Author Topic: antler handles (Read 2334 times)

sailordad · « **on:** June 05, 2011, 07:54:19 pm »

well i am putting some stone knifes together
and i am looking for cleaner looking fit with some handles
i usually just slice the antler on my band saw and fit the blade with pitch and sinew
i have seen some anlter handles that had a clean no pitch look to them
i was told that they were boild and fitted
just wondering as to how to actually do this method and will whitetail antlers work well?
any and all info is appreciated
thanks

peace,
tim

R H Clark · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2011, 08:27:45 pm »

Are you doing a hidden tang or slabs?

Will H · « **Reply #2 on:** June 06, 2011, 02:14:32 am »

Ive done it with a drill bit and #50 rasp on larger whitetail sheds with good results. Just mark your bit with some tape or something so you dont drill to deep. Works for me.

Pappy · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2011, 09:23:11 am »

Jesse done one at the Classic, Keenan showed him how,I think he just boiled it for about an hour
and pushed it in.It looked nice. He was using white tail horn I think.

Pappy.

R H Clark · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2011, 10:41:40 am »

With either a hidden tang or slabs,the key is a pertfect fit.On a hidden tang I use a sander to flatten the cut area where it fits to the guard.I drill out the pith and use epoxy to hold the tang in.make a few small notches in your tang and clean it with acetone for a good hold.I will also micro fit the underside of the guard and the contact area on the antler by sanding on a piece of sandpaper layed flat on thick glass or mirror.You need to sand and do a dry fit to make sure you can't see any light in the gap when held in front of a strong light source.
With slabs,sand them and the tang on the glass and sandpaper also to make sure all surfaces are flat.It your tang is a little off you can grind a wide trench down the middle of the tang so you only have to sand the contact edges.

sailordad · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2011, 02:49:50 am »

RH, no i am fitting stone blades that were knapped.would rather keep it natural and no epoxy or the like

Pappy, i seen the one Jesse made.thats where i got the idea.jus didnt know how he did it.
just boil it and slip it in,sounds easy enough.
i'll give it a try,worse that can happens is it doenst work and i brake the blade ;

thanks for the info

Pappy · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2011, 08:05:54 am »

I don't think he even use glue,Keenan said the soft part of the horn turned into glue when boiled and would hold it just fine,I do think Jesse rapped it a little where the blade and handle meet. Keenan does his draw knive handle that way,seemed to work fine.

Pappy

FlintWalker · « **Reply #7 on:** June 07, 2011, 10:46:58 am »

It was Elk antler Tim. They're very pithy iinthe center. It won't work with whitetail.

Will H · « **Reply #8 on:** June 07, 2011, 05:40:12 pm »

If boiling dosent work out for ya and you dont want to use power tools you might try making an "abo" bow drill with a flint head. I think it would work ok on the pithy part at least, then you could knap the tang to fit... Just a thought.

Primitive Archer