How to Stake the Pommel on a Leather Knife Handle

A pommel is a top that compresses a stack of washers on the handle of a knife. When the pommel is "staked" it is in the farthest position down on the tang, the bare metal handle, and a washer stack. This is done to provide extra girth and strength to the handle of the cutlery, making it better for field use.

Things You'll Need

  • Bench vise
  • Rags
  • Soldering gun
  • Knife handle guard - silver or hard metal
  • Leather knife washers for your knife's handle (stack of 12 to 24, knife depending)
  • Carpenter's glue
  • Water
  • Bowl
  • Threaded tang and pommel
  • Belt sander
  • Clear shellac or lacquer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the knife blade in a rag and then into the jaws of the bench vise. Close it down so the tang ( the bare knife handle) is facing out on the opposite end of the blade from the jaws.

    • 2

      Solder the knife guard on the handle where the tang and blade meet. Let the metal cool after soldering.

    • 3

      Dilute carpenter's glue in a bowl with water. Keep the ration between about 4:1 glue to water.

    • 4

      Dip each leather washer into the glue-water and slide them over the tang, stacking them one on top of the other.

    • 5

      Add three to four drops of undiluted glue to the inside of the pommel, once all the washers are stacked on the tang. Screw the pommel onto the tang as tight as possible. Glue should squirt out the sides of the pommel as it squeezes the leather washers down onto the guard, making the leather handle.

    • 6

      Remove the knife from the vise and shape the leather washers into the handle using a belt sander. This is where you use your creativity and design. Press the ends of the washers up against the belt sander to round and mold it into the handle shape you desire.

    • 7

      Coat the leather handle with a layer of clear shellac or lacquer to make the leather water resistant.