Replace Leather Handle M3 Trench Knife

BryanJ · Post by **BryanJ** » Sun Nov 24, 2019 10:04 pm

I searched forum and did not find answer to this question. Anyone know source to replace leather handle on WWII M3 trench knife?

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:28 am

Check on eBay, I saw some leather washers for handles on there the other day.
There are number of different places I have bought them before, Jantz Supply usually has them as well.

eveled · Post by **eveled** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:47 am

KaBar sells a kit to replace handles. I used them on a WW2 RCC USN KNIFE.

Meridian_Mike · Post by **Meridian_Mike** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 1:13 pm

MAN... that is a NICE restoration job!!!
WOW......
(Better than new!)

1967redrider · Post by **1967redrider** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 2:56 pm

Excellent work!

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 6:16 pm

love that clamp setup, proper compression of the washers is one of the trickiest parts of doing these

BryanJ · Post by **BryanJ** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 9:57 pm

Eveled...great job. I checked the Kabar site and loved how they characterized the project as requiring quite a bit of "magic". I then went out and saw several YouTube videos and saw what they meant.

eveled · Post by **eveled** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 10:01 pm

Thanks for the kind words guys. It’s really not that hard. I used a hand held carpenters belt sander and sanding drums in a drill press. No way you could do it by hand. It’s tough stuff. I finished it with cordovan shoe polish.

Clamping it was a challenge. Here is a thread with more details.

viewtopic.php?f=78&t=57781&p=658469#p658469

It really did feel good to bring it back from the dead.

eveled · Post by **eveled** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 10:33 pm

Here is another I did from the same kit on a different style knife. Just to see what I could do. I mostly wanted to see how finger grooves would work in the leather.

just bob · Post by **just bob** » Tue Nov 26, 2019 1:25 pm

You've got more options here. Having been called a tight wad before I did the math and the leather washers for sale on ebay will cost you about $10 an inch counting the shipping. On a knife with a 4" - 5" handle that is considerable. I watched the talented people on Forged in Fire make stack leather handles one day and saw they were using leather strips. Off I went to the Thrift Store and bought a genuine leather belt for $1. I was able to get enough pcs for the handle from that belt. Then when I was at Hobby Lobby I discovered they sell leather over runs. I bought the package shown for $4 and feel there is enough material in it to do an average size knife with some left over. Depending on what you're working on that might be a better way to go. The red spacers you see on my handle is actually an old make it yourself gasket material that was in the garage and I needed to get rid of. Use your imagination.

eveled · Post by **eveled** » Sat Nov 30, 2019 3:10 am

$10 an inch! The KA-BAR kit is only $7 and comes with pommel spacers and a pin https://www.kabar.com/products/product.jsp?item=1217HC

just bob · Post by **just bob** » Sat Nov 30, 2019 11:13 am

I don't see the ones that are usually listed. These are $13 for 1 1/2". I had never seen the kit you show.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/QTY-of-12-of-2 ... SwM7Fcywu4

eveled · Post by **eveled** » Sat Nov 30, 2019 1:18 pm

Bob I wasn’t doubting you. Just giving the link to the better option. It is impossible to find on KA-BARS web site I found it with google. If anyone needs a kit. Monday is a big half off sale at their web site. I doubt the kits are included but you could get a good deal on a knife and take advantage of the free shipping.

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Replace Leather Handle M3 Trench Knife

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