New USMC restoration: Different knife/easy.

[Fatstrat]

Picked up another WW-2 USMC Ka-Bar today ($18.). Original but rough condition w/missing pommel.ill clean up easily IMO. The blade has only lost about 1/8" length from use.
The end of tang where pommel/pommel pin attached was somehow broken off. So I carefully cleaned up the end so that I could remove a few leather spacers and regrind an end to fit the pommel off the blade from my other ongoing project.
The old pommel had likewise been somehow broken off w/pins still imbedded in holes on each side tang slot, but not running all way thru. Pins cannot be driven out (I tried).
So I intend to tac weld the pommel on in the center slot.
Now to question. I'd like to disassemble the knife down to components and clean rust etc off. The old leather spacers are lose and they will come off easily. If I take care to keep them in exact order. Can I reglue the old leather on reinstalation, just like new ones in the leather handle tutorial?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Fatstrat]

Well perhaps no one has tried this. So I went ahead and did it.
Luckily since I have a couple USMC project blades, it was easy to keep the spacers in order. As I removed one from the tang of this knife, I simply put it on the tang of another in reverse order.
Got all the leather and the guard off and cleaned all the rust & grime off the blade & guard. Previously the USMC markings were barely visible and the makers marks were invisible. Wasn't sure if this was a Ka Bar or Camillus. But after cleaning the markings are now clearly visible and this is a Ka Bar.
After cleaning up the metal parts it was time for reassembly. Even before disassembly I had noted that the guard was slightly lose. Examining the guard revealed it was probably from hard use. The edges of the slot were deformed w/burrs on edges. I cleaned it up w/small file, the reattached it firmly to tang/blade using JB (quick) Weld that sets up in 30 minutes. After it had set up and guard was firmly reattached w/0 wiggle, I cleaned up excess JB Weld material w/a small file and then sand paper. Then on to reinstalling the leather spacers.
I glued the 1st one to the guard w/Super Glue. Then while it dried, I made a batch of Elmers Wood Glue deluted in hot water like I had used on decopage picture projects in my teen years. Then using one of my wifes paint by number small paint brushes, applied the glue solution to each side of each spacers during installation. At first I was concerned that the spacers didn't appear to be being compressed tightly. But as spacers went on behind those already on tang, they helped to press & hold those already on tightly in place. Then on the last spacer I again used Super Glue and firm finger pressure to hold spacer tight until glue had set up and spacers were all tightly attached. By then it was 1AM and I went to bed and allowed handle to dry overnite.
Awoke this morning to find the handle now dry, tight and nearly as rock hard as my new made USMC Ka-Bar that I received as a gift several years ago.
Only down side is that the water/glue solution appears to have slightly swelled the old dry leather spacers. and handle appears to my eye to be uniformly slightly oversize on OD dimensions over what it was before. I am now considering doing a little touch up on the belt sander to bring it back to size. But concerned that this will make it lose the aged original appearance. If it does, I may attempt to refinish it w/reddish stain and outer finish as in the leather handle tutorial. Haven't made up my mind on this yet. Must decide prior to replacing pommel.
Your thoughts?
Once I decide which to do, it will time to put the pommel on. Since the tang is now shorter, there is about a 1/8" gap between end of it and outside of pommel tang slot. Considering using a mig welder to fill gap and spot weld pommel on. Or perhaps again use JB Weld as I am concerned about what effect the heat from weld might have on the old leather. Plus possible burn marks on blade or guard where welder ground would be attached. Again, your thoughts appreciated.
Overall the knife is now in much better appearance than it was before. And I am well pleased.