All About Pocket Knives

Had an old beater kicking around, had scales, blades, pins and some time…
Rehab is roughed in, not finished yet.
Waiting for epoxy to dry, so I thought I’d post a mid project update.
I only have Schrade+ SS blades, not carbon, but she’ll be whole and usable again soon.

Looking good

That looks good.
Did you glue the handles instead of pinning them?

orvet wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2026 9:13 pm That looks good.
Did you glue the handles instead of pinning them?

I did. Still learning how to tinker on them, and if I were building a user or seller, definitely would pin the scales. I’m still honing skills, biggest ones semi mastered to date are peening pivot and spring pins, disassembly/reassembly and shaping/finishing. I understand trying to peen scale pins with jigged bone is pretty involved and can cause cracking, and full disclosure: I have an admission: it scares me to be honest.
Last weekend I couldn’t get the spring pin installed. I work away from home all week a state over, so that irked me all week. Plus I had the knife assembled backwards and had to disassemble. I didn’t break the scales so it was a win.
This weekend, slid the pin in and out twice.
So I epoxied the the handles and took the win, and did a decent job so far of finishing. Baby steps is my skill level to date. I take the win when I can find one. Probably more answer than you were looking for, but thank you for allowing me to vent for a few. And thank you for the kind words. Much appreciated, buddy.

Gtrclktr-351 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2026 6:17 pm Looking good

Thanks, Bill.
Will be finishing it up next weekend.

I like to both glue and pin the handles in place.
I have cracked a few, and had to learn that peening a pin does not mean to give it a wide head like a nail. Bevel the hole first, then peen the pin just enough to flare the head slightly. And it doesn't have to be peened too tightly if it is also glued!
Anyway, it looks like you are doing a great job on that knife! I like the color and pattern of that bone!

I think you're doing a good job just getting started out! It takes quite a bit to build the skills from scratch if you haven't done this before. I think every knife mechanic has a drawer or bucket full of failures!
I think I have one of each! LOL

Reverand wrote: ↑Mon Jul 13, 2026 12:59 am I like to both glue and pin the handles in place.
I have cracked a few, and had to learn that peening a pin does not mean to give it a wide head like a nail. Bevel the hole first, then peen the pin just enough to flare the head slightly. And it doesn't have to be peened too tightly if it is also glued!
Anyway, it looks like you are doing a great job on that knife! I like the color and pattern of that bone!

I saw you crack a bone scale on YouTube. I have been wanting to attempt and have several differing types of pocket knives to fix up/rescale. Thank you for the idea on not peening down fully on the scale pins. Gonna have to try that on my next 8OT with bone.
Greatly appreciated, Reverand.
I’ve learned a lot from your channel and the ease of which you make it look.

orvet wrote: ↑Mon Jul 13, 2026 3:51 am I think you're doing a good job just getting started out! It takes quite a bit to build the skills from scratch if you haven't done this before. I think every knife mechanic has a drawer or bucket full of failures!
I think I have one of each! LOL

Well, hahaha, I only show the successes… I’ve been buying up every busted, broken or missing scales pocket knife I can find to tear apart and rehab. Started about 6 months ago with Rough Ryder kit builds amd was trying to hone skills for getting into rehabs. Thank you for the kind words and encouragement.
And yes, both buckets are in my shop as well…
Thanks again.

I've been doing this for 20 years and every now and then tucked away in some corner of my shop I find a torn apart knife that I either couldn't fix or gave up on. I thought I had thrown all that stuff away!

Jakeh316 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 13, 2026 12:26 pm

Reverand wrote: ↑Mon Jul 13, 2026 12:59 am I like to both glue and pin the handles in place.
I have cracked a few, and had to learn that peening a pin does not mean to give it a wide head like a nail. Bevel the hole first, then peen the pin just enough to flare the head slightly. And it doesn't have to be peened too tightly if it is also glued!
Anyway, it looks like you are doing a great job on that knife! I like the color and pattern of that bone!

I saw you crack a bone scale on YouTube. I have been wanting to attempt and have several differing types of pocket knives to fix up/rescale. Thank you for the idea on not peening down fully on the scale pins. Gonna have to try that on my next 8OT with bone.
Greatly appreciated, Reverand.
I’ve learned a lot from your channel and the ease of which you make it look.

If you need any parts, I have 2 sets of new liners with handle material for an 8 OT. Also have 2 mark side liners handled with the Copenhagen shield.

orvet wrote: ↑Mon Jul 13, 2026 3:01 pm I've been doing this for 20 years and every now and then tucked away in some corner of my shop I find a torn apart knife that I either couldn't fix or gave up on. I thought I had thrown all that stuff away!

I find half fixed, torn apart stuff. Not just pocket knives, it seems everywhere there’s a little nook or cranny, hahahaha…

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Tue Jul 14, 2026 2:56 pm

Jakeh316 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 13, 2026 12:26 pm

Reverand wrote: ↑Mon Jul 13, 2026 12:59 am I like to both glue and pin the handles in place.
I have cracked a few, and had to learn that peening a pin does not mean to give it a wide head like a nail. Bevel the hole first, then peen the pin just enough to flare the head slightly. And it doesn't have to be peened too tightly if it is also glued!
Anyway, it looks like you are doing a great job on that knife! I like the color and pattern of that bone!

I saw you crack a bone scale on YouTube. I have been wanting to attempt and have several differing types of pocket knives to fix up/rescale. Thank you for the idea on not peening down fully on the scale pins. Gonna have to try that on my next 8OT with bone.
Greatly appreciated, Reverand.
I’ve learned a lot from your channel and the ease of which you make it look.

If you need any parts, I have 2 sets of new liners with handle material for an 8 OT. Also have 2 mark side liners handled with the Copenhagen shield.

Thank you for the offer, always looking for parts and am interested. Looking for carbon blades and springs as well for 8OT’s. DM me and we can make it happen. Thanks again, Olde Cutler

Don't have any blades or springs, but if you need to freshen up some beat handles, you can have these. They are new but have masking tape residue on them.

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2026 8:52 pm Don't have any blades or springs, but if you need to freshen up some beat handles, you can have these. They are new but have masking tape residue on them.

20260715_154924.jpg

Perfect.
Let me know what you got to have for them and I’ll take them off your hands.
Thanks

Jakeh316 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2026 12:51 pm

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2026 8:52 pm Don't have any blades or springs, but if you need to freshen up some beat handles, you can have these. They are new but have masking tape residue on them.

20260715_154924.jpg

Perfect.
Let me know what you got to have for them and I’ll take them off your hands.
Thanks

No charge. I recently got some parts I needed from Kaleb at no charge and was instructed to pay it forward. Send me your address by PM.

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2026 1:42 pm

Jakeh316 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2026 12:51 pm

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2026 8:52 pm Don't have any blades or springs, but if you need to freshen up some beat handles, you can have these. They are new but have masking tape residue on them.

20260715_154924.jpg

Perfect.
Let me know what you got to have for them and I’ll take them off your hands.
Thanks

No charge. I recently got some parts I needed from Kaleb at no charge and was instructed to pay it forward. Send me your address by PM.

Truly honored, sir. Thank you. I too will pay it forward. Greatly appreciated.