Ways to secure pommel

S

Seeleybc1

Joined
Apr 5, 2022
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Afternoon,

So as said already in a different thread, I’ve been going through a bit of a re-discovery so to speak with all things knives. Basically just starting to tinker with some knife making, and just joined this forum about a week ago.
I recently received a TK Steingass blade that is probably my favorite knife I’ve ever owned, and in a way I’ll blame him for the current obsession, lol.
Ive also been taking inspiration from classics like Randall, and the
partially Scagel inspired Treeman/J Behring.
My knife making set up is crude at best, but I’m having fun with it, and that’s as far as I plan on taking it.

Anyways, getting to my question, I’ve noticed on the Steingass, quite a few Treeman knives, and an option on Randall’s is a thinner, maybe 1/8” or 3/16” flat plate seen on the pommel end of stag handles. Brass/steel/whatever to match the guard.
Im just curious what the various ways of attaching these caps might be?

I really like the look, and through discussion with TK, I’m pretty sure I know how he did his, which was an epoxy/multiple perpendicular pin technique. This makes plenty of sense to me.

Anyone else have anything that’s worked or hasn’t worked for them? just trying to learn here. I think I’ll try it on one of mine I’ve been working on.

thanks!
Ben
 
I think what you are asking about is not a pommel. At least on Randalls a decorative plate that can be ordered to dress up the end of the antler. The tang does not come in contact with the plate. Im pretty sure they are epoxied on.

View attachment 1789082
 
Eveled,
Yep that’s exactly what I’m referring too.
I think I described it correctly/referred to it correctly in my post, but wasn’t sure what to call it, lol…
I guess “cap” or “butt plate” as Randall calls it is more clear.

Thanks for the response.

Just thinking aloud… I wonder if little flat head wood screws, matching whatever material you’re using would work almost better than pins?

The threads would allow a mechanical lock in the epoxy, and the chamfered/angled screw head might fit niceley into a countersunk hole in the plate, then ground or filed flush with the plate. Would be a mechanical lock on both sides.
 
well it could be machined out of solid bar to a T shape and threaded inside as a cap. 1 piece construction (strongest)
it could be brazed onto the brass end cap. second strongest
epoxied in place maybe /kinda doubtfull . as grinding it to shape could easily exceed the temperature holding strength of the epoxy..
 
I can definitely see why an endcap would be needed on normal antler with a lot of pith.
A6437AA9-530C-4936-8C85-FA4AE17CDA48.jpeg

I’ve never understood why Randall installs end caps. They use Sambar Stag. Look how dense the centers are, with almost no pith.

On the mine without the caps the ends are not just chamfered around the edges, but also aren’t flat.

view


My sons Randall has the brass cap. So the handle end is completely flat. Interesting that it will stand up straight on the buttcap without falling over. Not sure if they all do that?

view


Sorry I dont have better pictures of tge end cap or of it standing up.
 
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It is called a butt plate or butt cap (depending on how thick it is.
I make this on stag handles. I braze (hard silver solder) a screw or bolt on the back of the plate. Drill a hole for the screw/bolt in the stag and epoxy the plate in place. Shape to fit the stag. My friend, Don, etches his makers mark in the brass butt plate.

Tempting as it is, don't use soft solder. It will not survive the shaping and polishing heat.

Another method is to thread the end of the tang and braze a threaded tube or nut on the butt plate. Shorten the tang so the plate screws down tight against the handle and locks the handle on solidly. After assembly, shape to fit the stag handle.
 
Awesome guys, very neat.

It’s nice to see the butt ends of the Randall’s. That’s a view seldom seen, and shows how they must plug the blood vein hole with epoxy putty or something. But yea, compared to elk for example, quite different in the pith department.
I myself don’t mind the look of the uncapped stag, like on a standard Randall stag handle. I like that. But I think the butt cap looks good too, like it gives it a “completed” look for lack of a better term
 
I just put this together this evening, good timing!
tPVmX1M.jpg

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Oh wow ok cool. So that’s the tang I assume, will you then peen that further? It’s obviously been a proven method, but man I’d be nervous hitting a near finished knife. It definitely won’t/can’t go anywhere though once secured
 
Seeleybc1 said:
Oh wow ok cool. So that’s the tang I assume, will you then peen that further? It’s obviously been a proven method, but man I’d be nervous hitting a near finished knife. It definitely won’t/can’t go anywhere though once secured
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yeah, I'll grind it down so it's not so proud and then peen it slightly. It's A2 so they metal won't be moving much, the friction fit and epoxy will be doing most of the work holding things together. I could probably get away with grinding it flush and leaving it
 
Lorien said:
yeah, I'll grind it down so it's not so proud and then peen it slightly. It's A2 so they metal won't be moving much, the friction fit and epoxy will be doing most of the work holding things together. I could probably get away with grinding it flush and leaving it
Click to expand...
Maybe you can make a deep notch with cutting disk on Dremel and then use chisel to open both sides and then gently peen it ?
VdzDN9k.jpg
 
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