removing handles from steels

[cgwbear]

hi folks, don't know if this is the right place, but here goes: i have a good batch of old sharpening steels, maybe 50, and i want to remove the handles and keep them (handles) intact. they are stag, bone, bakelight-type stuff, who knows? i intend to use the handles as grips for some clasp knives i am making in the laguiole/opinel style. carbon-steel blades. i also intend to make throwing spikes out of the other end of the steels. any help would really be appreciated. thanks in advance..............................b

 

[richard j]

find a washer that will slide over the steel and put it against the handle. slide a heavy socket base first over the steel and clamp the steel tip in a vise. use the socket like a slide hammer hitting against the washer going easy to see if any progress is made. you might have to heat the tang with a propane torch gradually until the steel comes loose.

 

[the possum]

Search in Bernard Levine's forum- he has described how he did this many times. If they're older ones with the handles "glued" on with rozzil, you can boil them in water to soften the binder, and just take them off. I did this myself on an old carving knife with a stag handle.

 

[cgwbear]

thanks for some good ideas --and so quickly. i have my work cut out........b