Making Bails

[OLDE CUTLER]

I buy lots of knives that have seen better days or otherwise need some work. Some of these are the camper/scout style that have included on one end of the knife a bail or carry loop for attaching a length of cord to prevent loss of the knife. Many knives I acquire like this are missing the bail, so I have been experimenting with ways to make new replacement ones. The challenge here is to get a smooth continuous bend of the correct size. After fiddling around with this for a while I have a kind of prototype to accomplish the basic chore. The materials used are a short piece of 3/4 inch steel pipe and a short piece of 5/8 inch steel rod. I cut the pipe as shown so the rod lays down inside of it. In measuring bails of the many camper/ scout knives I have, many use .093" or 3/32" rod. It could be nickel silver pin material, steel coat hanger wire, or even brass pin stock if desired. As shown in the photo, I used a home made arbor press that works perfectly for this application. Alternate methods could be a bench vise, or even a large C clamp. After determining the length of wire needed, mark the center to align under the pin. Conventional standard or long bails can be made depending where you cut and bend the ends. I also have discovered that well stocked hardware stores that have rows and rows of bin box hardware assortments have chrome steel or brass D rings that can be fashioned into bails. However, many are only in sizes 1/8" wire diameter which is usually too large. Note: these bails are the type with the ends bent to fit into holes drilled into the bolsters. Another type is the kind that has the ends flattened and the pivot pin goes all the way through the knife and looks like a tiny clevis. I suppose those could also be made this way except the ends would be hammered flat and a hole drilled in the end. The problem would be getting a uniform result.


Steel coat hanger wire shown

[doglegg]

I buy lots of knives that have seen better days or otherwise need some work. Some of these are the camper/scout style that have included on one end of the knife a bail or carry loop for attaching a length of cord to prevent loss of the knife. Many knives I acquire like this are missing the bail, so I have been experimenting with ways to make new replacement ones. The challenge here is to get a smooth continuous bend of the correct size. After fiddling around with this for a while I have a kind of prototype to accomplish the basic chore. The materials used are a short piece of 3/4 inch steel pipe and a short piece of 5/8 inch steel rod. I cut the pipe as shown so the rod lays down inside of it. In measuring bails of the many camper/ scout knives I have, many use .093" or 3/32" rod. It could be nickel silver pin material, steel coat hanger wire, or even brass pin stock if desired. As shown in the photo, I used a home made arbor press that works perfectly for this application. Alternate methods could be a bench vise, or even a large C clamp. After determining the length of wire needed, mark the center to align under the pin. Conventional standard or long bails can be made depending where you cut and bend the ends. I also have discovered that well stocked hardware stores that have rows and rows of bin box hardware assortments have chrome steel or brass D rings that can be fashioned into bails. However, many are only in sizes 1/8" wire diameter which is usually too large. Note: these bails are the type with the ends bent to fit into holes drilled into the bolsters. Another type is the kind that has the ends flattened and the pivot pin goes all the way through the knife and looks like a tiny clevis. I suppose those could also be made this way except the ends would be hammered flat and a hole drilled in the end. The problem would be getting a uniform result.


Steel coat hanger wire shown
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Very good tutorial.

[SwedgeHead]

Hey, those came out pretty nice didn't they! Wouldn't be very traditional but now I wonder how brass bails would look. Maybe because I have brass stock and knives needing bails. LoL. But it might be kind of cool.
Thanks for sharing.

[glennbad]

Very neat idea! I've always just used a large round punch chocked on it's side in a vise, kind of like jewelers use.

Your invention is more purpose driven, which I love!

[Reverand]

Those look great!

[OLDE CUTLER]

I made one up and it is in transit to Stakeknife to replace a missing one. We will see how he likes it. I should have shown a couple of useful tools for removing and installing bails. One is a snap ring plier for spreading the end open and a padded jaw plier to close the bail onto the knife.

[eveled]

When I read the title it reminded me of my Dad.

This was my Dad’s ring. He used to say it was his bail money!

[doglegg]

When I read the title it reminded me of my Dad.

This was my Dad’s ring. He used to say it was his bail money!

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[Stakeknife]

I made one up and it is in transit to Stakeknife to replace a missing one. We will see how he likes it. I should have shown a couple of useful tools for removing and installing bails. One is a snap ring plier for spreading the end open and a padded jaw plier to close the bail onto the knife.

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Here is the bail Old Cutler ( James ) sent me. Worked out great.

[doglegg]

OC is an amazing Craftsman.

[Stakeknife]

Yup

[OLDE CUTLER]

Made from .089 inch wire coat hanger.