Bill DeShivs · Mar 5, 2015

You HAVE or haven't? You CAN or can't? Your post says you have been able to unscrew it, and you can budge it.

winchester73 · Mar 5, 2015

A typo. I haven't been able to unscrew it. What do you think of the thread wrapping idea Mikel had?

tinkerer · Mar 5, 2015

If i could, i would pour some 2 ton epoxy down the handle.

Larry
Tinkerer

Bill DeShivs · Mar 5, 2015

I think that is a stopgap measure. The pommel should be removed, and the threads lengthened, a spacer added-whatever needs to be done. Often the tang is peened over the nut, and then finished flush. You can file the end a little, put the blade in a vise, and use a modified screwdriver to remove the nut. Make sure the screwdriver properly fits the slot on the nut.

winchester73 · Mar 5, 2015

Thanks[Bill Know it's probably simple for you but I'm not that good at things like that. Too bad beautiful stag handle. Next to see if I can send it back if not guess in the drawer.