Thread: The Butchered Blade

Originally Posted by MikeB52

Original must have been a split deal like what the wood copy tried to emulate. Probably right that it was something exotic like ivory Tom. And now that you mention it, Mike T is into the exotic woods a wee bit ain't he,,, .

My ears were just burning! I arrived as quick as I could..
Did someone say exotic wood?... now imagine a shady guy on a street corner with a big coat opened to reveal a dozen varieties of exotic wood... "yeah, I gots da goods!"
LMAO
I think your tang was originally shaped by the manufacturer in that way. I'm almost 100% sure.
But who knows of what? It runs down the middle of the tang cover so it was probably a two piece tang or molded(celluloid?) One piece... ?
Now, exotic wood... I think it should be a hardwood or otherwise stabilized. What kind do you want? color?

Evening Mike.
Yea lookin at it under the loupe and definitely original work on the blade. It's a nice looking thing aside from the no tail bit.
Not sure which way to go with it. Hardwood, antler, amber, or piano key ivory. I have a bunch and was kicking around the idea of making a laminate stack of them to the right thickness using some transparent epoxy maybe. Not sure how the two would work together, but only take a bit of effort to find out.
Some of that bog oak might do it justice too though. If the tail and scales match or contrast, which would look better,, also wondering about that.
Need another drink and my sketch pad.

Antler! Yes that's a good one too.
I think Tom's right, somehow it was drilled down solid ivory.
The pins in my two Joseph Rodgers with ivory tangs look the same. The pin was probably the only thing you could see on that one.
Well pm me if you need anything.

Originally Posted by MikeB52

Evening Mike.
Yea lookin at it under the loupe and definitely original work on the blade. It's a nice looking thing aside from the no tail bit.
Not sure which way to go with it. Hardwood, antler, amber, or piano key ivory. I have a bunch and was kicking around the idea of making a laminate stack of them to the right thickness using some transparent epoxy maybe. Not sure how the two would work together, but only take a bit of effort to find out.
Some of that bog oak might do it justice too though. If the tail and scales match or contrast, which would look better,, also wondering about that.
Need another drink and my sketch pad.

Piano key ivory....nothin' but awesome IMO....

Well, the English could accomplish most anything back then. Most examples I have seen were Rodgers razors. TBH, using epoxy, the pin would not be needed? Drill multiple holes in-line, stick on a piece of wood, start sanding and whittling?

True Tom, I don't need to waste time thinking of how they did it if I opt for the epoxy. Which I think I will.
I think I will try the ivory stack actually. If it's a success, it will be the closest to stock I can make it, and will be pretty cool. Scales I don't think are a candidate for the piano ivory, the blanks aren't big enough sadly, unless I go with a backer..
Getting ahead of my myself. Start with the tang, rebuild the blade first.
Cheers.

Originally Posted by MikeB52

True Tom, I don't need to waste time thinking of how they did it if I opt for the epoxy. Which I think I will.
I think I will try the ivory stack actually. If it's a success, it will be the closest to stock I can make it, and will be pretty cool. Scales I don't think are a candidate for the piano ivory, the blanks aren't big enough sadly, unless I go with a backer..
Getting ahead of my myself. Start with the tang, rebuild the blade first.
Cheers.

I have a reft of broken ivory scales, Mike. If you could mill out the backsides of the scales and epoxy the halves on.....
Too hard. I would just epoxy something on and go at it. Just have to measure, mark, and stay away from the steel.
The tail would be total solid wood. Speaking of measuring, that hole in the end....Could it have been the pivot hole?
Makes sense they would have not had a solid ivory pivot??

Oh! I went and looked again! It IS the pivot hole!
Yeah. Mark your wood with the slot you want. Drill-press, set up in a vise to the middle, just re-position for the next hole. Betya a drill bit would work slowly. Wobble it out. A bit too big is not as important as aligning the steel with the wood and measuring tight where the hole will go.
Easy to do, lay the tang on the wood and draw it out.
Redneck Me

My Rodgers have solid ivory pivots.

Originally Posted by MikeT

My Rodgers have solid ivory pivots.

Yes, but are you certain the steel is not run in the middle? Had them apart?

Mine would have been a solid ivory pivot i presume. No way this pin was the pivot hole at one time.
Broken ivory scales actually would work as well as piano ivory, better maybe as it would be thicker material. Milling it out was my plan as I have access to a mill when I need it at work. Mill the halves, epoxy it up, and drill pivot, shape to suit..