What can be used as spacer material in a hidden tang knife?

sogflash

sogflash

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Aug 28, 2011
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I want to separate the different pieces of a knife handle I'm making for a hidden tang blade. It will just be between the bolster and wooden handle.

What kind of material can I use for that? Can leather be used?
 
G10, Micarta, carbon fiber, steel, brass, bronze, nickel silver, wood... What ever you wish, leather woul work too. Choose the material to match the look you want to achieve as a finished knife.
 
I agree with Bob. Just about anything flat. I've used g10, micarta, buffalo horn, brass, stainless, regular fiber liner, leather, and wood, just off the top of my head. Look at the Scagel style handles... you can just keep on stacking stuff in there as much as you like.
 
Birch bark stacked handle! I saw it recently on a knife in the for sale forum. Cant remember who made it but it looked awesome.
 
Will leather shrink with time?

How does one gather birch bark for a knife handle? can it be pealed of dried firewood, or does it need to be fresh?
 
sogflash said:
Will leather shrink with time?

How does one gather birch bark for a knife handle? can it be pealed of dried firewood, or does it need to be fresh?
Click to expand...

You want the stuff that peels off fire wood. The thick stuff. Like 1/8" thick. Sometimes it pops off all on it own. I have done a couple and have an order for a nother one.
 
I have used multi colored Plastic picnic plates for liners so they would work for spacers.
Iv'e seen Old bowling ball material, Aluminum, Brass, Copper, old insulation materials and all of the stuff that Bob mentioned. Look for pictures of the WWII theatre made knives. They used everything under the sun.
 
Most importantly, IMHO, the material chosen should "fit" the style of the knife, asthetically speaking. Think about it from a clothing point of view. You COULD wear a purple and orange striped shirt with blue checkered shorts, and it would work fine ... but it wouldn't 't look right. Leather spacers look pretty nice on a Scagel style handle, but we are used to seeing that with stag. Not sure how it would look in between a steel guard and a wooden handle- maybe awesome maybe not. Try to visualize the finished knife with the material, and you think it looks appealing or if you think others would like the look too, then go with it or change it accordingly. If it is something you just want to try regardless of what others think, go for it too.. Either way, go for it and post it when you are done. :thumbup:
 
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Bob Katilus said:
Most importantly, IMHO, the material chosen should "fit" the style of the knife, asthetically speaking. Think about it from a clothing point of view. You COULD wear a purple and orange striped shirt with blue checkered shorts, and it would work fine ... but it wouldn't 't look right. Leather spacers look pretty nice on a Scagel style handle, but we are used to seeing that with stag. Not sure how it would look in between a steel guard and a wooden handle- maybe awesome maybe not. Try to visualize the finished knife with the material, and you think it looks appealing or if you think others would like the look too, then go with it or change it accordingly. If it is something you just want to try regardless of what others think, go for it too.. Either way, go for it and post it when you are done. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Nice move there, Bob. What can be used vs. what will look good is a good point.
 
Use vegetable tanned leather, chrome tanned won't work.
Leather soles, belts, sheeths etc are vegetable tanned.
A shoerepairshop will throw away more spacers then you'll ever need
 
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