Attaching a Handle to This One?

[whitebuffalo58]

This is one I picked up for pocket change at the flea the other day. It's marked A.W. Wadsworth & Son. Bottom line is hard to read, but I think it's the Austria mark, which would date it to around 1910-30's.
It almost looks like it might have been forged from an old file. I'll probably rehandle it with deer stag, file a few notches in the tang and epoxy the tang into the hole. Question is, how would the original handle have been attached? The tang doesn't look to be broken off, but it's too short to run all the way through the handle and be peened over. Also no holes for pinning it on. I've never known a factory from those days to glue on handles. Any ideas?

Thanks,

WB

[reddirtknives]

Could the method used have anything to do with why there is no handle on it now? I read once about a technique for securing a blade tang to stag. If I remember correctly It had to do with taking a piece of deer antler and boiling it and I remember they mentioned there was a very small window in which to do this, but however long they boiled it I can't remember.but you would have the blade secured in a vise Tang up and as soon as the marrow part of the stag is softened and as quickly as you can manage it right from the boiling water with a stab-like motion you forcefully ram the antler onto the tang or tang into the antler. If I remember right you only have one shot/stab to put it where you want it or you have to boil it and try again, but the marrow-like middle of the antler is supposed to harden around the tang perhaps even swell around it... ??? Best I could come up with from bad memory...

[jerryd6818]

The only one on eBay has a full tang and it's pinned. Looks like you might be able to get a couple of pins in that one. They wouldn't be very big or very far apart but they should hold it. It appears those A.W. Wadsworths are made in Czechoslovakia.

[orvet]

The adhesive the old time cutlers used was made of different things, I have heard pine pitch, beeswax & brick dust, (Wikipedia lists sawdust), was very effective. I suppose there were local recipes.
If you don't believe how good it was, buy an old German carving set from the early 20th century and try to take the handles off without destroying the stag. Even when you know how to make the glue fail, it is not easy! 100+ years later and the glue still has a good bond!

I have some 1930s German blades like that and they have a tiny threaded end on the tang that go into a threaded pommel.


If I were redoing that blade I would make a guard, grind a notch or two in the tang and use 15 minute epoxy that most of the knife suppliers sell. It is excellent glue, or you could go all out and use Acraglas if you don't mind the price.

[Miller Bro's]

Question is, how would the original handle have been attached? The tang doesn't look to be broken off, but it's too short to run all the way through the handle and be peened over. Also no holes for pinning it on. I've never known a factory from those days to glue on handles. Any ideas?

I am willing to bet that knife had a deer foot handle on it before you found it The beetles make short work of these handles and they are sometimes removed by the previous owners, I have found several like this.

I have had small dirks from the 19th century that had the handles glued on with cutlers glue, Dale has mentioned how well this stuff holds. They glued on MOP, Horn, Ivory and other material in those years.

Modern epoxy will hold very well for you, if it is going to see hard use or you are worried about the epoxy not holding, drill a single hole through the handle and tang in the center and pin it.

[whitebuffalo58]

Thanks fellas, excellent input!!
Dimitri, I imagine your dead on with the deer hoof handle. The sheath has a fixed (snapless) strap and the knife probably had a ferrule, rather then a guard.(?)
Epoxy sounds like the way to go, but probably in deer antler, rather then deer hoof. I never have cared much for the idea of furry handles on knives!

Apprecite it guys!

WB

[Miller Bro's]

I never have cared much for the idea of furry handles on knives!

Me neither

Here is a prime example of what I am talking about, bought this a while back in this condition. The beetle larvae devoured the hair and hoof part and left the bone

the knife probably had a ferrule, rather then a guard.(?)

Same as this one

[whitebuffalo58]

Wow, they do take a toll don't they? That poor handle looks like road kill after the vultures get through with it! It's a shame, the knife looks like a good one otherwise. I do like the ferrule/guard setup on it. I might have to see if I can find one of those. I have the perfect Sambar Stag taper that could be made to fit that ferrule opening just right. Maybe a nickel silver butt cap to finish it off?

WB