First Knife Blade handling help, Antler.

[EarthToSimon]

Not sure if I'm posting this in the right place please move if not.

Got a roll of red deer antler from a guy on here that fits my hand perfectly, so I've decided to use it to make my handle my first knife. Trouble is it's got a curve in it.





Would I be able to bend the tang of the blade to match the curve and just insert it after soaking?
I don't really want to cut it down because of the natural guard on it.

Going for a Scandi ground blade that's a bit deeper than a companion. Haven't found one yet, any recommendations?
Are the Karesuando carbon blades any good? Like this one https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.ph...oducts_id=1452

Wanting to cap off the ends with walnut or a dark wood, would spacers be needed for this?

Might be jumping in at the deep end here.


Thanks for putting up with my mass of questions.
Simon

[brancho]

If you are happy with a curved handle go for it. The Karesuando blades are good you can buy them in kits too. you can buy those blades in teh UK too.
A piece of wood or buffalo horn either end will look good but you can use brass at the blade end.

I will post some more info when I am at home tomorrow

[EarthToSimon]

Thanks for the advice.

Ideally I want a blade about 30mm wide. But the maximum I've found is 21mm.
Any other similarly priced blades?

[lannyman8]

what you want to do should be fine, try asking a maker to do a blade with a soft tang that can be hammered into the shape you want...or the other way is to put the blade into a tin of some sort with just enough water to cover the blade, then heat the tang with a blow torch untill bright red, this will soften it up so you can shape it...

you wont need to use a liner before the wood or horn, but it all depends how you want it to look....

regards.

chris.

[EarthToSimon]

try asking a maker to do a blade with a soft tang that can be hammered into the shape you want.

how much would a blade like that set me back?
http://www.casstrom.co.uk/epages/Cas.../Products/3561
I'm looking for something this shape but in carbon steel.

thanks for a advice,

Simon

[brancho]

I would have a go with a kit with one those blades first and save that antler for your second project when you have learned some more.

[brancho]

As I say start with with one of THESE kits and learn from it then move onto this project.

Look HERE for some tips on how make your knife also look HERE

[EarthToSimon]

Thanks for the advice.
I'll order one of those and take it from there.

[brancho]

If you go for a kit a couple of points to note do not file the slot in the bolster bigger thin the tang up to about a few mm from where the bolster will sit then force it on.

Look HERE
Look HERE for some more tips

Here is a similiar blade


Factory Bolster fitted by alf.branch, on Flickr

and before

The blade by alf.branch, on Flickr