finally got around to makin one for me here she is

[Gibbo]

this one started out life as a leaf spring thought id turn it into a little survival type of knife,i had made up some homemade micarta for the handle but had a brainwave and decided to try some bike tyre tread i epoxied them on and it shaped well on the bench sander overall im happy with the outcome it fits beautifully in the hand and very grippy.comments and criticism welcome cheers.

[yesteryearforge]

Good Job I especially like the tire tread handle idea

[pkrankow]

Nice looking knife.

I would never have thought of tire tread, even though I see the practical aspect of it now that it is used. After shaping and cleaning does the tire tread stop transferring black?

Phil

[Brasilikilt]

Wow, I love the tire tread idea.....I will have to stea- er borrow that idea someday!

[Gibbo]

thanks all and phil after sanding and cleaning there is no transferance from the tread. i just finished the sheath its made from poor mans kydex (pvc pipe),you just heat it up and mould to shape,i gave it some camo colouring it turned out better than i expected here is some pics, cheers

[pkrankow]

Please share how you manipulate PVC so much. Nicely done.

Phil

[caotropheus]

Gibbo,

Nice knife and nice idea that on pieces of tyre as scales for the handle. I have to agree with Phil, that I would never, ever thought on that possibility. You simply glued the scales and that's it? Did you try to reinforce the scales grip to the handle with rivets or bolts and nuts?

I think that from now on we are going to have many knives with "tyre scales" as grip material ! ;)

[Robakyo]

Very nice knife. I, too, really like the tire tread idea! I can see where the holes in the tang "might" create a durable bond, linking the two scales. I don't know anything about the ultimate longevity of epoxy, so I couldn't say, being the utter novice that I am. What kind of epoxy did you use?

The scales are unique to my experience. That was quite the brain-wave you had. The PVC sheath is another item I need to explore. Maybe you could call the scales "Gibbo Grips". Thanks for sharing. - Robert

[Stormcrow]

Tire tread handle slabs has been an idea I've encountered a couple different places in the last month (just the idea, not execution), but using bike tread is genius! I could see this beneath a paracord ito wrap. I am so going to have to try that!

[Gibbo]

Thanks again, "Gibbo grips" that's got a ring to it.the epoxy I used is called araldite it's made by selleys here in Oz ,I had holes in the handle and made sure to rough up the handle and inside the treads then mixed some epoxy slapped it on the handle and all in the holes slapped some on the scales waited a minute then lined them up clamped em and hoped for the best I wasn't sure wether I needed to rivet or bolt but when I unclamped the peice it had bonded brilliantly I can't pull them off so I didn't bother riveting or bolting.as for the PVC I had some 24mm Id PVC pipe layin around I cut just over half the diameter down the pipe about 100mm long for the belt loop and measured from ricasso to tip of blade marked it on the pipe adding a little extra and cut off then heated it up using my butane torch but a heat gun will do, continue heating until it's soft then squash i just used a peice of timber so not to burn my hands,while it was soft I inserted my knife so it could form to shape my blade width is 35 mm keep in mind that the Id of the pipe was 24mm it just fit ,there is a way of workin out what the id will be when squashed but I don't know it I was just lucky,anyways pretty much once it is heated it's like putty in your hands but it does get hard again within about 10 sec so be quick, the design possibilities are endless so enjoy and cheers and now I need a beer

[cal-k]

Brilliant brainwave on the grips there, look very technical.