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Question on rehandling a knife...

C

Crazyotter

Joined
Jun 26, 2010
Messages
334
Can anyone here point out to me the basics of re handling a knife? I have a blade with a full tang, no handle though, that I want to attach some maple to and then sand the maple down into a comfortable grip. I just don't know what to use to fasten the maple to the tang. And I would like to have a lanyard hole also. Thanks.
 
You will need to have a hole for the lanyard. I've used masonary bits to cut through hardened steel but a carbide bit is better. The hole needs to be a little larger than the tubing that you are using for your lanyard hole.
I rivet and glue my handles. Again the tang has to have holes large enough for the compression rivets to fit through. I use 60 minute epoxy. The surfaces should be flat and roughed with 120 - 240 grit sand paper and clean.
I clamp a scale in place and trace the outline of the scale noting which side lays against the tang doing the same for the other side.
Rough cut the scales.
Complete the part of the scale near the ricasso to near finish. Check them to see if they have the desired shape and where the lay on the blade. When you glue your scales these will be your anchor points.
Take one scale and make sure it and the tang are flat and rough. Clean both with isopropyl alcohol. Carefully prepare your epoxy. If you have done everything right to this point, you only need enough to coat the scale and the tang. I coat both to make sure that there are no dry spots.
Using your anchor points as reference, clamp your scale to the tang. Let cure for 24 hours.
Drill your rivet and lanyard holes.
Glue your other scale to the tang like the first.
Finish drilling your rivet and lanyard holes.
Countersink the rivet holes for the rivet heads to the desired depth, fit and set your lanyard tube.
You can set your rivets now then finish the handle. Or you can set the rivets after you have the handle almost finished.

Notes: You only need to clamp the scale with enough force to hold it in place. A little bit of epoxy will squeeze out around the scale. You can wipe it off with a paper towel moistened with isopropyl alcohol or sand it off when you shape the handle. I suggest you carefully wipe it off along the ricasso.
 
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