I fixed up a broke 94 OT

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Meridian_Mike
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I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Meridian_Mike »

I actually got a few minutes away from my "honey-do" project and got a chance to get in my shop yesterday.
I got this Old Timer a few weeks ago that had a broken swenden pin in front and the main blade had jumped off the track. The blades looked nice and full so I bought it. I figured it needed a new set of scales and a good pinning to get her going again.

Just after I got the knife disassembled and cleaned a bit, I decided I wanted to put some deer antler on it for new scales.
Here she is all broken down and cleaned up a bit. I cut 4 pieces of deer antler as flat as I could so I might have a couple of good ones to choose from.
IMG_5359.JPG
The lower 2 pieces turned out to be the only ones I could get to fit. I still didn't get as good a fit as I would like but.....Oh well...
Here is a couple of poor pictures of the end result. She walks and talks once again!
IMG_5363.JPG
IMG_5362.JPG
Kinda favors an Uncle Henry now. SO, does that mean it's an Old Henry....

Mike
:D
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doglegg
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by doglegg »

That antler looks really good Mike. A really great job. Thanks for sharing. ::nod:: ::nod:: ::handshake::
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Jeffinn
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Jeffinn »

That turned out great! The antler looks really good.
Jeff
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Meridian_Mike »

Thanks guys....
I am not exactly pleased with the out come. The fit of the scales is much less than I wanted. The antler is straight off an old hunter's rack. I have a lot of practice to do to get better at fitting scales between bolsters.
But the usability is back..... full sharp blades and she snaps open and closed real nicely.

She will tote pretty nice!

:)
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Beavertail
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Beavertail »

That is beautiful! ::tu::
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

Looks great, it is always hard to beat stag when rehandling. ::tu::
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orvet
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by orvet »

I would say you did very well with the antler you had to work with.
IMHO, the artistry of working with stag is to make the best handle possible from the piece of antler you are using. That takes a lot of practice even just using precut slabs. There is a whole new level of difficulty involved when you are cutting the slabs as well!

I expect you are like I am, my own worst critic, when it comes to looking at a knife I have worked on. I see flaws no one else sees because I know they're there.

The knife looks better than you think it does!
Great job! ::tu::
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Meridian_Mike »

Thanks everyone!

And thanks for the confidence booster Dale!

::tu::
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orvet
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by orvet »

You earned it Mike. ::tu::
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Tony_Wood
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Tony_Wood »

Good job Mike.
Working from raw materials is a chore.
Looks good from here.
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Meridian_Mike »

Thanks Tony!

::tu::
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
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cody6268
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by cody6268 »

That is gorgeous! I've been meaning to have a 34OT (my first; and favorite Schrade) done up in stag.
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Meridian_Mike »

cody6268 wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2019 3:41 pm I've been meaning to have a 34OT (my first; and favorite Schrade) done up in stag.
My collection started MANY years ago with Old Timers.
I have just about all the Old Timers (made it the USA) so now I am going back and picking up some of my favorites and putting on new bone scales. It's a fun exercise and I am learning a lot with each attempt.

I now have a stack of knives I want to do as projects..... It's hard to figure out which is next.....LOL.
I am thinking next will be a TL-29..... More FUN!!
:D
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Doc B
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Doc B »

Looks pretty darn good, to me! ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
What did you cut the antler with?
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Meridian_Mike »

Doc B wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2019 3:53 pm Looks pretty darn good, to me! ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
What did you cut the antler with?
I zipped some pieces off with my band saw. It's not all that easy, really, with these ole Mississippi white tail antlers. You have to commit yourself early by loping off a piece and then trying to find a sorta straight surface to put against the fence.
I discovered with this attempt that I need to try to get some longer pieces (if I can) to start with. Time you sand the back side to make it flat, you sometimes end up with a piece you can't use.
I wanted to use the more gnarly pieces this time but it just wasn't in the cards. I ruined the first one in a HURRY.... LOL.
You get a bunch of old antler sets and you think you really have something. Then you start looking at where you can cut to get a slab..... then the fun starts.....LOL.

:lol:
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Doc B
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Doc B »

I've never tried cutting antler. I have a couple of white-tail and a nice axis piece. I don't have a band saw...and even if I did...like Dale said, cutting it, takes it to a whole new level of difficulty! Again, awesome job, Mike! ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Meridian_Mike »

Thanks Doc!

::tu::
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herbva
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by herbva »

Wow, that knife really, really looks sweet Mike! I'm going to have to give antler a try. If I come across any that have been shed in the woods, or maybe off a fresh kill, do I need let them cure for a certain period of time before I try cutting? (I do expect to ruin quite a few in the learning process.) Best regards. Herb
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by stockman »

Mike that is really nice. I wish I could do repairs that nice.

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Meridian_Mike
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Meridian_Mike »

Hey Herb....
I can't speak with any authority concerning whether the antler needs to cure or not. All that I was given had to be 5 to 8 years old.... maybe older. This guy had a LOAD of antlers from deer he and his kids had harvested. I tried to pick some of what I thought was best. I was looking mostly at the outside "finish" of the antlers for a gnarly, rough and cool look. I probably need to look for some of the straighter pieces if I get a chance to go back.

Good luck with your antlers!

::tu::
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Meridian_Mike »

stockman wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2019 6:37 pm Mike that is really nice. I wish I could do repairs that nice.

Harold
Hey dude... get you some of the "lost causes" off the bay and go to work! It sure is fun to get a poor old knife and make it better by cleaning!
It's fun and if you mess up one (or several...) just learn and keep pushing forward!

Mike
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Reverand »

I feel your pain on trying to get a good slab cut out of Whitetail antler! That stuff is all curves, and it is amazingly hard to get decent scales out of them. I typically waste much more than I use.
But I also feel a bit of envy on how well yours turned out!
You made it look really nice!
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Everything else is just a hobby.

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Meridian_Mike
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Meridian_Mike »

Thanks Reverand!

::tu::
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
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glennbad
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by glennbad »

That looks pretty darn tasty, nice work!
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: I fixed up a broke 94 OT

Post by Meridian_Mike »

LOL.... tasty.... Thanks Glenn!
(Nah, tasted like old newsprint)

::tu::
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
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