I Want To Handle My Dirk...... (finished)

[pete44ru]

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April Fools ! :mrgreen:

This is really about knives. :wink:


I bought this Blackjack Tartan Dirk (the longer bladed version) off E-Bay earlier this past week.

I intend to change the issue Kraton (rubber) handle with a nicer one made from an exotic wood, like I did with my Cold Steel Trail Master Bowie a year or so ago.


(before/after)

Yesterday I received the exotic wood (Spalted Tamarind) that I ordered for re-handling the Tartan Dirk, and I started to make a custom handle for it.

This is the way it was issued:

So, I started to slice & dice the issue Kraton (rubber bumper) handle:

Then, after removing the wrist thong ferrule from the tang, cut the Tamarind blank in half, then traced the outline of the tang onto each half of the Tamarind, so I could inlet the tang for half it's thickness into each side with a chisel.

After the inletting was done, I glued it up on the tang with epoxy, then upon impulse/whim also glued a piece of Ebony I had hanging around onto the butt end

I'm gonna let the epoxy cure overnite, then start shaping the handle another day (Today being Easter Sunday, I've got other things to do, with my family).

(to be continued............ )

4/2/18 Update: Today, I started to roughly shape the new handle:

(4/5/18 - FINISHED)


Last night I finished shaping the Spalted Tamerind handle and it's Ebony endcap, finish-sanded it, then applied a few coats of finish to the wood, before mounting a scrimshawed frufraw (not my work) to the endcap.

I hope you like it.

My next project will to be make a set of exotic wood grips for the Webley Tempest .177 pellet pistol I have coming in.

 

[pete44ru]

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Nah, the knifemaker swedged a steel ferrule into the tang for a wrist loop, which I just didn't want for the new handle.


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[graygun]

Thought you meant Nowitzki of the Mavericks before opening this. :lol:

 

[toysoldier]

Nice job on the Bowie. I like where you're going with the dirk, too. My daughter gave me an inexpensive 440 stainless Bowie-type knife with a synthetic handle, which went tacky after a few years. I replaced the deteriorated rubber with walnut. I also re-handled a French yataghan bayonet that someone had butchered the original crossguard and handle. I used walnut, with a contrasting ivorywood cap, sort of the negative of what you are doing. With a 23" blade, it's virtually a short sword, and the swoop in the blade gives it a somewhat sinister appearance.

 

[Taterman]

Looks good Pete. Great project.

 

[Skoopski]

I love rehandling knives like this. Looking forward to how it turns out. Good work so far.

 

[Don Lovel]

Meanwhile in Great Britain and all those unlucky enough to live under their rule
"Save a life, bin the knife" mandatory knife confiscation going on.
Telling Scotch Highland types you can't have edged weapons anymore..........I bet that works out way different than the policy people intend

 

[WendyZXZ]

I think it looks great!

 

[pete44ru]

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Thank you.....

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[Mobuck]

The new handle looks like it has a round cross section. If so, you lose some of the "blade indexing" capabilities. The round handle is actually harder for some folks to hold than a slabsided profile. In addition, the forward taper increases the risk of the user's hand sliding onto the blade if used for stabbing.
It is attractive, in it's own way.

 

[pete44ru]

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The grip/handle is oval in cross-section, and the cross guard should preclude the hand slipping onto the blade.


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[pete44ru]

(FINISHED)


Last night I finished shaping the Spalted Tamerind handle and it's Ebony endcap, finish-sanded it, then applied a few coats of finish to the wood, before mounting a scrimshawed frufraw (not my work) to the endcap.

I hope you like it.

My next project will to be make a set of exotic wood grips for the Webley Tempest .177 pellet pistol I have coming in.


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[Taterman]

The pics aren't showing here.

 

[pete44ru]

IDK why not, but I re-pasted the pic's urls.

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