Now I am laying out my name for etching.
Etching Name.
At this point all of the parts that are Damascus are etched and finished to my liking.
The guard is then fit into place and typically I will place a small amount of JB Weld around the back in the gap that was milled in it. This is a vapor barrier. I don't ever put anything around the front of the guard. That is what all the time spent fitting was for!
Now the tang is wrapped in Teflon tape and coated with vaseline. I am now going to bed the handle in epoxy. All of the space in the handle not occupied by the tang will be filled with epoxy. Once this is done the need for the blind pins into the front of the handle will no longer be a necessity, though I still like to have them just to make me feel good.
I'm sorry no picture were taken of this but when you mix the 5 minute there is NO extra time. I will explain.
I taped off the hole for the finial and filled the handle with glue. I then slid the tang down in letting epoxy squeeze out. All parts were coated in Vaseline that way the epoxy would not stick where it wasn't wanted.
I then let the epoxy set up hard. At this point to blade was clamped in a vise and the handle was pulled off the knife. I'm always nervous hoping I didn't miss an area with the bag balm! That would be bad.
Here's a look at the pocket that was left.
At this point I turn the handle around, take the tape off and mill and drill out the glue in the back of the handle just a bit until I find where the end of the tang was. This gives the finial room to slide in and thread on.
Once this is all done I epoxy the escutcheon plates into place.
I then make sure everything works well, sharpen it, and make a take down tool.
It's hard to see the mirror polished name plates because it is reflecting the guard Damascus pattern in them.
Thanks Josh.
