Stabilizing Alligator skin

D

Dlathrop

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Dec 23, 2010
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I've been doing custom knife work for a few years now and I have a family friend that has an old knife that he wants me to rebuild with a new handle. He recently acquired some tanned alligator skins and wants to incorporate them into a design. I was wondering if it was possible to stabilize this material in any way. I'm not sure if this is even possible or not. I appologize if this seems like a stupid question or is covered somewhere else. I would appreciate any info you may have. Thanks
Derek
 
Alligator skin is made into belts and boots without stabilizing. I imagine it would work for knife handles without it.
 
Rubbing Glycerin into the skin should make it supple and will also act as a preservative. It works great with rattlesnake skin.
 
If you want to soften it, any leather oil or glycerin will do that. If you ant to make it harder and more wear resistant, then use thin CA or epoxy and impregnate the skin after it is installed on the handle. Test this on some scrap first. It is done just like impregnating a paracord handle. I have done this on soft stingray and snake skin.

I have a soft orangish colored gator skin that I haven't used, because it is too soft, you just gave me an idea.
 
Duwayne Batten from Florida is pretty much the guru on knife handle quality stabilized
skins. I've used his Armadillo and it will prob be around another 100 years or so. Last I knew
he was also dyeing it.
Ken.
 
thanks guys I'm getting the skins in a few months and I'll be trying to harden them several diffent ways. I'll post updates in a few months.
 
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