- Joined
- Mar 10, 2020
- Messages
- 188
My latest project, a 1219C2 rebuild, April 1943-mid 1944.(?)
This is how it was when I got it.
Blade shows a little rusting, tang has some pitting.
Blade is stamped KA-BAR on one side, small USMC on the other.
Note the radius corners.
New rebuild kit from Ka-Bar. I will not be using the new guard,pommel,spacers or pin, just the washers as the originals are just fine.
Note, the pommel will not fit this tang without modification.
Also, the oval molded rear spacer will force me to make a handle shape like the current version of this knife, I don't want that.
By using a "Master" handle (borrowed from my friend Zanussi01) I can create a much nicer handle shape.
I place one Master washer on the tang, then one from the kit. Trace around it, remove and number, repeat until all are used.
Custom black spacers were made for each end.
All done, ready for shaping.
Knockometer (hammer) has two uses on this build.
One is to tap the new washers on behind the master ones when tracing.
The other is a my "burnishing stick" a little later.
Handle assembled. Not glue but "Lanolin" (wool grease) between each washer.
The late Keith Spencer put me onto this stuff. He was the Australasian KA-BAR dealer since the mid 80's until his passing some years ago.
A knife nut, great ambassador and walking encyclopedia for the KA-BAR brand, and also just a great bloke that is much missed.
Sanding down the high spots and shaping the sides.
Marking the groove spacings.
Initial cutting of the grooves is done with the saw on my Swiss Army knife Huntsman, is there nothing a sak cant do?
Triangle file to open up the grooves a bit more.
Finish with small round file 5/32.
Burnished up with knockometer handle, slightly dampen handle before starting for best results.
From there, buff with beeswax.
Colour in the grooves (I used a black oil marker pen)
20 Degrees per side on the diamonds for hair popping sharpness.
New sheath and she's all ready to go.
Halving up some oranges, juice will add its own patina.
Sweet juice and a sweet knife.
This is how it was when I got it.
Blade shows a little rusting, tang has some pitting.
Blade is stamped KA-BAR on one side, small USMC on the other.
Note the radius corners.
New rebuild kit from Ka-Bar. I will not be using the new guard,pommel,spacers or pin, just the washers as the originals are just fine.
Note, the pommel will not fit this tang without modification.
Also, the oval molded rear spacer will force me to make a handle shape like the current version of this knife, I don't want that.
By using a "Master" handle (borrowed from my friend Zanussi01) I can create a much nicer handle shape.
I place one Master washer on the tang, then one from the kit. Trace around it, remove and number, repeat until all are used.
Custom black spacers were made for each end.
All done, ready for shaping.
Knockometer (hammer) has two uses on this build.
One is to tap the new washers on behind the master ones when tracing.
The other is a my "burnishing stick" a little later.
Handle assembled. Not glue but "Lanolin" (wool grease) between each washer.
The late Keith Spencer put me onto this stuff. He was the Australasian KA-BAR dealer since the mid 80's until his passing some years ago.
A knife nut, great ambassador and walking encyclopedia for the KA-BAR brand, and also just a great bloke that is much missed.
Sanding down the high spots and shaping the sides.
Marking the groove spacings.
Initial cutting of the grooves is done with the saw on my Swiss Army knife Huntsman, is there nothing a sak cant do?
Triangle file to open up the grooves a bit more.
Finish with small round file 5/32.
Burnished up with knockometer handle, slightly dampen handle before starting for best results.
From there, buff with beeswax.
Colour in the grooves (I used a black oil marker pen)
20 Degrees per side on the diamonds for hair popping sharpness.
New sheath and she's all ready to go.
Halving up some oranges, juice will add its own patina.
Sweet juice and a sweet knife.
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