Hibbard Spencer Bartlett repair

[Oledadsknives]

I’m attempting a 1st time repair a HSB whittler with broken pearl scales. Knife is apart and I’m cleaning everything up. Gonna replace the pearl with faux tortoise shell. I’ll update later with better pics and progress.

[herbva]

Looks like a fine project in progress! Please keep us posted.

[Oledadsknives]

Looks like a fine project in progress! Please keep us posted.

Thanks Herb, I am gonna give it my best shot! Got the scales glued on to the liners today. I’ll keep this post updated for sure.

[Oledadsknives]

Didn’t have the right size bolster pins in nickel so I drilled out bolsters and they both broke loose from the brass liners. I ordered and received a solder/flux kit and soldered them back on. That was a challenge for sure but got it done. I did this step before I fitted the scales and epoxied them on.

[Oledadsknives]

Both scales are epoxied on and I got 1 sanded down today close to ready. Still have to sand the other one and attempt to cut for the shield, ugh, stay tuned!!

[Oledadsknives]

Hooked up the foredom to inlay the shield. Got it cut out and shield in. Will post a pic tomorrow.

[Dan In MI]

Looks great so far! Where did you source the faux tortoiseshell?

[Oledadsknives]

Looks great so far! Where did you source the faux tortoiseshell?

Thank you Dan. My Dad had it in his stash and I found it when cleaning out his workbench. He probably bought it at jantz supply years ago. He rehandled a few knives he picked up at the flea market. Now that he is gone I’m gonna give it a try. I made blades for a few but never installed or rehandled a slip joint.

[Oledadsknives]

Got the shield in, a slight bit off but in!

[Oledadsknives]

Got the shield installed, a little off but it is in!

[Reverand]

The shield inletting looks perfect, Jimbo!

[Oledadsknives]

Ha, not perfect Reverand but I’m pleased with my first time try with a foredom. I had to fill in some bad cuts but they don’t show too bad. Thanks for the confidence builder!
Sorry didn’t mean to post the handle pics twice.

[Ridgegrass]

That's some authentic looking faux tortoise. sure is coming along fine. J.O'.

[Oledadsknives]

Thanks j.o.! Been wanting to try this for some time. Was gonna use claro walnut but the shell does have a real appearance so used it instead.

[Oledadsknives]

Here is the final product. By the way I learned alot on this journey. Knife came out fair but I had to pin it over once. I’m happy with it though. A word of advice, Make sure if you have to drill for larger pins that you have everything perfectly square when you drill. I tried to turn a stainless pin down for the main and decided to drill the bolsters and liners and main for a .094 pin. Bad mistake! Drilled the rest of the pin holes for .062. I got er done but it was a major hassle for sure.

[treefarmer]

ODK,
Thanks for the showing your project. The final looks great!
Treefarmer

[Oledadsknives]

Thank you TF, I enjoyed it and will do more I’m sure!

[Reverand]

Looks sweet! That faux tortoise shell looks so much like the real thing!

[Dan In MI]

I like it. The faux tortoiseshell really sets it off. Great job!

[Oledadsknives]

Looks sweet! That faux tortoise shell looks so much like the real thing!

Thanks reverand, I enjoyed working with it mainly because it’s not brittle like pearl would have been so I could beat on them pins! Ha! I couldn’t get the bolster pins to disappear so I’ll have to work on that in the future.

[Oledadsknives]

I like it. The faux tortoiseshell really sets it off. Great job!

Thank you Dan, I like that shell also! It’s just different and seems to be very durable. I’ll probably do another hopefully soon.

[Dan In MI]

Hopefully you're able to find that faux tortoiseshell, or something very similar. That's a material I'd like to see used more frequently!

[Oledadsknives]

Hopefully you're able to find that faux tortoiseshell, or something very similar. That's a material I'd like to see used more frequently!

I actually have approx. 6x6” sheet of it that I took the scales from.

[Oledadsknives]

I haven’t noticed faux tortoise on knives much but maybe now I’ll notice more!!

[orvet]

Nice job especially for your first attempt!
I have a Foredom drill press I often use when inletting a shield. It helps prevent the bur from 'walking.' I usually finish it freehand, but remove most of the material with the dill press.

Very nice work!