Knife handle Material???'s

[Averageman]

I have a Bowie I picked up while stationed in Germany, the knife has no value as the previous owner used it for everything from a pry bar to a rack breaker.
I've got the rust off of it, but need a new handle as the old one is cracked and broken. I also need a new sheath for it.
Any idea's of where I can get a sheath made and some material for a handle and some rivets?
I'm a newbie at this and just want a good working Bowie.

 

[Snarlingiron]

http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index.php

 

[OpticsPlanet]

My favorite handle material is G10. Does not shrink or get hot, cold, slippery or spark. I think it's the best all round handle material you can get. Also, there are plenty of knife supply houses around that sell all the parts you would need and probably even a generic sheath. I have purchased many factory seconds sheaths over the years and they were fine. One company that comes to mind is Jantz: http://www.knifemaking.com/

George P.

 

[Valkman]

Also knifekits.com

 

[redneck]

I recommend micarta ( I like linen based the best of the 3). I find its slightly less nasty to work with than G10 since it doesn't have the glass in it (either way you should wear a mask), relatively cheap and will last forever.

 

[Stugotz]

Another vote for Micarta. Been my favorite for over 20+ years. For a start, the color choices are vast in both solids or laminates, and you can go smooth or textured. Relatively easy to work too.

 

[AJumbo]

I've been doing well with the wood laminates, but micarta is great stuff; I tend to favor canvas micarta for it's grip. Stabilized woods are very tough, but are spendy, and may be out of place on a "beater" utility knife.

Insofar as fasteners, look at the Corby-style bolts. They can be easily finished flush with the handles, and require only a drill press, a step drill (or two appropriately-sized drill bits), and some judgement to install. They even provide the clamping force required to hold the handles in place while your epoxy dries. Most of the knife supply sites have tutorials, and you can just keep asking the members here for advice and "don't do THIS" stories.

 

[Zeke/PA]

I recommend micarta ( I like linen based the best of the 3). I find its slightly less nasty to work with than G10 since it doesn't have the glass in it (either way you should wear a mask), relatively cheap and will last forever.

I made a ton of knives using Micarta and most slabs/ handles were of CE grade canvas.
The layers are close to linen base density and much cheaper.
G-10 ? Is it expensive or what?

 

[Sunray]

"...used it for everything from a pry bar to a rack breaker..." And it still holds an edge? Has lots of value. Lee Valley tools has all that knife stuff.
Couldn't imagine paying for a sheath, but I have all the tools to make 'em already. Tandy's for that.

 

[Officers'Wife]

Many saddle shops that work leather can make a high quality sheath.

 

[Valkman]

G-10 ? Is it expensive or what?

About the same price as micarta. I like 'em both, and G10 is available in many solid colors and color combo's.

 

[MCgunner]

I kinda like stag, myself...

 

[Valkman]

Here's a knife I made with stag:





I really liked using red stag.

 

[rcmodel]

Nice!

Love the cloisonné pins!

I first thought they were engraved or metal stamped.
And I was gonna ask you to teach me how to do that!!!

rc

 

[Valkman]

There's not much I could teach you RC!

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Stag is sure pretty as well as functional.

 

[Dakota Jeff]

if you are going for function and not a beauty contest hit a good home center and find a small length of hard wood, oak mahog, etc. They have lots of choises and for rivets go to the welding/metal work supply area and find a brass rod small enough in diameter to fit the holes in your handle. Work the handles up and when finished and satisfied with them, measure the brass rod just a bit shy of thickness of the handle include the metal maybe rubber band the wood to the knife to measure. then you would need to flatten or bulge one end slip it into place and use a nail set or better a center punch to bulge or flatten the other end. That is how we made handles in shop years ago and now that mom has passed every night my sister still uses a kitchen implement I made over twenty years ago, using that technique. good luck.

 

[Valkman]

Another more uncommon handle material I used was giraffe bone from giraffebone.com. Very pretty stuff but it usually doesn't look like it first does when you grind it down so it's kind of a crapshoot. Here's one I made and it wound up in Blade magazine: