Western 468B Repair

[orvet]

This is a Western 468B (with Delrin handles) that was sent to me for new handles of amber CSB.
Along with this came a Colonial Knife Co Jack for new handles within micarta handles. The original handles I believe were celluloid and some think I caused a good deal of twist in the frame of the knife. I had a few struggles with that one but once I removed the pen blade it came together much better. Something had caused a good-sized chunk of metal to flake away from the tang of the pen blade.

Here is a picture of the pen blade showing the missing metal from the tang. I put the knife together a same time without the pen blade and works much better. Unfortunately it was in the mail before I realized I hadn't taken the new pictures of it as a single bladed knife.
Perhaps a way can post some pictures when he gets the knife.

I post this picture of the tang to inquire if anyone else has encountered this phenomenon? Have you seen a piece of metal flake away like this?
When I took it apart and was cleaning the tangs I noticed a dark spot almost like a stained or something stuck to the middle of the tang. I picked at it with my fingernail and flaked right off, (onto the floor never to be found again), leaving this hole in the tang. Has anyone seen this before?
Does anyone have a plausible explanation? I would love to know if you have any idea what caused this piece of the tang to flake away.


The Western 468B had some pitting in the blade and the handle was not in real bad shape but he wanted the amber CSB bone handles.

Is a picture of the knife as I was taking off the handles. You notice that there is rust inside which is why I like to seal the new handles on with the epoxy to help prevent moisture from getting between the tang and the handle.

Unfortunately I didn't get all of the fixed blade knife vise in this picture, but it does show how I do the hafting of the bone to smooth it down to the rest of the handle. The blade of the knife is clamped between two pieces of wood in a piece of steel tubing and held in place by two wing bolts.
It leaves the handle sticking out and easily accessible. I use strips of shop roll sandpaper and take down the high spots on the bone where it meets the handle. It's a slow process but I believe the results worthwhile.

This is the 468B with new handles. I hope you enjoyed the pictures.

[Doc B]

That bone is really gorgeous; love the color in it. It really looks like stag.

[orvet]

Thanks Doc, I thought it was different than regular Amber CSB bone, the color was different it looks more like a cross between Sunset bone and Amber bone when I was working with. It wasn't until I was finished with the knife and saw how nice the the handles actually looked that I began to like it.

The incredible thing to me about working with bone or stag, is to watch it develop its character in color as you haft, sand and polish it. It literally comes to life before your eyes!

[Byrd]

Nicely done! It looks better than the original leather. Just my opinion but I think that's the way Western should have made them.

[orvet]

Nicely done! It looks better than the original leather. Just my opinion but I think that's the way Western should have made them.

Thank you!
Western did make a some stag and bone handled knives.

I have a bone handled Craftsman made by Western, it is a bit beat up but still nice.
I have it posted on this topic as well as a Craftsman that another member posted which is in much nicer shape than mine is.
viewtopic.php?f=81&t=61633&p=723077&hil ... an#p723077

Both knives have kind of a golden colored bone to them with worm grooving. I really like the bone on these knives.
I did pick up a second Craftsman but haven’t gotten it photographed yet. Western certainly did some beautiful work stag and bone; sadly they are long gone now.

[Byrd]

I looked at that thread and right you are! Those Westerns are gorgeous! Too bad they're not still around.

[oldprof]

I am the very proud owner of the knives Dale has shown.The bone on the Western is outstanding and the fit and finish is,of course,top
drawer.The rehandled barehead jack has been in my pocket ever since it arrived.I will try to post pictures of it when I figure how to do it.

Wayne Byram

[orvet]

I am the very proud owner of the knives Dale has shown.The bone on the Western is outstanding and the fit and finish is,of course,top
drawer.The rehandled barehead jack has been in my pocket ever since it arrived.I will try to post pictures of it when I figure how to do it.

Wayne Byram

Thank you Wayne. I'm glad you like them!

[glennbad]

This is a Western 468B (with Delrin handles) that was sent to me for new handles of amber CSB.
Along with this came a Colonial Knife Co Jack for new handles within micarta handles. The original handles I believe were celluloid and some think I caused a good deal of twist in the frame of the knife. I had a few struggles with that one but once I removed the pen blade it came together much better. Something had caused a good-sized chunk of metal to flake away from the tang of the pen blade.

Here is a picture of the pen blade showing the missing metal from the tang. I put the knife together a same time without the pen blade and works much better. Unfortunately it was in the mail before I realized I hadn't taken the new pictures of it as a single bladed knife.
Perhaps a way can post some pictures when he gets the knife.

Colonial pen blade tang.jpg

I post this picture of the tang to inquire if anyone else has encountered this phenomenon? Have you seen a piece of metal flake away like this?
When I took it apart and was cleaning the tangs I noticed a dark spot almost like a stained or something stuck to the middle of the tang. I picked at it with my fingernail and flaked right off, (onto the floor never to be found again), leaving this hole in the tang. Has anyone seen this before?
Does anyone have a plausible explanation? I would love to know if you have any idea what caused this piece of the tang to flake away.

Do you think you did that when you sheared the pin with a razor blade during disassembly? If not, I have seen plated blades flake the coating off, but not sure if this is what you experienced.

[Colonel26]

Great job on the old Western! Looks real nice with the new bone.