Stacked Leather Handles

[jvholt]

A friend of mine gave me a knife the other day that once belonged to his dad. It is just an old schrade-walden knife and probably not worth much in money, but obviously holds alot of sentimental value. He wants it cleaned up and rehandled. You can see the tang and it still has a finger guard and a cap on the end. Both of which I will probably remake. It has a few old leather washers on it so I know it had a leather handle at one time.
I have an idea on how to do a leather washer handle but was wondering if anyone had any pointers on compressing the washers. I was thinking of using some Barge glue between them as I put it together?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Mace]

I have used epoxy when doing a leather handle. This will help if you have any slop in your washers. You should try and get them snug tho. I have used a solder jig to tighten them up or you can get one of those plastic grip clamps and cut a slot in one end to slip over the top of your guard.
When using epoxy make sure not to use 5 min.! Use sharp belts to grind so you don't burn the leather.
Good luck
Post some pics.:thumbup:
Mace

Here is one I did last year for a guy at my club. The antler was from the first deer he ever took when he was 13.

 

[Halecky Knives]

First cut up the leather into usable size pieces and soak them im water for afew minutes, then compress them (I use an old vise). After they dry punch the hole in them and stack them on the handle using 24hr epoxy between each washer. then compress them with the pommel nut. use a sharp belt to shape. makes a nice hard handle. I use bees wax to finish it off (buff to a shine) makes a nice grippy handle.