All About Pocket Knives

HEEELLLPPPP.
OK i am new to knife repair and have a question.

I have taken apart an old knife to try to learn the ins and outs of putting it back together correctly.

1.Should I reassemble the knife before installing the handle material.I have tried assembling the knife with the handles on and they crack when i try to reload the spring tension.

2.If they are installed after assembly how are the pins secured on the inside of the liner?

I am guessing I need to install the handle pins as well before I assemble the knife.

The material I am trying to use for the handles is Probably from a Horse or Mule.I found the skeleton of this animal on my property in Kentucky and am using pieces from the leg bone.

Any suggestions on material would help as well

Any Help would be appreciated
Thanks
Jim

Jim

I am going to move this to the knife repair forum where the knife mechanics hang out

jimdandy30 wrote:HEEELLLPPPP.
OK i am new to knife repair and have a question.

I have taken apart an old knife to try to learn the ins and outs of putting it back together correctly.

1.Should I reassemble the knife before installing the handle material.I have tried assembling the knife with the handles on and they crack when i try to reload the spring tension.

2.If they are installed after assembly how are the pins secured on the inside of the liner?

I am guessing I need to install the handle pins as well before I assemble the knife.

The material I am trying to use for the handles is Probably from a Horse or Mule.I found the skeleton of this animal on my property in Kentucky and am using pieces from the leg bone.

Any suggestions on material would help as well

Any Help would be appreciated
Thanks
Jim

Handles are usually glued and pinned on the liners before assembly of the knife.
But I have seen handles glued on without pinning at all without disassembling the knife.
With the newer super strong epoxy glues that are available today it can work well.

I would think the bone you found on your property is too dried out to work. That is why it is cracking.
Bone that is used on a knife is prepared. Soaked in solutions and dye then cured to give them flexibility.
You might want to buy some cheap bone scales to try on your knife first before making your own.
Or if you are into using materials found in nature try using some type of wood.
It is much more forgiving than bone.

JW~

Below is a link to the tutorials section here on AAPK. There are several threads there that will provide helpful information about rehandling a knife and the techniques that may be employed.

http://allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_f ... m.php?f=38

The first few on the list are "sticky" and should be particularly informative. Best of luck to you.

I have used plenty of "found" bone but you must ream the rocker hole so all the spring pressure is on the liner, not the scale or it will usually bust out unless the bone is not too brittle.

You could go half way between 2 suggestions of all pins or all glue. Assemble the knife without handles. Install the center pin and peen and file it flush to the liners. Then glue the scales in place and pin the handles near the bolsters as usual. This will eliminate the chance of breaking the bone at the center pin. You will have to use a stiddy type anvil or something comparable to peen the handle pins. Pins should also be epoxied in place.

Wayne

btrwtr wrote:You could go half way between 2 suggestions of all pins or all glue. Assemble the knife without handles. Install the center pin and peen and file it flush to the liners. Then glue the scales in place and pin the handles near the bolsters as usual. This will eliminate the chance of breaking the bone at the center pin. You will have to use a stiddy type anvil or something comparable to peen the handle pins. Pins should also be epoxied in place.

Wayne

use of a stiddy to peen pins on an assembled knife
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s43vAbvSSGQ

Note that it is easier to crack the handles using this method because it is harder to gauge the force being used