Steve S. Posted December 27, 2016 Share #1 Posted December 27, 2016 Hi guys! Just finished up a new leather handle on an otherwise excellent Utica M4 bayonet. I played around with the finish a bit going for a period aged look. I didn't sand it out as fine as I usually do & played around with the dyes a bit using a lighter base, then a darker coat with some light sanding thru the top coat in spots then polishing. Gives it a "gun oil stained" look. Opinions?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jw517 Posted December 27, 2016 Share #2 Posted December 27, 2016 Removed pommel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Der Finn Posted December 27, 2016 Share #3 Posted December 27, 2016 Nice job, great workmanship! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve S. Posted December 27, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted December 27, 2016 Removed pommel? yes, I removed the pommel. If the pommel is off, I can compress the washers better & get things good & tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas36th Posted December 27, 2016 Share #5 Posted December 27, 2016 You did a great job. I usually pass up knifes with bad handles but I guess I should start picking them up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted December 27, 2016 Share #6 Posted December 27, 2016 Great work Steve. I think the color and over finnishe match up splendidly.awesome save. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted December 27, 2016 Share #7 Posted December 27, 2016 Boy, that is nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKIPH Posted December 28, 2016 Share #8 Posted December 28, 2016 Nice save! Tnaks for showing your work. SKIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve S. Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted December 28, 2016 Thanks for the kind comments! That lets me know I'm on the right track with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John762 Posted December 28, 2016 Share #10 Posted December 28, 2016 Thanks for the kind comments! That lets me know I'm on the right track with this. Very nice work! I would assume that you're chucking up the bayonet in a lathe and cutting the washers? I can't think of another way to do it... No matter what it looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve S. Posted December 29, 2016 Author Share #11 Posted December 29, 2016 Very nice work! I would assume that you're chucking up the bayonet in a lathe and cutting the washers? I can't think of another way to do it... No matter what it looks great! Nope, no lathe work. the washers when finished are actually oval shaped not round, so the lathe would cut grooves that were deep on the top bottom & shallow on the sides. I do each groove by hand. I also cut my own washers from leather hides & do about half of the sanding by hand. The only machine work is the rough shaping of the handle on a belt sander. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gap Posted December 29, 2016 Share #12 Posted December 29, 2016 ????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve S. Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share #13 Posted January 23, 2017 replaced a couple more handles over the weekend on a M3 & M4, both Camillus versions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve S. Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share #14 Posted January 23, 2017 the M4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1ashooter Posted January 23, 2017 Share #15 Posted January 23, 2017 How do you compress them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porterkids Posted January 23, 2017 Share #16 Posted January 23, 2017 How do you refasten the pommel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tankerman Posted January 23, 2017 Share #17 Posted January 23, 2017 NICE work Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve S. Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share #18 Posted January 23, 2017 How do you compress them? I do that on a case by case basis depending on how things "stack up". I stack & glue the washers on in 3-4 increments, compressing with an old M5 bayonet guard & clamping each batch until dry. compessing each section like this makes things good & tight along the way & much easier to compress the last section & install the pommel. for pesky installs, I can jig up in a 40 ton hydraulic press I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve S. Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share #19 Posted January 23, 2017 How do you refasten the pommel? Pinned ones get pinned, Peened ones get peened. I'm working on something now to try & replicate the starburst pattern so the ends don't look smoothed over from peening with a small hammer. Won't look exactly like the original, but possibly a little more visually pleasing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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