Soon after checking out the Bushcraft UK website and after all the good ideas and information Ive seen on the site, I decided to purchase and rehandle a couple of Mora Clippers for my boys for Christmas. Here is the result. This mini tutorial is a bit of a thanks for all the ideas this site has shared with me
1. I bought a number of Mora clippers this one is stainless. Wrapped the blade up in tape to protect it and protect me (they are sharp!)
2. Ran a band saw down the handle and popped the handle off. Decided since this is my first attempt at rehandling Id use the same handle design. Voila an instant template. Dont forget to grind down the backs of the knife blade to get a nice ninety-degree edge for your fire steel. The way the Mora comes, it needs a little work.
4. Didnt like the idea of rehandling without a pin in the hidden tang. Wrapped the blade and as much of the tang as possible with a sopping wet cloth and used a torch to anneal the metal in the tang to be able to drill it without ruining the temper of the blade. The result is below.
5. I fit two pieces of ebony for the bolsters. Marked and drilled them out. Used a fret saw to cut out the hole to fit the tang and then needle files to give her a nice fit. Used a couple pieces of scrap maple I had in the shop. Sanded the pieces on a disk sander, but a glass plate with sandpaper would do the trick. Sanded the ebony and Maple to fit nice and snug. Used a dremel to score the tang for the epoxy to hold on to.
6. Milled out the tang area using a drill press and milling cutter. A sharp knife would work but this gave me a nice fit.
8. Made a jig to glue up the handles. Threaded rod, washers, nuts and scrap wood. Notice the pin I used. (it was just a nail. Not a fancy mosaic pin. I think Ill try that later. Since this is my first attempt). Used a long curing epoxy.
9. Measured the dimensions of the knife handle from the original Clipper handle. And cut. Watch out for the pin. Used a hacksaw there.
10. BE BOLD! Use a rasp and then sand to dimensions. Its easy to get a fat handle. So go by the measurements, not by your eye. Use what ever handle dimensions you like.
11. Used Danish oil for a finish and then Carnuba wax on top to give a hard finish.
12. Finished knives.
13. Comparison of original and rehandled.
13. Next came the sheath making. I used the tutorials found in this website. I added the fire steels into the sheath design. I hot waxed the sheaths using beeswax and an old hairdryer. It worked great. The pic below shows how Ive used shock cord to make sure there was a positive lock on the fire steel. Not sure how this will work with our Canadian winters but will find out. Shock cord is used most commonly on clothing and tent poles.
14. Here are the completed knives. Oh yeah, I like flintknapping too.
Comparison of original and rehandled Mora Clipper and sheaths.
My sons thought they were great. They had great fun collecting tinder and lighting fires etc.
Finally below is a little more experimentation with another smaller Mora. Whitetail deer antler end, ebony and moose antler spacers and boxwood middle portion. Now I have to make a sheath for it and my new F1.
THANKS FOR ALL THE IDEAS Hope this helps someone.
Stoneraven
1. I bought a number of Mora clippers this one is stainless. Wrapped the blade up in tape to protect it and protect me (they are sharp!)
2. Ran a band saw down the handle and popped the handle off. Decided since this is my first attempt at rehandling Id use the same handle design. Voila an instant template. Dont forget to grind down the backs of the knife blade to get a nice ninety-degree edge for your fire steel. The way the Mora comes, it needs a little work.
4. Didnt like the idea of rehandling without a pin in the hidden tang. Wrapped the blade and as much of the tang as possible with a sopping wet cloth and used a torch to anneal the metal in the tang to be able to drill it without ruining the temper of the blade. The result is below.
5. I fit two pieces of ebony for the bolsters. Marked and drilled them out. Used a fret saw to cut out the hole to fit the tang and then needle files to give her a nice fit. Used a couple pieces of scrap maple I had in the shop. Sanded the pieces on a disk sander, but a glass plate with sandpaper would do the trick. Sanded the ebony and Maple to fit nice and snug. Used a dremel to score the tang for the epoxy to hold on to.
6. Milled out the tang area using a drill press and milling cutter. A sharp knife would work but this gave me a nice fit.
8. Made a jig to glue up the handles. Threaded rod, washers, nuts and scrap wood. Notice the pin I used. (it was just a nail. Not a fancy mosaic pin. I think Ill try that later. Since this is my first attempt). Used a long curing epoxy.
9. Measured the dimensions of the knife handle from the original Clipper handle. And cut. Watch out for the pin. Used a hacksaw there.
10. BE BOLD! Use a rasp and then sand to dimensions. Its easy to get a fat handle. So go by the measurements, not by your eye. Use what ever handle dimensions you like.
11. Used Danish oil for a finish and then Carnuba wax on top to give a hard finish.
12. Finished knives.
13. Comparison of original and rehandled.
13. Next came the sheath making. I used the tutorials found in this website. I added the fire steels into the sheath design. I hot waxed the sheaths using beeswax and an old hairdryer. It worked great. The pic below shows how Ive used shock cord to make sure there was a positive lock on the fire steel. Not sure how this will work with our Canadian winters but will find out. Shock cord is used most commonly on clothing and tent poles.
14. Here are the completed knives. Oh yeah, I like flintknapping too.
Comparison of original and rehandled Mora Clipper and sheaths.
My sons thought they were great. They had great fun collecting tinder and lighting fires etc.
Finally below is a little more experimentation with another smaller Mora. Whitetail deer antler end, ebony and moose antler spacers and boxwood middle portion. Now I have to make a sheath for it and my new F1.
THANKS FOR ALL THE IDEAS Hope this helps someone.
Stoneraven
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