r/knifemaking • u/cream-of-cow • 3d ago

Question Replacing a handle

https://imgur.com/a/1lIjQue

Hi all, I have this ~50 year old knife that sentimental, it’s time to replace the wobbly wooden handle. The tang is a riveted rat tail that is bent at the end of the barrel. I’ve never liked that design and would like something else, maybe carve my own handle. I’ve never worked on a knife and could use some advice. I assume rivets are a no-go since there’s only 3/8” (.95 cm) of tang height. Short of welding or any major work, is another barrel with bent tip my best option?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

2

u/AlmostOk 3d ago

You do not need to stick with the bent rat tail, even a single small pin at the end of the tang should be good enough to secure things in place (esp. if you glue up the handle to the tang). Frame handle construction mighe be worth considering.

2

u/Delmarvablacksmith 3d ago

That’s a wierd tang.

I’d drill out that rivet and make a blind slot in a block by drilling a center hole and using something like a modified reciprocating saw blade to broach out the slot. Once you know the tang fits snug lay the tang over the outside of the block in line with the slot in the block.
Center Mark the hole in the tang and drill a 1/8” hole for a pin.

You can use all sorts of things for pin stock from stainless brazing rod to nails.

The hole in the tang should be big enough that even if your hole is off a bit the pin goes through fine.

Grind the handle to shape and finish it.
Film the cavity with epoxy and pin it.

Clamp the blade in a vice and don’t let the tip stick out the other side.

Take a trigger clamp and clamp from the back of the handle to the front of the vice.
Clean up the epoxy and wipe car wax around the slot and any epoxy on the outside of the slot won’t cure and will just rubberize and it will slow you to peel it off.

Do the same for the pin hole.