Custom handle seperation

[Kolvir]

I got this knife at a gun show a year or two ago and I haven't been able to get a hold of the maker for a fix.

As shown in the photos, the scales are separating or spaced a bit from the tang. How should I go about fixing this?

20230313_155810.jpg (39.26 KiB) Viewed 1332 times

[ea42]

What is the handle material and how is it attached to the knife?

Eric

[herbva]

Kolvir, from you pictures, it looks like the pivot pin needs tightening, or perhaps has pulled loose through the liner and the scale or scales. As a first step, try tightening the pivot pin by lightly re-peening the head of the pin on whatever side is loose, or both sides. But, be careful not to over tighten, or it will bind the blade tang, and then it will have no snap. If this doesn't work, you will need to replace the pivot pin. Since there are no bolsters, this is a bit more delicate, but not difficult operation.

[Kolvir]

I'll post a photo of the whole thing tomorrow. It's a fixed blade.

[herbva]

Oops, I didn't notice it is a fixed blade. Much easier then. Just replace whatever type of pin or fastener is coming loose.

[ea42]

Is that buffalo? If so it may be warping in the ends. Hard to say without a bit more info.

Eric

[Oledadsknives]

That’s what I was gonna ask Eric. I’ve had Buffalo horn warp on 1 side of a fixed blade and had to take it off, clean it up, sand and drill small holes at different angles into the horn. Then pin and glued with automotive panel bond. She ain’t budgin now by gosh!! Here is a pic after repair!

[Oledadsknives]

Hope that helps Kolvir!

[Bill DeShivs]

It appears to be a Micarta handle that was simply epoxied on the knife.
This is why you should always use mechanical fasteners-and I don't mean pins that are glued in.
There are many choices, including simple peened pins.

[Kolvir]

Here are some more pictures. Sorry it took so long, had a medical procedure yesterday and the anesthesia left me groggy; slept all day.

Do I need some kind of glue or epoxy to fix this?

[Kolvir]

It may very well be some kind of horn

[Dinadan]

That looks like a well made and mounted handle. I would guess that the horn is warping and that glue is probably not going to hold it down over the long term.

[Walleye]

I have no idea of the value on the knife, but if you are really determined to keep those handles on the knife, I would think you’re going to have to drill some 1/16” holes in the front and rear of the handles and peen in some brass pins.

I have an old rosewood handled Sabatier chef knife that is showing lots of checks and warping. Since I want it to be an everyday user, I plan to grind the Rivet heads off, pull the handles, wirebrush the metal underneath and make completely new ebony handles that are both epoxied and rivieted in place. Sometimes the only way to fix an EDC knife is to remove and replace. Now if this was Wild Bill Hickock’s knife, it would go into a glass case, warps checks and all, but if it’s just your personal knife and resale isn’t being considered you may have to do the work yourself (or have someone else do it).

[Kolvir]

Sounds like I need to try and get a hold of the maker again, though I don't know if I still have his contact info.

What has been suggested is beyond my abilities.

Thanks for the input.

[Bill DeShivs]

It is horn, and it is warping. Horn can be straightened with heat, but it tends to move again.
What I would do with it is drill it and install a lanyard loop to hold it down.

[Dinadan]

It is horn, and it is warping. Horn can be straightened with heat, but it tends to move again.
What I would do with it is drill it and install a lanyard loop to hold it down.

I do not want to derail the OP's thread, but since I know you are an expert. Bill, I have a question. Is horn more prone to warping than bone or stag? I only have a couple of horn handled knives so I have not baseline of knowledge.

[Oledadsknives]

Sounds like I need to try and get a hold of the maker again, though I don't know if I still have his contact info.

What has been suggested is beyond my abilities.

Thanks for the input.

If you have his name he can probably be found in a knife book or someone on the forum can help you with that info.

[Reverand]

It is horn, and it is warping. Horn can be straightened with heat, but it tends to move again.
What I would do with it is drill it and install a lanyard loop to hold it down.

I do not want to derail the OP's thread, but since I know you are an expert. Bill, I have a question. Is horn more prone to warping than bone or stag? I only have a couple of horn handled knives so I have not baseline of knowledge.

I am not Bill, but yes, horn is more prone to warping. Bone and stag are thick and normally cut into flat slabs that rarely ever warp. Horn is thin and curved, and is often heated (steamed or boiled) and pressed flat to use as knife handles. Sometimes they try to warp back to their original shape later.

[Bill DeShivs]

Reverand is exactly correct.
With changes in temperature and humidity, it sometimes wants to return to it's natural state.
If it's held down with mechanical fasteners it won't go too far.

[eveled]

Can you push it closed? How much force is required? If it is fairly easy to push it back, I’d dribble superglue in and clamp it over night.

Are those pins? Or decorations?

Was this a high dollar purchase from an established maker? Or just some guy at a show? For a bargain ? He may not have even made it. Obviously if he really made it and is still around he should see it and repair it. Its not like its frim 20 years ago

[1967redrider]

And bugs will eat horn, so there's that too to watch out for, depending on where you live.

[Dinadan]

Reverand is exactly correct.
With changes in temperature and humidity, it sometimes wants to return to it's natural state.
If it's held down with mechanical fasteners it won't go too far.

Thanks for the info, Reverand and Bill. Seems like Bill's idea of a lanyard pin on the end is good.