Re-handling help...

ROCK6

ROCK6

Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
4,172
I must first say that my M43 is my favorite, but mine has a horn handle that isn't fitted well (looks to have shrunk, exposing the tang) and their are several sharp edges. I really don't want to file down the tang to smooth it out and I think for a temporary fix, I'll use tape. I would really like to get it rehandled...who in the HI community does or knows anybody willing to assist? I thinking wood, but would consider micarta despite the non-tradtional look. I really want to use it more, but it often gets left behind because I just can use it comfortably or for very long. Thanks in advance,

ROCK6
 
Rock6,

Have you soaked the handle yet? You will be surprised how much shrinkage you will get when the horn dries out. I usually soak the entire kukri in a mineral oil bath and add mineral oil to the horn regularly. I use horse hoof conditioner on them too, especially when they just come in from Nepal or I use them in very wet or very dry conditions.

If that doesn't work then maybe one of the re-handle experts on the forum can help. JayGoliath is one of the ones that is good at that sort of thing. Personally I would love to see a micarta handle made for an M43!
 
Rock6
check out these 2 threads I started a while back
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/769093-CAK-rehandle-(dial-up-don-t!)
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/765157-How-to-fix-pinned-Chiruwa-handles
If you find micarta thick enough for re-handling an M43 please post the information or PM me. I re-handled my Bahadur with some thinner micarta and am not exactly thrilled with the thinness.
I love the look of horn and it polishes beautifully but without (more maintenance than wood) it will shrink especially as hot and dry of a summer as we have been having. Stinks to high heaven to sand it.
 
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Thanks...I'll give the mineral bath a go first; thanks also for the tip on JayGoliath,

ROCK6
 
Jaymo, to re-handle a Khukuri you really need 3/4", 1" if you can get it. I like to have a lot of "room" to shape the new handle. I've played with the idea of stacking & gluing 2 or more pieces to get that thickness but i"ll have to ask in the Makers forum how safe that is.
 
Bill,

The person who actually helped me a lot is Hung from Vietnam.

Rock6,
You might want to snap some pics for better judgment.Like Bill said mineral oil helps a lot. For aesthetics wood, micarta or the wonderful G-10 handled UF are all possible.I like wood on khuks a lot.

Re-handling a rat tang is a lot more complicated than full tang.
 
You could always make your own micarta. Do a Youtube search for homemade micarta. There are plenty of videos about it. All I've watched were for making knife handle scales.
 
Condottiere,

Fantastic job on that re-handle! It looks tight, clean and the texture of that material is outstanding.
 
Condottiere & Jaymo thanks for the tips sadly I need time to use it to find out if I need to re-handle it again.
 
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