How do I stabilize giraffe bone for a knife handle

Question

I want to add a handle to a home-made knife. I have a piece of fresh giraffe bone, but according to web articles it needs to be stabilized. I live in a very remote area in Botswana and will have to do it on my own with little access to hi-tec materials.

Answer 1

The only stabilizing that I know of for bone is to first clean in extremely well and then to make sure it is thoroughly dry.  Cleaning is an easy task.  Just bury the bone in an ant bed for a few days.  The little buggers will thoroughly clean every speck of meat, gristle, tendon and sinew from the bone and leave it spotless.  Then you just dry it thoroughly for a few days (depending on the humidity where you are).  At this point, it is ready to do whatever you want with it.

Answer 2

First of all, are you making a full or hidden tang knife? Regardless, you need to let that bone dry completely. If you do not want to wait that long, you can dry it with very little heat in an oven over a 12-24 hr period. After it is completely dry, you can apply several layers of clear lacquer. This should do the trick.

Answer 3

if you're in a "very remote area of botswana" where you're slaying giraffes and making homemade weaponry HOW do you have an internet connection!?

i can't get one in NEW JERSEY half the time.

Answer 4

How did you get Internet access if you live in such a remote area of Botswana?

Answer 5

Just make a cut in the end of the bone and stick the blade in it.  Tie small rope around the bone so the bone closes tightly on the blade. Then use the glue for extra hold. Make sure everything is working fine and it is stabilized.

Be Careful........

Answer 6

Just because he is in a remote area does not mean no internet, it means if he has to order a special item it may take a month or two.

Here is what I would do.

You need to dry the bone out and remove the marrow.

After you get the marrow out you need to pack the core of the bone to add strength. Hair works great for the packing.

You will need to cut a notch in the end of the bone for the blade.

After you insert the blade into the end of the bone you will then take some leather and get it good and wet.

Tightly wrap the end of the bone with the wet leather while stretching the leather.

When the leather dries it will tighten around the bone and crimp the blade in place.

Have fun...