Finally got around to making a stacked leather handle. I'm no blade maker so sorted out a Frost laminated steel blade and removed the wooden handle (big hammer).
The bolster was made from sheet nickle silver with an ivory insert.
Leather discs (charity shop handbag) glued up with epoxy resin with more ivory at the butt end.
Gave the epoxy 24 hrs to cure, fitted a small brass washer over the exposed tang at the butt & rivetted over.
Filed to shape, sanded & finished with several coats of Melamine varnish then polished with chrome cleaner.
Note - If the blade has an edge worthy of the name then a bit of advice would be to wrap the blade before stating to shape the handle otherwise buy a packet of sticky plasters....
Next was the sheath, leather soaked, blade greased and cling-film wrapped, clamped until dry then sewn up. (plenty of turorials on the net)
Before anyone starts on about the morality of using ivory, I wouldn't buy modern ivory even if I could.
The ivory I have was over a hundred years old when I saved the pieces from going into landfill and that was over 40 years ago.
I don't have a problem putting it to use....
Mark
