T.J.watts Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Charles asked me to rebuild his old Kabar in return for making me a sheath for my last blade, so here is the pics through the process.After disassembling the handle I soaked in vinegar and cleaned it with a wire wheel, then cut off an inch or so and went to the belt sander. The new guard is just a36 drilled and filed to fit the tang. All of the other pieces are original. I removed about 3/4'' from the tang, drilled the new pin hole and removed some of the leather discs. After reshaping the pommel and checking the final fit was the heat treat. The final assembly was with 2500lb. epoxy the pinned the pommel and piened the tang over. Sanded the leather from 220 to 600 then hand polished. The final dimensions are 5" blade and 4.375 handle. I did not want to make the knife look new but instead wanted to keep the antique look so the blade and components were only sanded to 220 then quenched in oil and lightly polished to 600 by hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 (edited) Thanks TJ, figure a knife ment to keep a jarhead alive and take the abuse they dish out has survived the neglect that knife has seen, an old grunt wont be able to tear it up, and it will be there when I need it. Despite being Army, a K-Bar lived on my webgear many a mile. Tho it still showes it's military bones, your moddification of the hilt should bring it to hand well, the new gaurd is also much more substanial and of a civilian bent, and the new and shorter blade profile still has the versitility to go from can opener to defensive tool.I will, in homor of your work endever to keep the can opening to a bare minimum however. For once, Army gets a Marine hand-me-down Edited September 28, 2015 by Charles R. Stevens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.J.watts Posted September 28, 2015 Author Share Posted September 28, 2015 well I appreciate the minimum can opening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch4ging Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 (edited) Nice job restoring T.J.! Whats not to like...I like the profile, blade length and new guard! Will be a good user now!Charles, are you going to do a new sheath now to match? That newly profiled blade would have been a real nice carry for us grunts back in the day... ( i think you said you where 11B also?)Anyway, nice score! Edited September 28, 2015 by mitch4ging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 11E9, but I humped a lot with the Brovoes, or was used as a brovo, when the company needed muscle. As that was benieth the scouts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch4ging Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 (edited) Well at least you got your exercise with us! : ) combat arms are combat arms... all on the front.Anyway , nice knife! Don't want to derail ya'lls thread!Also just noticed TJ's another Okie! I gotta get on here mire often. Hope to see you guys some day at a Saltgrass event.Mitch Edited September 28, 2015 by mitch4ging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 That's a good story of the restoration of someone's proud possession, you probably got more enjoyment out of that job than making a new knife especially with the results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 proud to poses it, lol as soon as TJ and I make an Illisit traid in a dimly lit parking lot... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Nice restoration. It's good to see a fine tool brought back to life.Just no details about any illicit trade you two ply in back alleys. . . Please! Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 TJ lost patience in making a a sheith for his first knife made on his 2x72" grinder. So Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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