Brusletto Stick Tang Knife Build

**Pict** · 02-26-2010, 08:44 PM

Last year a friend gave me a Brusletto knife blank. Unfortunately I shipped it by boat with a bunch of our other stuff and it only arrived here about two weeks ago. I’ve been looking forward to making this knife and this past week I decided to do something about it.

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I put the Mora in for scale.

I’ve never done a hidden tang knife before. I have a really nice piece of tropical hardwood in my shop that I inherited from my in-laws. This stuff is really dense, heavy wood, but I don’t know the name. My main mistake was to start too thick. I did this with hand tools only so my arms are in good shape now.

Next week I plan to make a sheath for it in the same style as my recent golok so the two will be a set. I may even rehandle the golok in the same wood.

I hope I did right by this blade. I don’t know what model it is but I’m pretty sure its laminated steel. It seems like it will take a serious edge. Sorry, no work in progress pics. The only thing you miss is me grinding off way-to-thick wood in 90 degree heat with a rasp.

Mac

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 02-26-2010, 08:58 PM

Looks like a good job to me Mack! Also looks like it'll go far with bushcraft! I am guessing you epoxied it in the handle?

**canid** · 02-26-2010, 09:01 PM

that's a nice one. the ergonomics look great.

i've been doing a lot of push stick tangs lately, and i must say i've under-rated them before.

if the handle material is good and the tang is stout enough, they're rock solid.

**crashdive123** · 02-26-2010, 09:02 PM

The handle looks beautiful. Nice work.

**gryffynklm** · 02-27-2010, 12:32 AM

Beautiful wood, Padauk or Honduran Mahogany?

**welderguy** · 02-27-2010, 02:38 AM

Originally Posted by gryffynklm

Beautiful wood, Padauk or Honduran Mahogany?

Ok your just showing off knowing that by the picture arent ya, LOL

**Huntress** · 02-27-2010, 10:20 AM

It is nicely built!!

**Rick** · 02-27-2010, 10:38 AM

Very nice, Mack. You did a fine job.

**hunter63** · 02-27-2010, 11:52 AM

Very nice, my kinda knife, I like it.

**Pict** · 03-03-2010, 06:17 PM

Here it is with the sheath I finished this morning. The leather is very thick and heavily waxed (to about Rockwell 45). This is pretty close to what I had in mind. I made a few mistakes along the way but it was a complicated fit. The retention is on the finger groove and it snaps in with a satisfying click. I brought the welt up to fill the finger groove area and wet formed the leather to follow the contours of the handle. The knife is really held in place well, no wiggle at all in the sheath. I also used 24 hour epoxy in the welt at the top so it won't be working loose up there anytime soon.

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I had planned to make it with a firesteel loop but getting it all to fit correctly proved enough challenge to my stunted leather working skills. My stitching got a little off. I know that there are tools to make that job easier and keep everything evenly spaced and in line but I'm happy that it looks and acts like a sheath. Cockeyed stitching seems to be a trademark for me.

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Mac