http://i.imgur.com/Bq2sgyP.jpg
I've got an old F. Dick Scimitar slicer blade that I'd like to re handle and put into use. The blade has great patina and only a few pits here and there. The edge is a bit ragged but that will smooth out in time on the stones. I'm looking for any advice on materials and methods to put an appropriate, usable handle onto this bade without doing much to the original surface in any place it shows.
Interesting technical hurdles to overcome:
1. The tang shape. The tang is an odd sort of half tang that has a distal taper (if I'm using that term right) from the blade shoulder to the end of the handle. My initial thought was to cut a slice through a block of wood that is just deeper than the tang height and just wide enough to fit the widest part of the tang then epoxy the tang so that none of it is actually exposed after final handle shaping. I could not figure out how to locate the pin holes using this method so I gave up on the idea. My next idea was to use handle slabs with a slot cut along the mating surface then use epoxy and pins.
What woods would be appropriate for this type knife? (I have no idea how old it is. It resembles a set of F Dick knives my dad has that dates to the 1950s that came with ebony handles.)
2. Preserve the original finish. I'd like to leave the finish on the blade and tang alone. If I can design the handle to allow me to shape and finish it off the knife that would be best. Any ideas?
Thanks for your interest.
Ben
I've got an old F. Dick Scimitar slicer blade that I'd like to re handle and put into use. The blade has great patina and only a few pits here and there. The edge is a bit ragged but that will smooth out in time on the stones. I'm looking for any advice on materials and methods to put an appropriate, usable handle onto this bade without doing much to the original surface in any place it shows.
Interesting technical hurdles to overcome:
1. The tang shape. The tang is an odd sort of half tang that has a distal taper (if I'm using that term right) from the blade shoulder to the end of the handle. My initial thought was to cut a slice through a block of wood that is just deeper than the tang height and just wide enough to fit the widest part of the tang then epoxy the tang so that none of it is actually exposed after final handle shaping. I could not figure out how to locate the pin holes using this method so I gave up on the idea. My next idea was to use handle slabs with a slot cut along the mating surface then use epoxy and pins.
What woods would be appropriate for this type knife? (I have no idea how old it is. It resembles a set of F Dick knives my dad has that dates to the 1950s that came with ebony handles.)
2. Preserve the original finish. I'd like to leave the finish on the blade and tang alone. If I can design the handle to allow me to shape and finish it off the knife that would be best. Any ideas?
Thanks for your interest.
Ben