Brian either grind or file the tip of the tang down even with the keeper and then using a sharp edged screwdriver or carefully insert a thin knife edge under the edge of the keeper and pop it off. You can do the same with the butt cap many times, but it may be glued on with either laha or JB Weld so may prove to be a bit more difficult.
Then using an old pan heat up water 'till it boils and soak the handle in it for a few minutes. Use a couple of old rags to pull the handle from the blade. The melted laha has a tendency to stick to anything you don't want it to stick to so that's the reason for using an old pan or something else that you don't mind possibly ruining.
Before reassembleing cut the tang down further towards the cho to get rid of the cho creep. With a hacksaw cut off the flat area of the bolster and then file it smooth and gently tap the sides down if needed to close the gap between blade and bolster if needed. Make the new handle to suit yourself. By reworking the tang to get rid of the cho creep and shortening the bolster you can make a quite a bit longer handle if desired.
If you're going to improve the finish on the blade nows the time to do it. If not then place the bolster on the tang and tape in place with masking tape being sure to completely cover the bolster. Make sure to have the rest of the parts covered with masking tape where you don't want epoxy to stick.
Pour a bit of epoxy into the bolster, slide handle over tang and fit into bolster, pour epoxy into the handle and install butt cap and keeper being sure to keep everything centered the way you want it. Let set until epoxy starts setting up into about the consistency of well chewed bubble gum or a bit harder and then carefully start removing the tape. With the tape removed you can then peen the tang being very careful to not move anything out of kilter. Use acetone to remove any excess still somewhat soft epoxy. let cure and viola, You've done it!!!!
But I can remember when there weren't -any- marks.
