Cattaraugus Rebuild

[OLDE CUTLER]

I had picked up this Cattaraugus 32029 Sowbelly at a flea market a couple of months ago. After mulling the options I decided to do a rebuild, but try to keep the original bone handles even though they had cracks and pieces missing. The master blade was broken and the spay had been replaced with a different blade that didn't belong to the knife prior to my ownership. An AAPK member Ridgegrass suppied a catalog picture of the original knife and blades (thanks Ridgegrass that was very helpful), see pic here viewtopic.php?t=84921 as well as pic of the original knife, 2 new blades were made from 1095 bar stock. The bone handles were patched with Acra Glas, and everything reassembled. My first Sowbelly now as an EDC. Below is a short section on the process used to cut the pulls on the newly made blades, viewtopic.php?t=85048This process of using the Dremel cut off wheel has evolved over the last few years.

The blade well is pretty much packed on this one. The spay had to be carefully crinked to get everything back in.

The 2 newly made blades

[glennbad]

Wow, you put a lot of work into that. Very nice end result!

[1967redrider]

Awesome job, OC.

[doglegg]

Totally amazing O C. You are a true Craftsman.

[Jeffinn]

What a great looking knife! Excellent job OC!
Jeff

[Bloodhound]

Beautiful work...the long way around...but it is a beauty!

[OLDE CUTLER]

Thanks for the comments guys. Was this project overkill of an otherwise decrepit old knife? Absolutely. However due to circumstances of me being on what is basically confined to quarters for the past month and with 2 more to go, I have exhausted my supply of old knives to work on with this one shown. I guess I will have time now to catch up on the wood carving. Left hip replacement is on the schedule, but not until Aug 7. Going to be a long 2 months.

[Nev52]

Great looking knife The blades are perfect. I know that was a lot of work but you have to be pleased with the way it turned out. Good luck on the hip replacement .

Nev

[danno50]

Beautiful work Olde Cutler! I have a few questions about making new blades. Do you use old saw blades and grind them slowly and carefully so to not overheat. Or do you use new steel and harden it after finishing the blade? Do you cut them out on a band saw, or do it by hand with a jeweller's saw.
Thanks

[OLDE CUTLER]

Beautiful work Olde Cutler! I have a few questions about making new blades. Do you use old saw blades and grind them slowly and carefully so to not overheat. Or do you use new steel and harden it after finishing the blade? Do you cut them out on a band saw, or do it by hand with a jeweller's saw.
Thanks

I use 1095 bar stock, cut them out with a recip metal saw or angle grinder with cutoff wheel. Then I cut the bevels with a file jig and then heat treat the blades.

[American Blade 92]

Nice work!!
Glad to see the old soldier marches again!

[danno50]

I use 1095 bar stock, cut them out with a recip metal saw or angle grinder with cutoff wheel. Then I cut the bevels with a file jig and then heat treat the blades.

Thank you for the reply. I don't think I am ready to start making blades yet.

[Froe]

Wow OC. That’s really nice. Good job.
Froe

[orvet]

Great work. I am fond of old Catt bone, so I understand why you kept it.