Starting a knife handle

[deseeb2001]

I picked up this cheap little paring knife at a thrift shop with the idea that I can make a new handle, file & re-shape the blade a bit, and have myself a decent patch knife. Its also my first knife project, so if I mess up I'm out a whopping 25 cents or so. :haha:

Anyway, looking at the existing handle, it looks to be held together with those brass (?) fasteners and glue of some sort. Does anyone know of a good way to get the whole deal apart short of a chisel and a hammer? I don't know how good the metal is and I'd rather not snap it in the process. Any advice will be greatly appreciated :thumbsup:

 

[lonehunter]

You could file or cut the heads off of the rivits.
heat should take care of the glue, if the slabs dont want to pop off after you get the rivit heads off. :v

 

[necchi]

Chicago cutlery makes a great blade. And those wood handles actually come off easily with the tools you described, a hammer and small chisel. Even a sharp/thin screw driver

You can place the blade upright in a padded vise with the wood in contact with the top of the vise and split the handle along the 3 rivets,,pops right in half if the grain is right,, :thumbsup:

They use a GOOD cutler rivet, they fit well with each other and they press'm tight. I've had best luck cutting the rivet with a Dremel cut of wheel,,just clamp the rivet in the vise and not the blade when cuttin the rivets, stops the rivet from turning.

 

[JamesG]

You can also center punch the pins and drill them out but the hammer and chisel best choice.

 

[Deadeye]

If you have a grindstone, just grind the rivit heads off one side then punch them out. the slabs should come right off. I usually use a Dremel or a drill press.
Deadeye

 

[deseeb2001]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone :hatsoff: One of these nights when I get a bit of time, I'll mess around a bit and see how things go. Then the real fun can start!

 

[crockett]

Those are often referred to as cutler rivets. One half is a tube and the other half is hammered in- for a pressure fit. They are fairly inexpensive. They first started showing up around the 1880's, maybe a few years earlier. In any event, on the replaced scales, you might want to think about iron pins. A straightened metal coat hanger is about 3/32" diameter and soft enough to peen hammer a little.

 

[MSW]

i agree with necchi- this appears to be a Chicago Cutlery blade... good blade, funky handle. The rivets will come off with the judicial use of a Dremel or similar tool, after which time you can replace the funky handle with something way more cool.

please post pix when you're done- i'm eager to see how it comes out!

best of luck with your project- the best tools are the ones you make for yourself!