Timascus ferrule on a hidden tang chef’s knife . Handle construction questions.

[Jesse H]

Greetings ! I am in the process of making a set of matching kitchen knives . The handle construction will be hidden tang with alignment pins , and I will be slotting out 1/4 inch thick Timascus for the ferrules. Micarta and stabilized burl will make up the rest of the handle.
My question is this, do I make the finished handles a friction fit so that the Timascus ferrules can be removed and re heat anodized later down the road , Or just do a full glue up and call it good?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Welcome Jesse.

A take-down construction would be fine for a bowie or shelf queen, but on a kitchen knife you really don't want places that water and food can hide. Thus, you want as good a seal as possible at the bolster/ferrule. Fully epoxied would be wisest. The coloring of the timascus could be done or restored by electric anodizing with a transformer DC power supply and TSP as the electrolyte. If you have questions about how to brush anodize titanium, ask WValtakis. He is the king of engraving and anodizing titanium. You can see his work in his sub-forum, Chipped Metal - https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/chipped-metal.959/

 

[Jesse H]

Welcome Jesse.

A take-down construction would be fine for a bowie or shelf queen, but on a kitchen knife you really don't want places that water and food can hide. Thus, you want as good a seal as possible at the bolster/ferrule. Fully epoxied would be wisest. The coloring of the timascus could be done or restored by electric anodizing with a transformer DC power supply and TSP as the electrolyte. If you have questions about how to brush anodize titanium, ask WValtakis. He is the king of engraving and anodizing titanium. You can see his work in his sub-forum, Chipped Metal - https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/chipped-metal.959/

Thank you Stacy .

That’s sound advice. It’s great to know that electronic anodizing would be an option for a permanent/epoxied handle . I will definitely plan on going that route!

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

Are you making ferrules or just spacers?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The term ferrule now seems to be used interchangeably with bolster. They are not the same, but common use will change word usage. Some of tghis is caused by language differences and translation.

Definitions:
Ferrule - A ring, sleeve, or cap, usually metal, that fits on one or both ends of a handle to strengthen it.
Collar - A sleeve of hard material, usually metal, to strengthen a handle. Usually placed at the front end.
Bolster - A piece of hard material, applied to one or both ends of a handle to strengthen it.
Guard - A piece of hard material, usually metal, applied at the junction of the blade and handle to protect the hand from sliding forward. On fighting weapons, it also protects the hand from an opponent's blade sliding into the fingers. On outdoor and utility use knives the guard mainly protects the forward fingers from striking objects while doing cutting tasks. On large knives and swords, the guard can be on both ends of the handle or go from end to end.

Additional notes:
A ferrule is usually flush with the handle.
A collar is often proud of the handle.
Almost any type of end protection that strengthens the handle can be called a bolster.
If it does not protect the fingers/hand in some fashion it is not a guard. A bolster that flares out to improve grip can be described as a guard.

 

[A.McPherson]

I'd also say that a "bolster" is nearly exclusive to handles with scales rather than solid handles. But that's just my take on it.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

No, many hidden tang handles have a bolster. Bowies and swords with through tang handles often have them too.

 

[Jesse H]

Are you making ferrules or just spacers?

I am honestly not sure what to call them. More like spacers I would say . Flush fitting with the rest of the handle , but occupying the same space as a guard or bolster would at the front of the handle .

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Stacked Spacers.

 

[A.McPherson]

No, many hidden tang handles have a bolster. Bowies and swords with through tang handles often have them too.

Hey Stacy, can you post a picture of that? I'm not trying to be argumentative, I'm genuinely curious.

I agree it's important to agree on terms, so I'm having trouble picturing a bolster on a through tang, that isn't a guard or a spacer...

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The first two images show a sword handle and a Marbles Bowie. Similar handles may have stacked or solid bolsters.
Japanese handles usually have fitted collars/ferrules called a fuchi and kashira. Some have actual bolsters. I make fuchi/kashira in various sizes from engraved-pattern sterling silver if anyone is looking for a set.
Last image is my dress sgian dubh with the type of engraved-pattern sterling silver that I use for fuchi and kashira. Handle and sheath are white and black mammoth ivory.







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