A while back now, I replaced my camping machete that id used for some time. The original was a cheap £5 Latin blade and it had served me well enough but the blade was chipped and had been sharpened to little more than a stub. Its replacement, a Gerber Bolo. Its actually a panga style machete not a bolo, but a good chopping blade, holds a good edge and has enough heft to take on fairly thick brush.
My problem was with the handle, it is in my humble opinion the worst design Gerber has ever pumped out! It's too thin, the rubber is both slippy enough to shift in your hand causing blisters and grippy enough to catch on everything. After several failed attempts at making it comfortable including jackwraps and leather covers and nothing worked. So I decided to make a new handle.
General shape was fine, so I drew around it and made a card template. Then cut the insert and scales out of mahogany ply on my new scroll saw (I'm not very good on it as you may see! But I am keenly learning) glued and clamped them together and then dressed and stained the finished product.
It may not be pretty but it's far more comfortable and fills the hand (big lad needed a big handle) and I have to admit I'm quite proud of my first offence at woodworking, I'm good with metal but famously crap with wood!
Have a look at the pics and see what you think. It isnt perfect but I'm still learning. Maybe a rigid scabbard next to replace the nylon one it came with
http://s1164.photobucket.com/albums/q565/Mick91/?action=view¤t=20150618_132803_zps69450449.jpg
My problem was with the handle, it is in my humble opinion the worst design Gerber has ever pumped out! It's too thin, the rubber is both slippy enough to shift in your hand causing blisters and grippy enough to catch on everything. After several failed attempts at making it comfortable including jackwraps and leather covers and nothing worked. So I decided to make a new handle.
General shape was fine, so I drew around it and made a card template. Then cut the insert and scales out of mahogany ply on my new scroll saw (I'm not very good on it as you may see! But I am keenly learning) glued and clamped them together and then dressed and stained the finished product.
It may not be pretty but it's far more comfortable and fills the hand (big lad needed a big handle) and I have to admit I'm quite proud of my first offence at woodworking, I'm good with metal but famously crap with wood!
Have a look at the pics and see what you think. It isnt perfect but I'm still learning. Maybe a rigid scabbard next to replace the nylon one it came with
http://s1164.photobucket.com/albums/q565/Mick91/?action=view¤t=20150618_132803_zps69450449.jpg
