Thursday, September 21, 2017

Making a handle for a pocket knife 2

I shaped the handle using a round and a half round file to get close to the shape that I wanted.

Before sanding I needed to drill the recessed holes for the heads of the screws.
I ground a drill like a router bit and mounted in our drill press. I had marked out where it should go and then I drilled very carefully. The first result was perfect. But in the other side f the knife, a small chip broke off, and I had to glue it back on with some super glue. I have ended up making the handle just a little bit too thin in the forward end of the knife, because the screws are setting against the threaded piece inside before reaching the wood. It is maybe 1/50" too shallow, so I doubt that it will have any effect on the general use of the knife. But the problem is that I know it..

After that I sanded with the different available grits that we have out here, ending up with a purple and a green scotch brite pad together with some olive oil (because that is what I could get my hands on)

Finally I sharpened the knife and put it back in the drawer where I found it.

It has been a quick little project, and there are lots of possibilities for improvements, but The important thing was to get a feel for how this Bubinga is to work with, and I have a better understanding about that now than prior to the project.
The knife itself seems to have been constructed so it would fit a plastic handle. That made it a bit difficult and necessitated the addition of an aluminium piece in the back of the handle. both to act as a distance piece and as a way of securing that end of the blade/spring unit.

I am pretty sure that there are pocket knives out there more suited to re-handling than this one, so if anyone is interested in trying it out for themselves, I suggest getting something that was meant for a wooden handle.

A positive thing about making handles is that it can be done with a very limited tool set, and it doesn't require a lot of shop space. But I am not quite as attracted to that sort of woodworking as to e.g box making, so I doubt that I will turn into a full time knife maker.

Glamour shot of the end.

Before oil and final sanding and without screws.

Small blade and large handle.

Oiled and finished.

Oiled and finished on the other side too.



10 comments:

  1. Beautiful knife, and I have to say, the best photos you've ever taken.

    Someone will be surprised when they dig in that drawer for that old, plastic handled pocketknife.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I think the glamour shot came out pretty good. It is the only picture where you can get an idea of the shape of the handle.
      They'll sure be surprised when they try to use the knife. I sharpened it and stropped it so it is razor sharp.
      That was done after the pictures were taken by the way, so if it doesn't look sharp on the pictures, that's why.
      Cheers
      Jonas

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  2. The knife looks much happier with the new handle, it probably won't be left lying around again. The wood looks great, should make a good box-based piece.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jeff
      Thanks, I can't wait till the other shift arrives in four weeks time. They are the knife collectors, and they were curious if I could make a handle for a knife.
      Brgds
      Jonas

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  3. Great job... as usual :-) You are a very versatile sailor, you would had been at home in our Navy :-)

    Rudy...and Bob

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Bob.
      You are much too kind.
      If I could get a job as a Newfoundland dog trainer in the Canadian Navy, it would be like the best job in the world.

      Brgds to the both of you.
      Jonas

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  4. Jonas,

    The only thing more dangerous than a dull knife is a sharp knife in the hands of someone who only knows dull ones :-).

    Nice work,

    ken

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    Replies
    1. Hi Ken
      Now that is a true fact!
      I once sharpened the kitchen knife of a friend, and one minute later she cuts herself because it was suddenly sharp.
      Thanks, I would have liked to have some heavy brass out here for the end-infill piece, but the aluminium looks OK too.
      Brgds
      Jonas

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  5. WOW! What a knife it became! A little sad i did not get to see the final product, so i had to goggle about to find your blog.
    I must honsetly say i had reservations regarding you were going get your hands on bubinga, but there it is! Remember the starting process, the thinking of how it would look, add brass there, or how about a copper pipe here, just fun to watch and learn by a man that knows his way around woodworking.
    Best regards Magnus Mathiassen

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    Replies
    1. Hi Magnus

      Sorry for the late reply.
      I hope that you will be able to see the knife in real life one day. It is still kept in the top drawer in the ECR of sirius :-)

      Best regards
      Jonas

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