Pig sticker problem

[Barryeye]

Pig sticker 007..jpgPig sticker 006..jpgPig sticker 004..jpgPig sticker 011..jpgPig sticker 014..jpgGentlemen. There has never been a theme to my knife collecting. I go with what appeals to me and I can afford. When this one came my way it was in poor condition but it immediately appealed to me. Just over 13.5 inches long it is a big solid knife but surprisingly well balanced and comfortable to hold. Spanish made, it was designed for pig sticking as the etching indicates. The slab sided grips are made of a hardwood and appear to be riveted to the tang. Here lies the problem. After cleaning up the knife I discovered the grips were a fraction loose. Nothing that affects its usefulness but annoying none the less. A paper thin sliver of light is just visible between the grips and tang. Any ideas as to how I can cure this annoying rattle?
Barry

[m1ashooter]

Might try a shim of brass on either side.

[Barryeye]

Might try a shim of brass on either side.

Thanks for your input m1ashooter.

Forgive me but how do I get a brass shim inbetween the tang and grips? The gap is very very slim. I have just tried to get a sheet of A4 printer paper in the gap and can't.

[SMOKEY]

This is a SWAG but is there enough room to inject say some kind of epoxy mix to adhere to the scale and the metal? Just a crazy old fellas idea

[joem]

Might try dipping the handle end in BLO for a half hour, then wipe excess of the metal. It may fill the gap and tighten it up.

[Barryeye]

Two good ideas. I thought of the glue one as well but could not come up with a way to inject it into the very small slot. I think BLO thinned with turps could do the trick and would do no harm. Thank you Smokey and Joem.

P.S. I give up. What does SWAG stand for?

[SMOKEY]

Sir, in the communications field it stood for "scientific wild ass guess"

[m1ashooter]

All are great ideas. You might be able to find some of the brass or silver inlaying ribbon, that you could tap into the gap and then file off.

http://www.redaviscompany.com/accessories.html

[Barryeye]

Handy link m1ashooter. I'll see what I can find on this side of the pond. Thanks Smokey SWAG will be a useful phrase as well.

[4F4Nam]

Barry;
My first thought would be to try and tighten the rivets. Maybe a few love taps with an appropriate sized punch with the opposite side supported could tighten things up.

Ed

[Barryeye]

The rivets are hollow Ed and could be stainless steel. Not sure what kind of punch one would need. I am a bit concerned about splitting the hard wood grips.

[Dan Shapiro]

Barryeye:

One other SWAG - seeing as the gap is so small and the rivets are hollow. Throw the knife in a freezer for a few days, see if you can get the metal rivets to contract on themselves. Might be just enough to get rid of the minute slop.

[Barryeye]

I am always happy to try a low effort solution Dan but have to ask why making the rivet diameter smaller will help. Would this not make the grips looser? Chances are that I have missed something here. Physics is not my strong point.

[Dan Shapiro]

The grips are 'loose' as the hardwood (dense as it is) has contracted over time. Rather than tap the rivets to tighten them up; and seeing that they are hollow to begin with (more surface area exposed); subjecting the rivets to freezing temperature will cause the metal to contract, making the rivets pull tighter. Hopefully (SWAG), when back out of the freezer they won't expand back to their original dimensions.

[Barryeye]

Got it. Thanks. In the freezer now.