Restoring a Ka-Bar

[30 Caliber Mag Fan]

Friends-

I am new to this board, but, it looks like the best place to pose this question. I have an old Ka-Bar knife that was my Father's. I had someone about 25 years ago put a deer antler handle on it. Originally, it had the "stacked" or laminated leather handle. But, I would like to restore it to its original condition. Does anyone have any recommendations as to who and where?

Thanks in advance.

Best regards,

Mark

 

[GWashington1732]

I don't understand, you want to restore the blade or put the leather handle back on?

I'll assume you want to restore the handle since you said original condition. You can buy leather washers at knifemaker supply shops (http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index.php) they sell them here, never ordered anything from them though. That's how to restore the handle itself, how to restore the but cap, I'm not really sure, you may want to repost this in the matinence tinkering and embellishment forum, they'll probably have better answers for you.

P.S. can you post a picture of the antler handle on the knife, I've been playing with the idea of trying something like this.

 

[townsend]

I rehandle and / customize old military knives all the time. Here are two USNavy Mark twos (called the USMC fighting utility knife or just plain old K-bar). Top knife in first pic is a factory fresh one.

 

[GWashington1732]

I rehandle and / customize old military knives all the time. Here are two USNavy Mark twos (called the USMC fighting utility knife or just plain old K-bar). Top knife in first pic is a factory fresh one.

How do you do the but cap (get it off/replace it)?
Just curious, I'm bored, looking for a new hobby.

 

[townsend]

Find the pin and tap it out. Maybe you will have to drill it out. But is nice to save and reuse the original parts. If you cannot save the pommel, just use your imagination as I did and make a new one.

Or go for a whole new look, as per this one.

 

[STR]

I rehandle and / customize old military knives all the time. Here are two USNavy Mark twos (called the USMC fighting utility knife or just plain old K-bar). Top knife in first pic is a factory fresh one.

Townsend you need to get in touch with me so we can get your info and keep it for future reference. I'll explain more when you get back to me if you do.

Find all my contact info in my forum here in one of the sticky threads for mailing me work. Thanks

 

[rayban]

Townsend...great looking work! Question...how are the original guards usually attached? are they soldered, glued, or just pressed in place by the fit of the leather handle?

 

[townsend]

Thank you. The guards on US military knives then and now (traditional leather washer handled ones) were secured only by the pressure of the pommel, upon the handle. It helped in how the guard was designed to sit well onto the shoulder where blade becomes tang. The Jet Pilot knives by Camillus and Ontario are notorious for having loose guards once the leather washers dry out. Note: The leather washers were not glued together. The M3 trench knife is another with such problems. But I have handled dozens of WW2 , Korean and Vietnam issue Mark 2 knives (the US Marine fighting / utility "K-Bar" where the guard was still wonderfully tight.

On my knives, I add a touch or two of super glue to hold the guard on until I get the pommel secured. Handle washers are glued together too. But the fail-safe to really hold stuff together is simply a very well installed pommel.

Hey, original poster, lets see a pic of the antler handled knife!

SLR, thanks for the invite, I will look you up.

I am getting a little embarassed by having all these photos of my knives here on the forum.

 

[shunsui]

Does anyone have any recommendations as to who and where?

Mike Stewart at Bark River knives can redo the leather handle for you. Saw a picture of a Pilot Survival Knife he did for someone with a similiar situation. Very nice work.

 

[rayban]

I took one apart last night to re-handle....it was put together VERY well!
The tang is .168 x .530 and of course, ran the entire length of the handle.

I'm planning nickle silver guard, and black micarta handle.

 

[townsend]

Keep us posted!

 

[puukkoman]

I took one apart last night to re-handle....it was put together VERY well!
The tang is .168 x .530 and of course, ran the entire length of the handle.

I'm planning nickle silver guard, and black micarta handle.

I'm wondering about the blade in this photo... How was the pommel attached? Doesn't the tang have a thinner part at the end to slide into it? Did you grind it off?

 

[A.L.]

I'm wondering about the blade in this photo... How was the pommel attached? Doesn't the tang have a thinner part at the end to slide into it? Did you grind it off?

I have one ka-bar a part, I would get it fixed if I had better equipment.

The tang is solid bar like that, and the pommel is attached to the tang by a pin. And trust me, it's damn well put together. I'd say it's easier to saw part of the tang apart than getting the cap off.

 

[rayban]

The tang is solid bar like that, and the pommel is attached to the tang by a pin. And trust me, it's damn well put together. I'd say it's easier to saw part of the tang apart than getting the cap off.

That's a Roger, and that's exactly what I did....still plenty tang left for the handle design I have in mind....my guard material didn't come in today's mail:grumpy:

 

[townsend]

Hey Rayban.. just figured out who you are. You made me one awesome sheath for a user Western W49 bowie a couple of years ago. We met at the Novi Knife show so I could get it from you. You also did that very 'Arabic' sheath for the Case Desert Prince that I was just showing off at the local knife shop last month.

 

[Robert.B]

is their anywhere you can find cheap authentic ka-bar blades for projects like this? i've been wanting to do one with a custom handle and blade finish.

 

[deltablade]

how do you remove the hex pommel nut from a jet pilot knife?

 

[brets-ftw]

talk about zombie thread. I have a feeling they were pinned

 

[Wtail138]

I have a old us navy sheath knife that has no leather handle or butt. I would like to restore for my dad for Father's Day. Please email me or call me at 4233142793