Hints and Tips Page 12

Click on any of the thumbnails below for a more detailed photo

	Leather Washer Handles In terms of comfort and non-slip functionality, you can't beat the feel of a stacked leather washer handle. The handle just feels soft , warm and comfortable in your hand but still offers a durable handle that won't slip in your hand, even in the most inclement, cold or wet weather. Leather washers, by the way, can be found on the Handle Supplies Page
		Perhaps one of the best known leather washer handled knives is the venerable Ka-Bar WWII Marine survival knife. This hard working knife became the best friend of thousands of our enlisted men . Stories, anecdotes and legends about this knife abound.
		Stacked leather washers are designed to work on hidden tang knives. I start by soldering on a nickel silver guard. The premade  washers are oval in shape and have a slot that slides over the tang.
		Start sliding the washers on the tang, coating each with a watered down carpenter's glue. The glue will help adhere the washers and add a lot of strength and stability. The black/white/black ebony and maple spacer is just something I'm adding fordecoration.
		When done adding all of the washers, screw on the threaded pommel to compress them. I added a few drops of super glue to the threads to lock the pommel in place. You'll know it's tight enough when the glue starts to squeeze out.
		I pass it through the bandsaw to give me a good flat side that I can use for reference in starting to define to side profile
		I worked the profile out on paper first, but this is what it looks like after transferring it the knife handle.
		Shaping the stacked  leather washer handle at this point is done just as you would shape any other handle material. I use the belt sander to do most of the work establishing the shape and finish it by hand with a medium grit sandpaper. Cover the leather washers with tape to protect the bare leather if you're going to buff the guard and pommel.
		And this is what it ended up like. I applied one liberal coat of Neatsfoot Oil on the washers to add a degree of protection. I Think this is a keeper.
	Curved Guards This technique is a simple way to add an attractive custom look to your knives and, and is a great way to reduce the heavy weight of overly thick guards, making your knife more comfortable and easier to handle.
		I start by sanding down the inside edge of the guard on my bench belt sander. It goes fast but remember that this thing is going to get very hot. Do this in steps letting it cool in between.
		I use a disk sander to shape the front of the block that will be the handle to fit the back of the guard. Trial and error is the way to go. Test fit often until you have a perfect fit.
		This is what it looks like after mounting and initial profile shaping. The blade, by the way, is the Nova, done up with a bloodwood handle and ebony and maple spacers.
		Shaped and finished. I think this adds a really classy, custom touch that's easy to do.

  
Got a good tip that you think your fellow knifemakers would like to know about? Drop me a note at pjp@northcoastknives.com