little silver washer/bushings

[Martin Brandt]

Thought I'd try here since I hang out here most.# I'm looking for a "simple" way, (or as simple as possible,) to make silver raised washer/bead shaped washers for some knives like those seen on some of the older bowies, and current reproductions.# Dog bone bowie by Dr. Batson comes to mind right away.# They are raised washers with a shape like a domed pin head, or a nice tapered bevel.# The pin is slid through them then riveted as normal, only they are left proud of the handle rather than recessed into it. Individually turning each one seems over work, and so does making a press die. Just can't think of any other way. Any ideas guys??

[erik]

P.O.P!

Pieces of pipe

[Carey Quinn]

If I'm understanding what you're saying, they are made by hammering the sides of a flat sheet and sawing out the center. It's kind of like the old method that was sometimes used to make rings out of coins.

Hope that helps.

Carey

[Martin Brandt]

Erik, I'm not sure I follow you on the pop idea? Care to elaborate? Carey, If you get Blade magazine, the April 08 issue on page 81 has a pic of a dog bone handled bowie by Dr. James Batson with the type of washer/bushings I'm talking about. They are probably no wider than 3/16"- 1/4", and no taller than a round head on a steel rivet head with an 1/8" dia. shank. As far as hammering a flat washer to make them, I'm looking for a easier way, not a harder way, and I would like them fairly uniform. At present, I'm thinking of drilling a 3/16" hole between two pieces of plate steel 4-5" deep and using this as a two piece mold to cast a long plug of silver into a cylinder, and then turning and drilling them on a lathe.

[Carey Quinn]

My bad Martin. I was thinking you wanted a ring to go around the handle. Now that I see the photo and re read your post, I see that I was way off base.

If the material that you want to make the washers out of is soft enough, you might be able to use a leather punch or a small arch punch then drill a hole for the rivet.

I don't have the equipment to cast or turn stuff so I was trying to come up with a poor man's way to get it done.

Good luck,
Carey

[erik]

[QUOTE=Martin Brandt drilling a 3/16" hole between two pieces of plate steel 4-5" deep and using this as a two piece mold to cast a long plug of silver into a cylinder, and then turning and drilling them on a lathe.[/QUOTE]

That's what I mean!