All About Pocket Knives

I had just finished putting a set of handles on this old machete I got from the junk store..... These scales are from an old board a friend found at the dump. (tiger maple) I had a little time left before I had to pack up and get over to my son's house for the holiday festivities..... (keeping the grandkids for him).
I looked down in my "dead knife box" and I saw this Old Timer 125OT I picked up at the junk store. What a mess. Then a thought crossed my mind, Why not put some stag (dog chew) handles on it. Why not?
The handles on this knife looked like they had been torched. The blade tip had been broken off and poorly re-tipped. After dis-assembly, I took a good look at it. The liner lock had been wrecked. The blade had been hammered on to drive it into something like a wedge.
First, I re-tipped the blade..... SO....While the parts were sitting there looking back at me, I got this idea. Just leave out the liner lock..... OK... why not? So I commenced to cut myself a set of scales out of a dog chew that my dogs were never gonna get a chance at. I had a better use for that chew. I cut the scales out and while I was mocking up my new creation, I decided to re-shape the handle. Before I could stop myself, this was the result. I still need to do some finish work on the bolsters and finish shaping up the handle to please my grip. I also need to finish the pinning and working down the profile of the new scales. It sure don't look much like a 125OT anymore, but I figure it might be a good user. It has some great snap. It might be a few days before I get a chance to put the finishing touches on it. I will post a finished pic later.
Sorry if I blasphemed the Old Timer folks but this one sure was a sad old knife just sitting in my junk box. I figure I just made it useful again. A bit in disguise but still a good useful knife.

Mike

Wow Mike - a fantastic turnaround and save - it must feel good to lighten the junk box and see your keep pile grow. Very nice piece of work, story and pictures. The dogs loss is your gain!

Good job on the machete. Fancied that handle up a lot.
And the Old Timer needed a new set of duds. A very good upgrade.

Very, very knice Mike!!!

Thanks Y'all.... I am really enjoying getting these old sick ones going again!

Mike

You sure put some life back into it!

Very nice work, Mr. Mike. Some of us are watching closely what you knife restoration folks are doing so we can someday jump in and try it.

Joe D.

Well, I tell you what.... Best thing to do is get you an old used up knife that you are not afraid of messing up and get on in there. Right now, I am not all that comfortable with knives that need a "real restoration" especially if they are on the valuable side. These that are just about useless "as is" are fun to mess with. If I mess up, Oh well, they will go into the parts bin.

Get on in there and get your feet wet. The water ain't too cold.....

Mike

Nice job Mike!

Thanks Dale..... when I grown up, I want to be as good as you.
I've seen your work and it is TOP NOTCH!!

Mike

Looking good Mike.
Look forward to finish pics of the OT.

Looks pretty nice to me!

UPDATE....

I got a chance to get out to the shop yesterday. I did some filing and sanding to get closer to a finished knife. After I did some polishing to see what else I needed to do, my mistakes really started to stand out.
I hammered the right end scale pins and cracked the scales.... on both sides.....CRAP.
I also didn't get the hole in the bolster exactly round. I think it moved when I was drilling and the hole was a bit oblong. You an see a little moon just in front of the pin. I need to get myself a better procedure for drilling. My spring clamps aren't making it.
Well, the more I do the more I learn. This was another learning experience for me. I think I am going to stain the scales and do a little bit of an "antiquing" experiment before I call this one done.

Before..... After....... Mike

Mike we are always hardest on ourselves than anyone else would be. It looks amazing. I’m following this thread because I have a project or two to start on and haven’t attempted this yet. I am curious, how does one flatten those pins in the handle and the bolster w/out damaging the knife? I have watched a few YouTube videos on knife making and so far they skip right over that part, like it’s so easy that they don’t need to cover it. If someone has a suggestion on what to watch or instructions on this, I would appreciate being pointed in the right direction.
I like what you did w/ that knife. It’s funny that you used an antler for a dog. I have 3 of those in the house and every time I pick them up, I can’t help but think what a great knife handle these would make, they are beautiful stag. I wonder how many others have bought those to make knives out of them?
Mark

Sharpnshinyknives wrote:Mike we are always hardest on ourselves than anyone else would be. It looks amazing. I’m following this thread because I have a project or two to start on and haven’t attempted this yet. I am curious, how does one flatten those pins in the handle and the bolster w/out damaging the knife? I have watched a few YouTube videos on knife making and so far they skip right over that part, like it’s so easy that they don’t need to cover it. If someone has a suggestion on what to watch or instructions on this, I would appreciate being pointed in the right direction.
I like what you did w/ that knife. It’s funny that you used an antler for a dog. I have 3 of those in the house and every time I pick them up, I can’t help but think what a great knife handle these would make, they are beautiful stag. I wonder how many others have bought those to make knives out of them?
Mark

Good morning Mark....
The one thing I have learned from the other sure 'nuff experts here is this...... When you put the pin in the scales, you hammer the pin and expand it in the hole. The hole in the scale needs to be really close to the size of the pin so it won't take a lot of expanding to make the pin grip. On the liner side, I took a counter-sink and drilled a "cone" in the liner so I could make the pin hold the liner better. I hope you can follow what I am saying since I don't have pictures.
NOW, my problem with this one was to go too far with expanding the pin. With the pin that close to the edge, too much expansion makes the pin like a wedge and it cracked the scale just like a wedge in a piece of fire wood.

Maybe some of the other guys will chime in and give other suggestions. Maybe a little glue in the hole before you start to hammer the pin will help hold the scale to the pin (?).

One thing about the dog chew..... I think you can get cheaper (and maybe better) pieces of antler from the knife supply folks. The piece I used was supposed be for my dog. I just figured it was more useful as a knife scale.....LOL.

Mike

Thanks Mike. That helps. Sounds like it would be very easy to crack the handle material. You sure see enough old knives w/ pin cracks and now I know why some of those cracks are there.
I agree that getting these from someone that has prepared them properly would be the wisest. I know you are suppose dry these out over long period of time to stabilize the stag. My first attempt will probably be w/ wood, I’ll save the nice material for when I gain more experience.
Thank you again for explaining the process, I do follow what you are saying.
I think if I take a few knives apart that would also be helpful to see how they are put together.
All the Best,
Mark

Here is a good video.
Muskratman is doing some work to a swinden key knife. My knife in this thread is a swinden key knife.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X44CxU2wtOk

Mike