I got nearly complete knife i forged from old nicholson file.  it is full tang and was wondering if anybody here has made stacked leather handle seperate then cut in half to make a set of scales? would appreciate any knowledge that may help. thanks

I've never done or seen it done but you could probably just stack squares together glued and clamp. Then like you said cut and try it out. You may have better luck if you make the layers thin and cut them in to scale size sections then glue, like micarta. That way you don't have to deal with the layers splitting and it should hold a river better. I'm curious to see how it works and you can't beat a good leather handle. You could also layer different colors together to get a diamond wood effect.

Stacked leather is usually done on rat-tail tangs, just like antler. Soak each disk in epoxy, stack, clamp tight with slotted C-clamp or even in a drill press until dry for a bomb-proof handle.

Cut in half and glued? You would be gluing glue, does not seem stable.

 

Western knife has or had a patent on a leather stacked split tang. The tang is visible on the top and bottom of the handle eith leather stacked up the sides. The leather pieces look like a rounded H with the bar of the H slipping between the two parts of the tang.

i have seen leather glued like slabs on a knife so I think the advice above would work with modern glues.

If I wanted to do that I would have it stabilized. That way it would hold up better.  Ed

thanks for replies. the stabilized sounds real good. i was originally thinking polyurethane. i'm still thinking it through but going to give something a shot starting sunday when i get extended shop time. i will get pics here if something works out.

On 11/26/2015, 3:32:49, flemish said:

If I wanted to do that I would have it stabilized. That way it would hold up better.  Ed

Ditto on that. I'd be worried about unstabilized leather splitting.