Refurb old butcher knife

[Bmeg]

Hello all,


I am new to this forum and could use some help. I tried a few searches on the forum but could not find any specific answers. I would appreciate any advice/knowledge/opinions on my 1st project:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/499407046154783130/

I have inherited my grandfather's butcher knife and have begun a remake/re-purposing. I would like to use the finished product as a slicer/carving knife. The knife is anywhere from 100 to 80 years old. All my father could tell me about the blade is that it was made from a sawmill bandsaw. The scales on the handle were in too poor shape for use. So I removed the scales and had to sand off the old patina to remove the real rust that had begun to accumulate. You'll notice the duct tape on the edge to protect what is there.

OL=17 inches
Blade length:12 inches
Thickness= ~.080in

Now for the part where I could use the help from those who know so much more ab out this than I do:
Any idea what type of steel it could be?
I thought about rescaling but I'd really like to cast a handle so I can fit the handle to my hand
So... any opinions on urethane or epoxy? If so, what make/model

Any other suggestions? Comments? Opinions?

Thanks

 

[Bill1170]

A moderator will probably move this thread to the maintenance subforum, where you will get better answers. Based on age, the steel is probably a simple carbon steel like 1095. If I were making a molded handle, I'd use epoxy plus fabric to make a fibered composite, AKA "jeancarta" which is a portmanteau of blue jeans and micarta. Then I would fine tune with files and sandpaper for that custom fit. Good luck, it is a great feeling to return an old item to good working condition.

 

[arty]

I would use a couple of pins in the handle to add to stability while the epoxy sets. I have read that a regular epoxy sets up stronger than the 5 min stuff. Be sure to let the epoxy fully cure for 24 hours before removing any clamps.
It is important to degrease the tang before using the epoxy, and I would also roughen the surface with some sandpaper, making sure to clean off any residue.
Wood is good. Just make sure that the wood is thouroughly dry. I like exotics, like purpleheart, or other hard woods, but make sure that the wood has been dried. Some wood comes green. You are probably safe if you get wood from a knife making supply house, but ask about this. People have been making knife handles from hard maple, walnut, or oak for a long time, so they deserve consideration. If using a domestic wood, I'd be partial to curly maple.
It is easy to shape the wood to fit your hand. Finish with something like Watco followed by a wiping varnish, if you want a more waterproof finish. If I were making a knife handle for fishing, I'd be likely to use a polyurethane finish for a topcoat.

 

[JackstrawIII]

Hey,

First off, good on you for attempting this project. Few notes for you.

1. How did you cut/grind the metal into this shape? When cutting/grinding, did you ever notice the steel getting blue-hot? If so, you should consider re heat treating it, as burned edges of steel can be quite brittle. Just a thought.

2. I agree that it's probably in the 10** series of steels, which all heat treat relatively similarly, and sending it out for professional treatment would be simple enough.

3. As far as the handle, my recommendation would be to purchase a micarta or g10 block to use, instead of trying to create your own. Many folks have tried the fabric/epoxy wrap idea, and it's really tough to get it right, especially on your first attempt. What tends to happen is that you'll end up with uneven distribution of material, voids in the material, and sub-par looking results.

In order to use a block, just:
A. Drill or mill out a slot to stick your handle in
B. Fill the hole with JB Weld (works great)
C. Stick the tang in and use a vice or clamps to hold it all together while the epoxy cures.
D. Once it's dry, drill a few holes through and put in some pins

4. Then you can shape the handle with round files until it's oh so nice!