Need to get a re-handle done.

[Shoki]

I've been giving my favorite chopper a good workout lately and it's been performing admirably, hacking through thick saplings and remaining sharp. The other day, however, I managed to loosen the handle on one side and a small chunk of the wood next to a pin has broken off. The handle is now just slightly loose and makes hollow slapping noise when you rap on it with a knuckle. The knife is still usable but I'm starting to think about re-handling it down the road. I considered doing it myself but I think I'd rather start with a smaller, cheaper, less-favorite knife before trying anything on this one. I would like suggestions from you guys though, as far as which handle material to go with, which maker or manufacturer to send it to, etc. I have a knife that's been re-handled by BRKT and I think they did a great job but cost and turnaround are also factors. I just got my first paycheck yesterday after three months of unemployement so I'm almost dirt broke. So who does a good job without breaking the bank? Which handle material would you go with? Should I just stop whining and re-handle it myself with homemade denim micarta or moose bone? As always, your opinions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Here's the knife in question (top one):

 

[Rotte]

Moose bone? Well that sounds like fun. But with a chopper I wonder if that might also be susceptible to cracking. Still, if money is tight, I'd strongly consider re-handling the knife yourself. And a Moose bone chopper sounds too cool, go for it.

If it were me, and I expected it to be a heavy use knife, I'd get a couple slabs of linen micarta or G10 and a few Corby bolts. Can't go wrong.

 

[Shoki]

I thought about the cracking issue and I'd hate to go through all the trouble just to have to do it all over again. Also, the handle is pretty large and I might have a hard time getting a big enough piece of solid bone to fit on the tang!

 

[Rockywolf]

Get ahold of Dennis. DJJ on here.

 

[Big Mike]

Get ahold of Dennis. DJJ on here.

Or John Doyle (CoutryBoyCanSurvive),

…he does great work. :thumbup: :thumbup:





Big Mike

 

[1066vik]

I vote trying it yourself with homemade denim micarta.
if you don't like the job you do, you can always try one of the pros here at BF, and will have started the project for them by already removing the old scales.

another alternative would be to inject some CA (super glue) down the chip hole to fix the rattle and fill the gap. maybe not a long term fix, but will give you time to save up some for the repair job.

 

[WILLIAM.M]

TRY Justin of Ranger Knives

Watch the photo slideshow of what he did to a few of mine

http://s499.photobucket.com/albums/rr357/WILLIAMMARTIN46/COLD STEEL TO JUSTIN/?albumview=slideshow

 

[baldtaco-II]

Maroon micarta.

Whilst I can understand a lack of confidence in taking on the project yourself consider this – what can go wrong? You have a slab template when you take those ones off. True, you might not be able to shape the micarta as well as someone on their #nth go but just how wrong can that go? Similarly, finishing the pins to a high standard may defeat you but it strikes me that it would be extremely difficult not not make a serviceable job of it.

Worst case scenario is the above fails and you end up sending a box of bits to someone else to rework it. If that someone tries to tell you it will cost extra because of that tell them to sod off 'cos those bits have to come off anyway. You've saved them a job.

 

[kgd]

Give Bryan Breeden a call, he can put some nice micarta on there.

 

[k_estela]

Greg Haugh of lonerider custom grips does mine. Real quick turnaround time.

 

[tonym]

It will be very difficult to find a better price and better craftsmanship than Dennis Jensen. He has rehandled a couple of knives for me and his work should costs alot more than he charges. He goes by DJJ on here. He will even contour it for you.

Here's 1 he did.

 

[Shoki]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I've decided on a little bit of everything. I'm going to try to inject some epoxy in the gap and fill the divot where the chunk came out while I gather supplies to make myself new handles. I'll give the homemade micarta a try and if it doesn't work out, I'll ship it off to a pro with a bit of moose bone to see if they can do anything with it.
As I said, I'm poor as hell and life is about to get a lot more expensive when my son is born, so it's going to take me some time to get pics of the final product up!