All About Pocket Knives

My first vintage Marbles fixed blade just arrived, and the seller did disclose that the pommel was loose. What he didn't disclose is that someone buggered up the nut and even put some type of glue on it. I think the pommel may be bakelite, and I don't want to damage or destroy it. And, I don't want to make things worse. Otherwise I like the knife and don't want to return it. I would like to tighten the nut or perhaps even replace it. I have removed the glue and have been putting penetrating oil (liquid wrench) on the nut. Any suggestions for how to deal with this? Thanks!

I had that happen to one of my knives and tried several tools that didn't work , so I got a large regular screwdriver and ground out the middle section of the head and it fit the nut perfect and came off with minimal effort.
Scott

I have made specialty bits for uses such as this by taking a large straight screwdriver bit that you would turn with a 5/16" driver and cut the center away with a Dremel tool to leave 2 prongs with a gap between.

There is a tool made for that, Not too expensive. https://picclick.com/Pommel-Nut-Tool-Ta ... 76123.html

Check eBay, “pommel nut tool” or similar wording.

Ken

It looks like the threaded portion is flared out. I would grind or file this raised portion flat. I have several large flat head screwdrivers that I have slotted out to remove barrel nuts. I will normally place the blade in a plastic jawed vise to hold the knife steady while unscrewing the barrel nut. If you can strike the nut itself it may help to break free any glue that is in the threads.

Herb, forgive me for laughing at the heading concerning your Marbles fixed blade. I was scrolling through the forum and it struck me funny, Frozen Tang/Pommel Nut, sounded like a dessert!
Seems like the advice given to get the nut loose should work. Improvising will get the job done, modifying a screwdriver or what ever to make a suitable tool has always made little screwy jobs easier to accomplish.
On the other hand, how about fixin' me a bowl of frozen tang and pommel nuts!
Treefarmer

treefarmer wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2020 1:52 pm
On the other hand, how about fixin' me a bowl of frozen tang and pommel nuts!
Treefarmer

And would you like a a glass of wine with your tang and pommel nuts sir?

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2020 11:13 pm There is a tool made for that, Not too expensive. https://picclick.com/Pommel-Nut-Tool-Ta ... 76123.html

Check eBay, “pommel nut tool” or similar wording.

Ken

Herb,

I have one of these if you want to swing by, I'd gladly lend it out to you. Social distancing of course. Might also want to try some Kroil penetrating spray to loosen it up first, that stuff really works. Shoot me a text if you're interested.

John

Witchhazel can be used as a penetrant to help break loose stuck nuts.

Thanks for all the great suggestions guys! So, I did my best to follow your suggestions, made my own tool from a very large screwdriver (plan B was to buy the special tool made for this job) , soaked the nut for 24 hours more (in Kroil this time), drank several glasses of wine (per Meridian Mike), and applied as much pressure as I could with my "new tool" and a long wrench and voila, it came loose! This morning I cleaned up the tang threads with a wire wheel, squared up the buggered up edges of the grooves in the nut as best I could, and everything went back together nice and tight. I was going to get a new nut from one of the knifemaker's supply places, but all of them I saw have rectangular grooves, not flared out ones like this one and on other Marbles like mine that I looked at. I guess that Marbles had a special tool or socket to fit on these? The last step will be to restitch the sheath that came with it. I wish that all my knifing projects would turn out this well.

Well done!

Great looking Bakelite Woodcraft, Herb!