SUP Report post Posted April 27, 2023 I bought a hand-made round knife on a whim, as it was reasonably priced. It is wicked sharp right out of the box and it does not appear to have been recently sharpened or stropped. It has a flat Aluminium handle and I am concerned it might slip when I am using it. I would like to wrap it in leather. I am not sure of the type of leather to use. It has to be soft enough to wrap. Will chrome-tanned leather work or will it damage the Aluminium in the long run? Has anyone had experience with that metal encased in Chrome-tanned leather? If not chrome-tanned leather, what other type of leather would work for wrapping a knife handle? I have only just started leatherworking about 4 months ago so am still learning about the best uses for different leathers. I know a wooden handle would be best but I have no experience in woodworking. So wrapping seems the best option. I would appreciate some guidance on this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tugadude Report post Posted April 27, 2023 I don't think you have to limit yourself to chrome tanned leather. There's plenty of soft vegetable tanned leather. Also, if you are concerned about a potential interaction you could always wrap the handle in tape before wrapping in leather. That way the two, the aluminum and the leather are separate. You could also dip the handle in Plasti-Dip and then wrap. I like the idea of using a leather wrap because, hey, that's what we do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gezzer Report post Posted April 27, 2023 Another non-slip option is split or suede or roughout veg tan . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 27, 2023 (edited) Yes. I agree. I like the idea of a leather wrap too, Tugadude. About the soft veg tanned leathers, I am not yet familiar with the different types. I have only come across the milled leather scraps from Tandy. This is a chance to learn about them. I think I will call Springfield leather and discus it with them. I am looking up Plasti-dip as well. It would be the perfect solution. Seeing different Aluminium articles and the way they corrode and stain, I will at least not have to worry about that. Thank you Tugadude. Edited April 27, 2023 by SUP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuck123wapati Report post Posted April 27, 2023 30 minutes ago, SUP said: I bought a hand-made round knife on a whim, as it was reasonably priced. It is wicked sharp right out of the box and it does not appear to have been recently sharpened or stropped. It has a flat Aluminium handle and I am concerned it might slip when I am using it. I would like to wrap it in leather. I am not sure of the type of leather to use. It has to be soft enough to wrap. Will chrome-tanned leather work or will it damage the Aluminium in the long run? Has anyone had experience with that metal encased in Chrome-tanned leather? If not chrome-tanned leather, what other type of leather would work for wrapping a knife handle? I have only just started leatherworking about 4 months ago so am still learning about the best uses for different leathers. I know a wooden handle would be best but I have no experience in woodworking. So wrapping seems the best option. I would appreciate some guidance on this. use thin veg tan and you can wrap it like a bicycle handle bar. I added the link for some ideas on how you might attach it and the different styles that you can use. https://blog.walnutstudiolo.com/2020/01/15/diy-leather-wraps-on-anything-using-our-bicycle-bar-wraps/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 27, 2023 Thank you chuck123wapati. That is a great article. I especially like the ones which use thicker strips! 11 minutes ago, Gezzer said: Another non-slip option is split or suede or roughout veg tan . I like the idea of split or roughout veg tan - for friction - but suede might absorb things on my hands. Are splits and roughout veg tans as absorbent as well? That is my concern. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuck123wapati Report post Posted April 27, 2023 you can also wrap it in round leather or paracord is always good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 27, 2023 What is round leather? Oh I see. The round leather cord. Yes I can do that but will it be tight enough on a flat handle? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuck123wapati Report post Posted April 27, 2023 7 minutes ago, SUP said: What is round leather? Oh I see. The round leather cord. Yes I can do that but will it be tight enough on a flat handle? yes it would get tight enough if its the right shape of handle. i cant see your handle to say which would work the best, just giving you some ideas to get started with. saying how you get it to stay on is going to be the hard part without knowing the shape. is it teardrop shaped and flat on the sides or just rectangular? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 27, 2023 Yes. I had to resize the photographs before I could upload them. Here they are now. It has a flat, straight handle - a rectangular piece of metal which is only shaped at the area where it is screwed into the blade. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gezzer Report post Posted April 28, 2023 7 hours ago, SUP said: Thank you chuck123wapati. That is a great article. I especially like the ones which use thicker strips! I like the idea of split or roughout veg tan - for friction - but suede might absorb things on my hands. Are splits and roughout veg tans as absorbent as well? That is my concern. I am of the opinion that any leather you might use will absorb things , but I may be wrong . After seeing your knife I would look for a local knife maker and see about maybe trading out some work ( ie he shapes and scales your knife and you do some leather work in return ) being located in Georgia there should be one near by Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tugadude Report post Posted April 28, 2023 Yeah, that puppy needs a little work. You want a bit more thickness as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 28, 2023 Thank you for that input, Gezzer and Tugadude. What you say makes sense but I am so new to leatherworking, I will probably have to pay the knife maker. Not skilled enough yet to trade leatherwork.. I will look for someone and see how it goes. That knife is so sharp and a pleasure to use I don't want to just keep it aside. New to Georgia too for that matter so a bit of a search for a local knife maker is in store for me. LOL Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gezzer Report post Posted April 28, 2023 https://forum.gon.com/forums/hobbies-crafts-and-homebrew-discussions.41/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 28, 2023 Thank you Gezzer! Appreciate that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dikman Report post Posted April 28, 2023 Another possibility is to glue a couple of pieces of hard leather to each side of the handle, to bulk it out, shape the corners with a knife or file then glue a wrapping piece around it, using thinner leather. Or just glue a piece of wood each side and file to shape, finish off with linseed oil, or wax or polyurethane. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuck123wapati Report post Posted April 28, 2023 15 hours ago, SUP said: Yes. I had to resize the photographs before I could upload them. Here they are now. It has a flat, straight handle - a rectangular piece of metal which is only shaped at the area where it is screwed into the blade. not what i pictured from a knife maker. interesting design. I take it you may have limited tools for wood working or metal so... I would do this get two pieces of wood of some type about 3/8ths " thick glue them to the sides of the metal and shape them and the metal with a file to a shape pleasing to you and your hand then wrap them with flat leather strap or flat paracord. You pull out the inside of the paracord to make it flat. You could even make the handle interior out leather if you have no wood. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 28, 2023 That's a good idea dikman and chuck123wapati. Actually the handle is quite thick (not visible in the photographs) and I can hold it but because of the angular faces, it is not too comfortable. My concern is that it might slip. So the wood or leather on either side - I can certainly do that. How do I get hard leather though? Is it available? Will soaking and drying make it hard - like when wet molding? I have found a bag that is absolutely hard - like cardboard and there is nothing needed to stiffen it. So something similar. I could not find anything like it in Tandy though, even when I asked, back in January. They could not even explain how to make leather hard in a similar way. I am thinking of gluing wood or leather on either side and then covering it with something waterproof - wood and leather can both rot if wet and it will get wet when sharpening the knife, since I use water on my whetstones. On top of the waterproof layer, I can wrap thinner leather of any sort, to get it to a shape that is convenient to hold. At the most if it gets mold, I can re-wrap and do not have to do the entire thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlZilla Report post Posted April 28, 2023 @SUP I've got some 1911 grip blanks that claim to be coco bolo. I'll have to dig them out, but if they'd fit for you, I can mail you a couple on Monday. Just flat pieces of wood, no holes drilled or anything. PM me a mailing address, if interested. No cost and not worth messing with the small cost of postage - I've been on the receiving end of enough things like this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlZilla Report post Posted April 28, 2023 5 hours ago, SUP said: How do I get hard leather though? Wetting the leather (veg tan) and letting it dry hardens it, usually. Hot water makes it even harder in my limited experiments. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doubleh Report post Posted April 28, 2023 (edited) On 4/27/2023 at 1:30 PM, SUP said: Yes. I agree. I like the idea of a leather wrap too, Tugadude. About the soft veg tanned leathers, I am not yet familiar with the different types. I have only come across the milled leather scraps from Tandy. This is a chance to learn about them. I think I will call Springfield leather and discus it with them. I am looking up Plasti-dip as well. It would be the perfect solution. Seeing different Aluminium articles and the way they corrode and stain, I will at least not have to worry about that. Thank you Tugadude. I would do the plasti-dip. It's quick, easy to grip, and easily redone if dinged. Edited April 28, 2023 by doubleh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 28, 2023 I will have to reshape it to get a more comfortable hold. So maybe the wood first and then the Plasti-dip? Yes AlZilla. I would appreciate the grip blanks. I will send you my address separately. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 28, 2023 (edited) ALthough I like a wooden handle and do not want to cover it with anything. Edited April 28, 2023 by SUP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bladegrinder Report post Posted April 29, 2023 Are you near Bainbridge? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 29, 2023 (edited) Afraid not. That is 4 1/2 hours away. Edited April 29, 2023 by SUP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
