Here's where I started: a 7/8 Wade & Butcher with broken scales. The blade is in decent shape but there is the typical build-up of black rust and scratches, particularly around the tang's pivot point. The original hardware (brass washers) are in sad, deteriorating shape so I'll be replacing them as well as the scales.
For the new scales, I decided upon a more 'modern' angular shape, made from black buffalo horn. I beveled the edges as well. This shot was taken during some of the hand-sanding. I thinned the scales from their initial 3/16" to a final thickness of .015.
For the wedge, I used white bone, lined with .010 brass. Final tapered thickness was .065.
The Blade: I used a series of compounds on the buffer (80 >240 >400>600) to remove much of the build up. Next step was hand-polishing (600>1200>4k>6k>8k). This shot was taken halfway through the polishing stages. Some of the blade pitting remains as I was attempting to strike a balance between removing pitting and not harm the engraving.
Pinning & Alignment: I'm using brass domed washers and brass pins. On the pivot end, the assembly sequence is Peened end>domed washer>inner support washer>scale>inner brass thrust washer>blade>inner thrust washer>scale>inner support washer>domed washer >end to be peened. Probably my least favorite part of assembly as my bumbling fingers are always dropping washers….
Continued in next post….
For the new scales, I decided upon a more 'modern' angular shape, made from black buffalo horn. I beveled the edges as well. This shot was taken during some of the hand-sanding. I thinned the scales from their initial 3/16" to a final thickness of .015.
For the wedge, I used white bone, lined with .010 brass. Final tapered thickness was .065.
The Blade: I used a series of compounds on the buffer (80 >240 >400>600) to remove much of the build up. Next step was hand-polishing (600>1200>4k>6k>8k). This shot was taken halfway through the polishing stages. Some of the blade pitting remains as I was attempting to strike a balance between removing pitting and not harm the engraving.
Pinning & Alignment: I'm using brass domed washers and brass pins. On the pivot end, the assembly sequence is Peened end>domed washer>inner support washer>scale>inner brass thrust washer>blade>inner thrust washer>scale>inner support washer>domed washer >end to be peened. Probably my least favorite part of assembly as my bumbling fingers are always dropping washers….
Continued in next post….
