Question about Handle Making

R

rodogg

Joined
Nov 25, 2011
Messages
279
Hi I have a question about how to make a handle for a blade blank. Its kind of hard to explain but I'll try my best. I found this video of Ray Mears making a handle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9phlDH4h-eU
It's a good video. Cut to about 3:15 for my question.
So anyway my question: Since the tang of the knife isnt all the same width and narrows towards the end, how does one go about cutting the hole the CORRECT size in the handle materials. Would it make a difference if the holes were a bit bigger than the width of the tang? And secondly, is the FIRST piece of handle material, i.e the piece closest the blade GLUED on to the end of the blade or how is the whole handle held in place? Ray mears says it's done by rivetting over the end of the tang?

Sorry this is a hard to explain post I hope SOMEONE can make sense of it and help me :D Oh and this is the site I was going to buy a blade off: https://www.brisa.fi Which would be recommended for a knife with an overall lenth of around 6"? I'm sure all the blades are decent. Here are some I liked: https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.p...od=product_info&cPath=94_297&products_id=3144
https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.p...od=product_info&cPath=94_298&products_id=3147
https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.p...Mod=product_info&cPath=94_42&products_id=2739
https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.php?option=com_oscommerce&osMod=index&cPath=94_34
https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.php?option=com_oscommerce&osMod=index&cPath=94_202

LAST THING: I found a good example for what I mean about the holes in the handle materials and the tang look at this: https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.php?option=com_oscommerce&osMod=index&cPath=94_46
How would you cut holes out for THAT

Thanks :D
 
Make the hole as close to the tang size as possible. Then use a good 2 hour epoxy to glue. Epoxy is "Space Occupying" and will fill any gaps and make it rock solid.
 
rodogg said:
How does one go about cutting the hole the CORRECT size in the handle materials.
Click to expand...

Use a drill bit the thickness of the tang at the thickest point. Drill multiple holes, just sufficient to cover the width of the tang. Use needle files to connect the holes into a slot, and to shape the sides of the slot to match the tang.

rodogg said:
Would it make a difference if the holes were a bit bigger than the width of the tang?
Click to expand...

Yes. If the holes are wider than the tang you'll end up with a mess as you are looking at the knife from the pointy end... unless you put a guard/bolster in front of it, in which case you need to fit the guard/bolster correctly to avoid the same problem.

rodogg said:
And secondly, is the FIRST piece of handle material, i.e the piece closest the blade GLUED on to the end of the blade or how is the whole handle held in place?
Click to expand...

There are several ways to connect the pieces, and glue is one of them. Personally, I don't like relying on glue alone. If the pieces all fit over the tang, then the tang becomes part of the support structure for the pieces. If some pieces fall behind the tang, I prefer drilling a hole in them and mounting them with a post/screw in addition to the glue. I want my multi-piece handles to be able to take a pounding.

rodogg said:
LAST THING: I found a good example for what I mean about the holes in the handle materials and the tang look at this: https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.php?option=com_oscommerce&osMod=index&cPath=94_46
How would you cut holes out for THAT?
Click to expand...

I'd grind the tang to a more normal shape.
 
That's great thanks! One last question. Say for example I have 5 pieces for my handle material, and the MIDDLE piece takes up half or more than half the length of the handle. Well seeing as the tang narrows towards the end like this < , will I need to make the hole inside my handle material narrow the same way, so as to fit the tang?


Sorry if that is confusing... I can draw a picture in photoshop if needs be :P
 
No, as was noted before, epoxy fills the hole. The fact that you have more hole than you need at the butt end of the knife only becomes a problem if the hole penetrates the exterior of that piece.
 
Visualize the hole in your handle fitting very closely the shape of the tang. There are different ways to accomplish this. One way is to drill a hole the same width as the tang at its narrowest part, then take a coping saw blade and cut the hole to shape. Most use epoxy to bind the handle to the tang and either; thread the end of the tang and bolt the handle on as a mechanical fastener or soften the end of the tang and peen it over a washer or pommel for a mechanical fastener.
 
Excellent! Thanks everyone I really needed to know this stuff before I could try my first knife!!! Now to try it out!!! :D :D :D

Thanks again.
 
rodogg said:
And secondly, is the FIRST piece of handle material, i.e the piece closest the blade GLUED on to the end of the blade or how is the whole handle held in place? Ray mears says it's done by rivetting over the end of the tang?
Click to expand...

That first piece is often times metal, brass probably the most common. I don't think I would trust a disk of antler to be strong enough. This piece is commonly carefully fitted so that it fits tight against the blade and no gaps visible. While it could certainly be silver soldered on it seems to be quite common now days to use JB Weld epoxy. The epoxy probably doesn't hold it on as much as it helps seal it from moisture.

Good luck!

- Paul Meske
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top