Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Ruana refurb

Would like to have a Ruana 21a torn apart, steel refurbished and a new handle made. Its been sitting out in the woods for at least a year, so its in rough shape. Its not a logical project but a sentimental one. Have a pretty clear idea of what I'd like it to look like.

I've contacted a few established makers but no interest in taking on a distracting project. Any suggestions for a maker to assist?

My guess is it will cost more to have it refurbish by a competent smith than to buy a new one. If you just want it bead blasted and new handles then why not do it yourself.

I'm assuming you have already contacted Ruana and they offered no help.

Thanks. I dont expect it to cost effective, but there is sentimental value. I may end up doing it myself, Im sure youtube can show me how

I did not contact Ruana; personally I find the handle design ugly as sin so no interest in repeating that. Just want to re-use the blade stock.

Maybe a pic of what you have and a little info on what your "clear idea" for
a finished product would be might help.

+1

Will get some pics up tonight.

Not sure how to embed pictures here, but uploaded to gallery:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/16607586#Post16607586

Picture of knife and example pattern that Im after. Not expecting it to look that slick, but the blade pattern seems to be compatible. Again, the existing handle would be thrown in bin, just using the blade.

Another of yours thats similar:

https://www.manmadecustoms.com/listing/high-country-hunter/3993584472

Thinking to regrind edge, but leave ricasso, spine, and blade from grind line up to spine showing the original character.

Let me know what you think. Thanks.

If you ever need to thump someone's skull, you'll really miss having that fugly, big-ass knobber of aluminum on the end......

Hahahah. Some people must like them but I agree, some of the ugliest handles I've ever seen.

Looks like a LOT of work. Not sure what you have for a tang under that handle
to work with to convert to stick tang

I think the suggestion to think of buying a new one and leaving that one alone sounds reasonable.

But I am sure it can be done by someone.

10-4.

Thanks for the input.

If any one is interested what the tang looks like on a Ruana under the hunk of cast aluminum:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/16612591#Post16612591

You gonna end up doing it yourself? Be a fun little project.....

Been researching some how-to videos. Doesn't look too complicated but requires some benchtop tools that I don't have. I'm kind of a doddler on these sorts of things; "well lets just cut the handle off and see what happens", then its "well lets just polish up the edge and see how that goes" etc. That said, I do have a couple folks that have offered to help, so most likely go that route as it needs a sheath as well.

Torn down it looks more workable than I was expecting.

Good luck.

James Behring does an amazing job refurbishing and rehandling knives. His rehandle jobs run 225.00.

Thanks for the lead. I hadn't heard of that maker before, they have some incredible stuff!