Primitive Knife - Antler Softening Technique

Here I will discuss a primitive knife building technique that is suitable for metal or stone knife blades. Let's say you have a knife blade and it has no handle. Fastening a knife blade to a handle can be a monumental task when using primitive techniques.

Many believe primitive fastening techniques to be weak and, well... primitive. While it is true it takes more skill to use the ancient techniques it doesn't have to be weak. However, making primitive tools is not often the forte of modern man. What if there was a way that was both primitive and not so difficult for our weak modern minds?

Well, good news there is a technique that can greatly improve your product that will be discussed here. It is a process of softening an antler to give it some elasticity when assembling the knife. After drying the elasticity goes away.

Although we are discussing knives here, this technique can be used for many tools.

This technique involves selecting and cutting an antler for a knife handle. Your knife blade can be either stone or metal, the method works with both.

The process involves a series of steps. Step one is to partially hollow out the antler where the tang of the knife blade will be inserted into the antler.

Next soak the antler for about a week to let it absorb water and soften up the more porous inside section of the antler. If you are not that patient, then you can instead boil the antler for about an hour or more to soften it up relatively quickly.

Have pot holders or gloves handy to handle the 200 degree antler. Remove the antler from the boiling water and forcefully jam the tang side of the knife blade into the end of the antler.

The tang will need to be fully inserted into the antler. A thin tang can be shorter than a thick tang. A thick tang will need to be about 1.5 inches long. Be careful though because the more antler you remove in the hollowing out process the less secure it will be when dried.

After the antler has dried for a few days it should shrink down on the tang.

All antlers are different and don't lose hope if your first attempt fails. It could be the antler and not your technique. Rosin and lashing can be used on antlers that didn't do so well. Even knives that turned out perfect can always benefit from added strength of lashings. Who says techniques can't be combined!

I haven't tried it but it seems plausible that drilling a hole or two through a bone and tang and then inserting bone steel pins or wooden pins through when the antler is soft could add even more security.

Don't restrict this technique solely to knives. This technique can be used for other tools as well.