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I've got a couple milsurp M-2 fighting knives - both are Camilus manufacture. One is my garage knife - for when you need something beefy out in the garage or yard. Well the leather rings on the grip have shrunk and become brittle, and one distingrated so it's patched up with jute winding filler and a couple duct tape strips to fasten it all back down.

I know they make replacement grip kits, but they're pretty crude and you have to do all the shaping, smoothing, sanding and tooling work yourself. Basically it looks like they provide uniform circular disks that you shape after breaking the knife down, stacking them on the tang and re-pinning the hilt. Looks like a labor of love.

Has anyone here attempted this or seen it done to where they have some pointers? I think I'd be willing to pay to have this done by someone with the right skills - assuming the service exists. Any help or direction appreciated.

Quack

I've got a couple milsurp M-2 fighting knives - both are Camilus manufacture. One is my garage knife - for when you need something beefy out in the garage or yard. Well the leather rings on the grip have shrunk and become brittle, and one distingrated so it's patched up with jute winding filler and a couple duct tape strips to fasten it all back down. I know they make replacement grip kits, but they're pretty crude and you have to do all the shaping, smoothing, sanding and tooling work yourself. Basically it looks like they provide uniform circular disks that you shape after breaking the knife down, stacking them on the tang and re-pinning the hilt. Looks like a labor of love. Has anyone here attempted this or seen it done to where they have some pointers? I think I'd be willing to pay to have this done by someone with the right skills - assuming the service exists. Any help or direction appreciated. Quack
[–] • 2 pts

Sorry to say I can be of no help here. But please take some Before pictures and post them with some After pictures when it's done!

[–] • 1 pt

no help here

Damn. And here I am without opposable thumbs feathers...

[–] • 2 pts

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[–] • 0 pt

If only there was a video site where people did things and talked about it and showed others how to do.

If only…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F9OuDACsAdI&ra=m

It took me 2 seconds. I expect more from the duck.

[–] • 0 pt

I've researched it and viewed vids previously. The issue is the compression of the rings. That and contouring and finishing them. I have no doubt I could figure it out, but the learning curve to do one is steep. Now if I had a half dozen, then maybe. Parts kits are only $7 on Kabar's site. I actually just read that using a formed miacarta replacement might be a better utilitarian solution. Thought maybe I'd get some feedback like that here. Surely there's a poaler here mad knife making skills? Maybe not.

The blade is nicked up a bit and I don't have the original scabbard, so this isn't a museum piece. It's a utilitarian knife that resides in my garage in an oiled cardboard sheath. Suitable for pruning, digging, splitting green black walnuts in half (yesterdays chore whence the handle went fubar) and sharp and big enough to potentially render defensive aid in a pinch. Here a pic after I filled the void from the missing leather with wound jute and secured it with duct tape strips. Purple duct tape was handy - remnants from Mrs. Duck's Girl Scout leader days. Got small rolls of every color under the sun except silver and black. Even have one with bacon. Should get some with ducks on it...

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[–] • 1 pt

Ok I won’t be snarky.

From my experience the trick is wet. When I made pocket holsters for my keltec p32 with a j hook I hated all of them so made my own.

I personally used 91% alcohol to wet the leather then nailed the leather to a piece of plywood, then formed by hand. I used alcohol so it would not rust the weapon.

For many things you can just use water, but for a knife I’d consider alcohol also.

My option is “tightness” is not as important as consistent tight wraps. Get it wrapped “tight enough” under pulle/tie the last bit, the saturate in alcohol. The leather will shrink and then get much tighter.

Is not cut my own leather unless you have that device that cuts perfect strips.

Tandy leather still has some stores around (love them) and you can just buy it in strips like shoe laces.

I also might consider horse hide, my final pocket holsters was that. The molded side was skin side, then a flat horse hide no pronounced stitching and smooth so it just looked like a smooth pocket.