It's been some time since I've posted any projects. With the event season approaching an end it's now back to it!
For awhile I've been meaning to re-handle an Old hickory slicer. The brass pins and scales are hideous IMO. While the blade itself is fabulous steel, cosmetically it to is also horrendous with the factory stamp marks.
Decided I'd give it a go today and give ole girl a facelift. Started by filing away the stamp marks. One could use a grinder or what not, but take the utmost care to watch your heat. I personally choose to file as the blade is thin as is, therefore I'm not concerned about rapid heat buildup and taking to much material away.
Stampings removed it was time to fashion up the elk stag for fitment. I ended up removing approximately 3/4" from the tang to accommodate the elk tine along with slightly bending the tang to shape, perfectly matching the contour of the tine.
I do cheat and use a slight amount of epoxy when pinning. Ruffed the tang end up for good adhesion and pinned everything together with iron pins. Wrapped the back end of the blade with elk rawhide and elk back strap sinew at the rear of the handle essentially for looks. Waterproofing added to the raw hide and sinew with my hide glue mixture.
Lastly I inlayed a hand engraved silver button that was my great grandmother's. Re-profiled the edge and got her back to hair shaving sharp! Very pleased with the transformation I must say!
I'm out of rawhide so a sheath and liner are next once I have more in hand. I've taken on quillwork so stay tuned for the quilled sheath.
Also whipped together a little neck dagger from an old file, forged to shape, heat treated and tempered pinned to a deer tine with one pin, also wrapped with elk sinew. Took on a wicked edge so this little guy should be very handy! Quilled sheath to follow!
In the images the sinew and rawhide are yellow, this is because the glue has not completely cured. Once cured it's almost invisible.
For awhile I've been meaning to re-handle an Old hickory slicer. The brass pins and scales are hideous IMO. While the blade itself is fabulous steel, cosmetically it to is also horrendous with the factory stamp marks.
Decided I'd give it a go today and give ole girl a facelift. Started by filing away the stamp marks. One could use a grinder or what not, but take the utmost care to watch your heat. I personally choose to file as the blade is thin as is, therefore I'm not concerned about rapid heat buildup and taking to much material away.
Stampings removed it was time to fashion up the elk stag for fitment. I ended up removing approximately 3/4" from the tang to accommodate the elk tine along with slightly bending the tang to shape, perfectly matching the contour of the tine.
I do cheat and use a slight amount of epoxy when pinning. Ruffed the tang end up for good adhesion and pinned everything together with iron pins. Wrapped the back end of the blade with elk rawhide and elk back strap sinew at the rear of the handle essentially for looks. Waterproofing added to the raw hide and sinew with my hide glue mixture.
Lastly I inlayed a hand engraved silver button that was my great grandmother's. Re-profiled the edge and got her back to hair shaving sharp! Very pleased with the transformation I must say!
I'm out of rawhide so a sheath and liner are next once I have more in hand. I've taken on quillwork so stay tuned for the quilled sheath.
Also whipped together a little neck dagger from an old file, forged to shape, heat treated and tempered pinned to a deer tine with one pin, also wrapped with elk sinew. Took on a wicked edge so this little guy should be very handy! Quilled sheath to follow!
In the images the sinew and rawhide are yellow, this is because the glue has not completely cured. Once cured it's almost invisible.
