Thanks all for the kind words.
Crocket,
"QUESTION. It looks like you have a rat tail type tang, the end of which has been peen hammered over to hold the handle in place. How do you support the blade as you are hammerring the end of the tang??? Do you anneal the end of the tang? Wrap the blade in wet rags while annealing?"
The tang of the blade only goes 3/4 of the way through the handle, there is a extention of mild steel silver soldered and pinned with two peened pins (it aint going nowhere) which does away with annealing the tang for peening. The blade is supported by putting it in a vise with padded jaws. As for the peening of the tang, use many light taps of the hammer rather than hard strikes.
"Other q's.. do you use any filler inside the hole in the handle through which the tang fits?"
Ha, Your going to get the PC police on me. :wink:
Devcon two part epoxy, Great stuff. Its not PC like the cutlers resin but its stronger, try to take a handle off that Devcon has been used and you will see why its the only thing I trust.
" Do you solder on the guard?"
A proper fitted guard should need no solder, (Something that I struggle with from time to time)
The guard "should" be tight enough that you need to lightly tap it into place, Solder can be used to hide any gaps or secure the guard in place.(IF NEEDED)
As far as a moisture barrier, The "gulp" Epoxy should flow all the way to the guard through the handle sealing it from moisture intrusion.
"Finally, for a few years now I have wanted to make a sheath common to Bowies where there is a metal tip and a metal collar at the top with a frog. I have tried several times but failed to make anything I like."
Not real hard to do but takes a great deal of skill, LRB has it down pat. I have only made a couple of collars and none worked out on the first try.
