Thread: Knife projects – Handles/restoration

Follow up on the bird & trout knife blank thread. However, I now have two projects. I have a few questions, see below. Any help/tips would be greatly appreciated.

Original thread: http://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.n...e-blanks-1849/


Project 1. Bird & trout / small game knife

Knife blank: Have spoken with the forum sponsor (Zedteq), I will get the blank made, as I’m not set up and/or don’t have the confidence to make a knife from scratch just yet.
Proposed handle material: antler scales / epoxied leather (between steel and antler)
Pins: Stainless
Guard/bolster: Stainless

I’ve got as far as making a wooden prototype to check sizing, next step will be to get a knife blank made.

The prototype w/ cut scales in foreground.



Wooden prototype next to the docking knife, handle materials in foreground.



The pins I found today, I think they are stainless (anyone know how to check?)



The epoxy I bought today, it was recommended to me by a guy at Mitre 10... hopefully he knows what he was talking about.



Proposed method (once blank is made/hardened and stainless bolster is installed):

Once antler scales have been leveled/dried…

I plan to drill holes through leather an antler (lined up with guide holes through steel knife blank), cover leather and both sides of the steel, pin all the handle materials together and clamp for 24-48 hours.

Machine grind & sand to rough shape and then continue to sand/file by hand. I have been thinking of getting a Dremel? Does anyone use one?

Is there any tips/tricks into getting a tight fit?

I’m also a little concerned in regards to the antler I chose to use. In the end I chose to cut the scales from a Ruahine red (cast) which has a fair bit of pith, unlike the Sambar antler I was originally going to use. Is there any compound that I could use that will look like antler/bone if all does not go to plan?



Project 2. Re-handle a Sabatier Chefs knife (my favourite)

Old handle (problem): cracked/rivets broken
Proposed new handle material: Ebony
Pins: Stainless

The problem (handle material/rivets are cracked and broken).



New handle material (ebony – it is very dense).



The knife.



Is this just a simple task of removing the old scales and shaping fitting the ebony scales to match? I’m worried I wont get a tight fit, I can see it has started to rust a bit where the handle has cracked, is there a way to clean this without making it the steel look shiny/new again. Tips/ help would be appreciated.


Also, some of you may be interested.

I was given a fair bit of Perspex/plastic in a few colours a few weeks back (from my brother, an industrial designer). If any of you are interested, I’m happy to cut up a few sections for you to use on your own knife making/projects).

The selection.




Cheers,

Raging Bull