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How to Make a Knife Handle Out of an Antler Shed
It was a hunt to remember, but the antlers weren’t big enough to justify a mount. So you’ve hung them from the workshop rafters, where soon they’ll be forgotten. Why not make a memento before the mice start nibbling? That way you not only have a keepsake that recalls a special day, but an heirloom you can pass down to the next generation. I’m talking about crafting a knife. All you need is a steady hand and a few tools, plus a stick-tang blade and a brass guard that you can order from a knife supply outlet such as Ragweed Forge (www.ragweedforge.com).
Select a straight or gently curved antler section that comfortably fills the hand and cut to length with a hacksaw (some knife makers like to use the antler button for the butt). Fit the guard over the tang of the knife, fine-tuning the slot opening with files until it fits snugly just behind the edge of the blade.
Place the blade-and-guard assembly against the antler handle to see where you need to drill the hole. Clamp the handle in a padded vise and, using a small bit, drill the hole for the tang. Enlarge the hole, using progressively larger bits, then finish excavating the slot with files until the tang and assembly fit into the hole. Don’t worry if the tang fit is a little sloppy (it leaves more room for the glue), but make sure the blade-to-guard fit, and the guard-to-handle fit, are exact before proceeding further. Cement the tang in the slot using two-part 30-minute epoxy.
Clamp overnight.
That’s all there is to it, except for finishing with fine sandpaper and polishing up the blade and guard on a buffing wheel. Use carnauba-based furniture wax to polish the handle to a soft sheen.
Now you’re ready to skin next year’s deer.
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Comments (23)
The link to ragweed forge does not work.
Here are a couple of sites to order a blade and guard.
http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index.php , http://www.knifeandgun.com/
It would have been nice to see a step by step picture of the process. It sounds simple, but a picture is worth a thousand words!
from Wydra Knives. The antler material should dry completely before use or it will shrink. Then send it to knifeandgun to have it stabalized.
ive made many of knives and this is an excelent technique for those who want to make their first knife.
Wow talk about a let down on that article. How about some step by step pictures.
I'm going to try this so all help is appreciated.
I hope the Ragweed forge site comes back soon. There are helpful instructions on that site as well as a wide selection of blades to choose from. There are other sites that offer instructions for mounting a handle on a blade. Check out:
http://www.primitiveways.com/pt-antlerhandleknife.html
http://www.knives.com/engnath_handles.html
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/cache/articles/gl1/knifemaking1.htm
if you have ever made a knife youll know its not that simple if you want one your unashamed to show you friends.but we all start somewhere.good luck to those who try it.by the way if you need to buy a gaurd you will probobly have to buy a blade also.
Where on the ragweedforge site can you order knife parts?
The idea of this article is great and in fact very cool. However, this is a terrible article. The process is very vague and I don't have experience with this, so I have no clue how this is actually supposed to work. Can someone provide a link that would provide step-by-step instructions?
Move down in the site to an area called "knife blades and kits"
Does anyone know who makes the blade in the article in Feb. '09 issue? I could not find that style at ragweedforge.com site. It looks like a very unique drop point style.
This looks very fun to do in my free time. The directions are very good but I would like to see pictures though.
I've always wanted to make a knife out of a shed i found, but never knew how. This helps, but i a picture gallery showing the process step-by-step sure would make it a lot easier.
Ive always wondered how to do this. It seems pretty straightforward and simple. Im gonna try this. Hopefully ill have something to brag about.
Imade a knife in the past using a sears pry-bar for the blade and an antler handle. Shaped the blade in a small forge and created a tang on it then sharpened it. Holds an edge good. When I drilled out the antler I saved the residue and mixed it in with the epoxy. It may never come loose.
awsome
if your going to make your own knives take the extra time and put brass pins through the handle.Makes a more secure handle
If you boil the piece of antler long enough, you can push the knife tang right in and you don't have to worry about glue or rivet. I would suggest drilling into the antler where you intend on pushing in the tang so that the water can soften as much as possible.
I am building an antler-handled knife now, and have prepared the tang for insertion into the pith. If I boil the antler, I know I need to boil it at least until the pith is easily dented by my fingernail. How long is that? An hour, a day
I am building an antler-handled knife now, and am at the point of attaching the blade to the handle. I have cut the tang and have affixed a guard to the blade with epoxy. If I boil the antler, how long does it need to boil to get the pith soft enough to insert the tang- an hour, a day? I don't want to be standing "at the ready", watching so it doesn't boil too long, and then find that I'm standing there for 14 hours. Too, I know that I need to epoxy the guard to the antler, but if I do, how will the antler dry out? Any help will be appreciated.
if you have ever made a knife youll know its not that simple if you want one your unashamed to show you friends.but we all start somewhere.good luck to those who try it.by the way if you need to buy a gaurd you will probobly have to buy a blade also.http://www.cancer-c.com/mesothelioma/asbestos-attorney.html
Hi guys
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I hope the Ragweed forge site comes back soon. There are helpful instructions on that site as well as a wide selection of blades to choose from. There are other sites that offer instructions for mounting a handle on a blade. Check out:
http://www.primitiveways.com/pt-antlerhandleknife.html
http://www.knives.com/engnath_handles.html
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/cache/articles/gl1/knifemaking1.htm
Here are a couple of sites to order a blade and guard.
http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index.php , http://www.knifeandgun.com/
if your going to make your own knives take the extra time and put brass pins through the handle.Makes a more secure handle
It would have been nice to see a step by step picture of the process. It sounds simple, but a picture is worth a thousand words!
Hi guys
The link to ragweed forge does not work.
from Wydra Knives. The antler material should dry completely before use or it will shrink. Then send it to knifeandgun to have it stabalized.
ive made many of knives and this is an excelent technique for those who want to make their first knife.
Wow talk about a let down on that article. How about some step by step pictures.
I'm going to try this so all help is appreciated.
if you have ever made a knife youll know its not that simple if you want one your unashamed to show you friends.but we all start somewhere.good luck to those who try it.by the way if you need to buy a gaurd you will probobly have to buy a blade also.
Where on the ragweedforge site can you order knife parts?
The idea of this article is great and in fact very cool. However, this is a terrible article. The process is very vague and I don't have experience with this, so I have no clue how this is actually supposed to work. Can someone provide a link that would provide step-by-step instructions?
Move down in the site to an area called "knife blades and kits"
Does anyone know who makes the blade in the article in Feb. '09 issue? I could not find that style at ragweedforge.com site. It looks like a very unique drop point style.
This looks very fun to do in my free time. The directions are very good but I would like to see pictures though.
I've always wanted to make a knife out of a shed i found, but never knew how. This helps, but i a picture gallery showing the process step-by-step sure would make it a lot easier.
Ive always wondered how to do this. It seems pretty straightforward and simple. Im gonna try this. Hopefully ill have something to brag about.
Imade a knife in the past using a sears pry-bar for the blade and an antler handle. Shaped the blade in a small forge and created a tang on it then sharpened it. Holds an edge good. When I drilled out the antler I saved the residue and mixed it in with the epoxy. It may never come loose.
awsome
If you boil the piece of antler long enough, you can push the knife tang right in and you don't have to worry about glue or rivet. I would suggest drilling into the antler where you intend on pushing in the tang so that the water can soften as much as possible.
I am building an antler-handled knife now, and have prepared the tang for insertion into the pith. If I boil the antler, I know I need to boil it at least until the pith is easily dented by my fingernail. How long is that? An hour, a day
I am building an antler-handled knife now, and am at the point of attaching the blade to the handle. I have cut the tang and have affixed a guard to the blade with epoxy. If I boil the antler, how long does it need to boil to get the pith soft enough to insert the tang- an hour, a day? I don't want to be standing "at the ready", watching so it doesn't boil too long, and then find that I'm standing there for 14 hours. Too, I know that I need to epoxy the guard to the antler, but if I do, how will the antler dry out? Any help will be appreciated.
if you have ever made a knife youll know its not that simple if you want one your unashamed to show you friends.but we all start somewhere.good luck to those who try it.by the way if you need to buy a gaurd you will probobly have to buy a blade also.http://www.cancer-c.com/mesothelioma/asbestos-attorney.html
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