replacing a handle

[forrestdweller]

i've small fixed-blade skinning knive on my belt(buck "diamond") which is a handy little tool for rabbits, hares, possums and wallabies etc., but sadly the handle is made from a rather soft rubber, which is coming off and falling apart. (is has a kind of full tang; actually you can pull the handle of). as the knive has served me well i'm planning to rehandle it. as i doubt that it's possible to drill holes in an already hardened piece of metal(+i'm travelling(since 5years) and do not carry the neccesary tools for such a job around) i'm thinking to wrap it with organic string or likewise material and soak it layer by layer with epoxy (like some kind of micarta). has anyone tried this and if yes- what results?

[caliban]

Sounds like a good idea, if you could post a pic it'd give people a better idea about what to suggest as a handle option. What I'd do would be to do a dummy run using gelitine instead of glue (it IS a glue though) and if you don't like it just disolve the gelitine in hot water.

[wanderingblade]

Theres a very simple way to rehandle blades like this where you can't / don't want to drill the tang but it's too thick for a standard handle construction.

Get a sheet of vulcanized fibre (or thin strip of hardwood) the same thickness as the tang, lay the tang on the sheet and trace around it.

Cut out the tang shape

get 2 scales of nice wood

Epoxy the vulc. fibre & blade onto one scale & clamp until set

When set, epoxy the other scale on making sure all voids are filled and clamp up again nice and tight (not too tight!)

When dry, use a belt sander to shape the handle

Job done - a very solid and nice looking knife.

I've got one I made this way kicking about, I'll try to find a pic.

[caliban]

Genius mate!

[forrestdweller]

sounds like a good solution- will give it a try!