My foldable knife plastic grip on handle cracked andbroke off.. can you paracord a foldable knife?

Discussion in 'Blades' started by cbig, Mar 30, 2016.


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  1. cbig

    cbig Monkey

    if so will you still be able to close it? and if not is there anything i can use for the handle so that it will remain able to fold? right now tha plastic grip cracked and fell off of it and the handle that is lft has no grip to it at all. was hoping for any tips to help me salvage my knife.

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2016
  2. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    A picture of the problem may help the recruited problem solvers....A lot depends upon how the grip was fixed to the handle? Screws? Rivets? Glued?

    Replacement grips might be wood, or plastic moulding or aluminium moulding. The method might depend on the size of the grip too. I'm not sure how a para-cord grip would work...

    Edit: If you want to give the knife a paleo look....horn might be an option...bone would be easy to work with....shape, drill etc...but may be too brittle.

    Another option might be resin....easy to pour...perhaps wrap handle with cloth, and fill with resin.

    Maybe leather handles for those with a leather fetish....stitch and glue as appropriate ;)


    @Yard Dart ,@Brokor, @cbig .....further suggestions.

    A lot depends on your crafting skills, aesthetics, and whether simple, ugly and easy but functional, trumps aesthetics, skill and greater effort. If it's just a cheap knife, quick, easy and utilitarian might be the go....an expensive, Gucci quality knife might be deserving of a little more respect, resources and effort.
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2016
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  3. Yard Dart

    Yard Dart Vigilant Monkey Moderator

    IMO you would either want to recreate some form of handle out of wood, plastic or other. I doubt, as Chello said, that a para cord wrap would work for this application.
     
  4. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Without seeing it, no accurate determination can be made.
    Most people will make a new handle and epoxy it in place.
    The paracord could work if it allows for the same clearance for the blade. The problem with this, however, is the fact that you must wrap inside the handle where the blade rests. It's not practical, but on some folding knives it can work. If your folding knife is a liner lock, it won't function with paracord wrapped around the area it needs to move to lock and release the blade. If it's a frame lock, the same applies, but it may be possible to do this. If it's a tension lock (slip joint) on the top of the handle, you will have to wrap to avoid covering it, but I have no clue how it could be reassembled. Conclusion: It's all just messy and not realistic.

    Example: You take folding knife apart. You wrap liner where handle material used to be. Now putting it together with the screws is tough, maybe you get it to work. Maybe the knife isn't made this way and there's no room to wrap. No way to allow for locking mechanism to function. Lots of unknowns without seeing the knife.
     
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  5. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

    @cbig welcome!
    and fyi you got your 1st tag for pics lol we are a picture loving group of monkeys, [seeno]biglaff its all in good fun and people really do want to help so if you can't figure out how to post a pic let us know
     
  6. UncleMorgan

    UncleMorgan I like peeling bananas and (occasionally) people.

    Yes--it's hard to advise without seeing the damage, but...

    If the handles are riveted on, there are probably two short brass "pins" standing up in the frame of the knife on the bare side of the frame.

    They can very possibly be reused.

    Press a piece of dampened paper (something slightly stiff, like a 3X5 filing card), on the pins, let it dry, and then outline the shape of the knife with a pencil.

    Find a piece of handle material (hardwood, plastic sheet, or whatever) that is just barely thicker than the pins are tall, allowing for any sanding & polishing.

    Using the paper pattern, cut out and drill the handle blank. Drill it slightly larger than the rivet pins, but not all the way thru. Just a tiny little bit deeper than the pins are tall.

    Then, after filling the holes with epoxy cement, glue the the new handle blank to the frame and let it dry.

    Then buff and polish the new handle to perfection.

    The old rivets will now be invisible, but holding hard to the epoxy in the slightly overlarge holes.

    For a complete upgrade, cut off the other old handle half, and make another new one to match.
     
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  7. cbig

    cbig Monkey

    As. Requested pics of knife without plastic grip that broke.off,. Fhere are screw.holding it togegher but i left.the plastic part in between the the pieces where the knkfe would fall into otherwise the screws are too loose. [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]



    [worthless][/QUOTE]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 1, 2016
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  8. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    @cbig Thanks for the pictures. You have yourself a frame lock. I wouldn't advise trying to wrap the handle with paracord. The reason is because 2/3rds of the right side needs to be free so the locking bar can flex as is needed to lock and release. Also, if you do try to use paracord, it would need to be stripped (inner taken out) and you will have to avoid most of the locking bar area. Perhaps finding another method to make a suitable handle will suffice?
     
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  9. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    Thanks for the pictures...better folk than I here may be able to help you out, now that we can see what we are dealing with. Paracord doesn't seem to be a workable solution. The loose screws are probably loose, because they were relying on the grip as a spacer to grip to. That will be one issue to factor into the crafting of new grips. Wood or horn are probably going to be the easier options for crafting with: plastic or aluminium moulding may be viable options too, but a bit fiddly, and requires some skillsets and equipment that will take some effort to acquire.

    Checkout YouTube for video clips on repairing folding knives...there seems to be quite a few of them there at that site.
     
  10. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    Appended below is a link to a .pdf file which explains, describes and illustrates in quite some detail, making a knife handle and leather sheath for a tanged fix bladed knife. The handle material is deer/elk antler. It is a material which may be adapted to your knife's shape/function. Basically you need to cut slivers of horn/antler to cover the handle area, and shaped to allow the folding action, and locking/release functions to work properly.

    Having a sheath / belt pouch for your knife may help protect the handle from future damage.


    You will note that the artisan marked out the core of the handle to accommodate the size of the tang being fitted.....what you will probably need to do is to do the same kind of marking out process, but to cut two longitudinal slices approximating the length, width, and depth that you need to cover the handle. Once satisfied with that, then you can do whatever small shaping that you require, including drilling holes to accommodate screws and the lanyard hole at the end. Make sure that everything is functional and exactly the shape that you like before affixing the grips permanently with epoxy/glue.

    Other useful references for inspiration:

    Repair an Old Pocket Knife | Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers

    Replacing a Knife Handle : Atomic Toasters

    Instructibles How to Build a Knife step#7 - "Getting a Grip"

    Getting a grip
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2016
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  11. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    It's a fair bet that paracord will do you no good. It's also a fair bet that unless the knife has some sentimental value, it's simply time to replace it. (The plastic parts indicate a cheap bit of cutlery, so you won't lose much in the recycle bin.)
     
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  12. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    She was cheap, and hard worked....but she was my first....how could I trash her??? ;)
     
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  13. Yard Dart

    Yard Dart Vigilant Monkey Moderator

    Well.... you just yell..... Next!!!
     
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  14. oldawg

    oldawg Monkey+++

    Time for another knife.....BUT.....don't pitch this one. Time to learn a new skill. A set of scales you make to your taste and choice of materials. This knowledge,tools, and skill transfers to other needs. A new set of grips and onward and upward. Plus now you have TWO usable means to cut stuff.
     
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  15. cbig

    cbig Monkey

    i dont wanna throw it out bcuz i always like learning new skills. if i can fix it or find another use for it i would rather hold onto it. im the creative type so im sure ill figure out something fun to do with it. thanks for all the advice guys!
     
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  16. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    You could do a paracord wrap, but not if you want it to fold. It could be used as a sheath knife, though.
    Personally, I would slice some new scales from "purple heart" and enjoy my new knife.
    You could cover it in paracord, but it would need to be cut every wrap to only go where the original scales went. Some contact cement, and a sharp razor would work, but would not have any usefulness to the paracord.
     
  17. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    Build a set of scales and spot epoxy them to your knife after making any mechanical adjustments that may be needed. Here is your chance to select the material, sand and shape it to your exact grip and learn something in the process.

    What ever you decide to do, post it here. Good, Bad or Amazing!
     
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  18. Witch Doctor 01

    Witch Doctor 01 Mojo Maker

    consider a thin lexan handle... fit it to your knife frame... if there is room and you don't mind the bulk (assuming the screws are long enough...) wrap the scales in para-cord or thin nylon cord. Then place the scales on the knife... you will have a knife with a para-cord handle... good luck!
     
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  19. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    It just occurred to me that mother of pearl might be another useful material for making your folding knife scales....

    [​IMG]



    The following link takes you to a web page that discusses the ins and outs of making mother of pearl knife scales.

    Mother Of Pearl and Other Acrylic - Handle Material - Knife Handle Parts

    Some other sources of information on knife scale materials commonly used in furnishing knife handles

    The Ultimate Guide To Knife Handle Materials | BestPocketKnifeToday.com

    Learn About Knives :: Handle Materials

    How to choose the right knife handle for your needs and budget | Heinnie Haynes Blog
     
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  20. Sgt Nambu

    Sgt Nambu RIP 4/19/2018

    Truly not meaning to be snarky about your predicament but just what I'd do.

    Throw it away and buy a better knife!
     
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