schmittie
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2009
- Messages
- 2,963
Hello fellas. I hope it's ok with Andy that I post this up here. I am looking for some opinions and I know you guys are smart! (this is also in the shop talk forum)
I have had a Cold Steel Kukri for a few years and I have to admit that there are many things I liked about it - forward weight of the blade, not so big I can't pack it easily, thick enough I can chop and baton, price was just right too! However, if you have ever handled one, you will soon realize, as I did, that the handle is actually a blister factory. This is the handle in question -
Here is what I did with it the other day -
As you can expect, I came across something that has stalled out my plans. The tang is too small to do an exposed tang handle, but much too big for me to do a hidden tang as I had planed on. I actually had some black Corian cut into a spacer that is the right width of the tang to wrap it in a spacer, but now I feel that is going to be a lousy idea for this chopper. There not enough space to pin the spacer if it just wraps around the handle and I think it would break too easily anyway. (am I explaining that well enough?)
With the holes already drilled in the handle, I think I would loose too much strength if I tried to grind it down smaller. Its dangerous enough as it is. I am a bit puzzled right now. I had considered not putting a wood handle on it and just attempting a leather stack handle, which I have never done. Or I guess I could try to do a twine wrap and epoxy soak, who doesn't want to be like Rick Marchand when they grow up? But again, I've never done that either.
In the meantime, I have begun sanding the paint off the blade-
In addition to a new handle, I hope to force a patina on the blade, or etch it and of course, regrind the edge. The factory edge is bogus.
Well, this is where I am right now. I know it is not nearly as interesting as many of the WIPs from bar stock or forging, but I would still appreciate your input. What would you do?
Almost forgot to mention the RED on the workbench is some old paint. Do not be alarmed, I did not cut myself!
This is just one of my last little projects. I'm a heartbeat away from replacing this 'thing' with one of Andy's 12" machetes!
I have had a Cold Steel Kukri for a few years and I have to admit that there are many things I liked about it - forward weight of the blade, not so big I can't pack it easily, thick enough I can chop and baton, price was just right too! However, if you have ever handled one, you will soon realize, as I did, that the handle is actually a blister factory. This is the handle in question -
Here is what I did with it the other day -
As you can expect, I came across something that has stalled out my plans. The tang is too small to do an exposed tang handle, but much too big for me to do a hidden tang as I had planed on. I actually had some black Corian cut into a spacer that is the right width of the tang to wrap it in a spacer, but now I feel that is going to be a lousy idea for this chopper. There not enough space to pin the spacer if it just wraps around the handle and I think it would break too easily anyway. (am I explaining that well enough?)
With the holes already drilled in the handle, I think I would loose too much strength if I tried to grind it down smaller. Its dangerous enough as it is. I am a bit puzzled right now. I had considered not putting a wood handle on it and just attempting a leather stack handle, which I have never done. Or I guess I could try to do a twine wrap and epoxy soak, who doesn't want to be like Rick Marchand when they grow up? But again, I've never done that either.
In the meantime, I have begun sanding the paint off the blade-
In addition to a new handle, I hope to force a patina on the blade, or etch it and of course, regrind the edge. The factory edge is bogus.
Well, this is where I am right now. I know it is not nearly as interesting as many of the WIPs from bar stock or forging, but I would still appreciate your input. What would you do?
Almost forgot to mention the RED on the workbench is some old paint. Do not be alarmed, I did not cut myself!
This is just one of my last little projects. I'm a heartbeat away from replacing this 'thing' with one of Andy's 12" machetes!
