All About Pocket Knives

Hi all,
I have repaired these three with metal replacement pieces - cupronickel on the barehead (I can't make out a tang stamp), nickel silver on the Cattaraugus sleeveboard and brass on the unbranded serpentine. As a newbie amateur part-timer, I'm interested in any thoughts about this style of repair. I can see advantages and disadvantages myself, and would greatly appreciate an objective pair of eyes.
Thanks
Jonny

Not a thing wrong with it if it is a user.

I really like the way they look done that way, just has a old school repair vibe to it. Great work!

That *is* a cool look. I imagine it was a fair amount of work to craft the piece to fit properly! They look almost...bionic.

Thank you - yes there is some time in shaping the metal parts, but it's enjoyable work. That has emboldened me to do a few more.
Thank you.

Hongkonger wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 11:39 pm Thank you - yes there is some time in shaping the metal parts, but it's enjoyable work. That has emboldened me to do a few more.
Thank you.

I was curious what you method is. Do you make a clay impression to work off of for the shaping of the metal patch?

Personally I really like it, especially the way that you matched the jigging on that Barehead.
I have seen several old repairs using lead, solder, or epoxy putty, but those never look right. Your work looks much, much better.
Some guys here on AAPK use Acraglass, and managed to match the color very closely to the original bone. Other people will shape and patch in another piece of bone.
I think that all of these are good repairs, as no one is trying to fool a future buyer, but instead are making a knife useable again, while at the same time keeping the maximum amount of the authentic original knife intact.
Your method is both unique and beautiful.
Whenever you feel like the time is right to share, show some step-by-step pictures of how you do this.
I am intrigued by your work!

Thank you for the very kind words. Here in Hong Kong we have a lot of time on our hands, so my method was nothing special - just lots of carefulling.
I put a coin (shhh) or piece of stock in an antique hand vise, which I held on my table in a milling vise. I rough shaped the patch using a reference card I made for each patch then careful needle-filing until the fit was good enough. I fixed the patches with epoxy and filed a 45 degree 'divot' where there was a danger of a piece of thinned metal bending outwards and causing a hazard. Then hand filing and careful polishing so as not to cook the epoxy. I'll post more pictures as I complete other knives.
Thank you for the kind words.

I was curious what you method is. Do you make a clay impression to work off of for the shaping of the metal patch?

That's a brilliant idea. I'll do that next time.

The easiest method involves modeling clay, masking tape, polyester casting resin, and finely ground instant coffee.
Properly done, the repair will be invisible.

Wow! Those are Suuuuuper Cool repairs! I can't really find the words but it gives them something special IMO. Outstanding!

Bill DeShivs wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 5:57 pm The easiest method involves modeling clay, masking tape, polyester casting resin, and finely ground instant coffee.
Properly done, the repair will be invisible.

I agree, the resin or AcraGlas method looks much better than metal patches.

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Fri Aug 05, 2022 1:46 am I agree, the resin or AcraGlas method looks much better than metal patches.

To each their own, I agree the resin looks great when matched right, and can hide the repair(I don’t mean that as a negative like trying to trick someone), but that brass patch and mahogany colored bone just looks awesome to me. It just showcases craftsmanship and ingenuity and contrast the material colors perfectly.

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Fri Aug 05, 2022 1:46 am

Bill DeShivs wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 5:57 pm The easiest method involves modeling clay, masking tape, polyester casting resin, and finely ground instant coffee.
Properly done, the repair will be invisible.

I agree, the resin or AcraGlas method looks much better than metal patches.

Thank you for the comments, in both directions. I'll try the instant coffee method for sure, and keep this method for knives I think suit it.
Here is a Lenox grandaddy barlow-ish knife I just finished.

Nice work!

I like it!