Introduction: Paracord Wrapping a Knife Handle
When I make a knife, I usually use micarta or wood for a handle, but sometimes I'll do a cord wrap.
When people think of a cord wrapped handle they usually think of a single color wrapped circularly around the handle, BORING!
So I decided to come up with a good way of mixing two colors for a wrap, this is the second knife I've made with this method, the first one was black and glow in the dark paracord. I was sitting in front of the tv, a knife in one hand, and some glowing and some black paracord in the other, I started messing around, and this wrap is what I came up with.
Hope you like it.
Step 1: Supplies
You need:
ruler
paracord (2 colors)
lighter
multi-tool (or you can just get pliers, pointy pokey thing, and a knife for cutting cord)
Step 2: Cut and Gut.
Cut the paracord into the needed lengths, I used 4' of each color, just remember that it's easier to cut off extra cord than it is to add cord.
Go ahead and gut the cord also, make sure any melted ends are trimmed and pull out the inner strands.
Step 3: Readying for Wrapping
Ducttape the blade (I hate cutting myself while wrapping a knife).
Push an inch or so worth of cord through the starting hole. This is where we need to think this through. Whichever side you put the strands on, it will create a bump on that side, so I always put them on the inner grip side of the handle. The inner side of the grip is the side where you fingers wrap around, not your palm. It's more comfortable to hold it with the bump on the inner grip side, so I always put it there.
Did that make sense?
Okay, after you push the end of the cords through the starting hole, take a drop of superglue, and glue the ends of the cords down, this just helps keep them tidy and out of the way. Just don't superglue your fingers together.
Step 4: The Wrap
You know the first knot you do when you tie your shoes? This is the knot we'll use.
Pull the cords around to the same side that the cord ends are on. Make sure the black goes under the orange, then pull it over the orange (just look at the pictures, I'm not really making sense here am I?).
Then you flip the knife over and do that knot on that side. Make sure you pull it tight. Then you just keep flipping and repeating.
Step 5: Entertainment
I like to watch a good tv show or something while doing wrapping. Just make sure your still paying attention to what your doing.
Step 6: Ending
When you get to the end hole, one cord will be right at the hole, one will be further away. In this case black was closest. Pull the closest cord through the hole right there, and pull the other one around and then through the hole. Tie a knot to end it, and do what you will with the rest. Typically I would end it by putting on a cool looking bead and knotting it again. But, I don't have anything good on hand, so I just trimmed them at about 1" long and left them there.
Step 7: Resin Coating
Take the now wrapped knife, and tape off most of the blade and any areas you don't want resin on, you can typically pop the resin right off of bare steel, but might as well just tape it and save time.
Mix up a small amount of fiberglass resin, I used 1 oz, but 1/2 oz would have easily sufficed, I just couldn't measure that small in my mixing cup.
Use a cheap (I repeat, cheap) paint brush and carefully brush resin all over the cord. Let it soak in, and brush on more as needed. Then carefully clamp in vise to cure.
After a few minutes, remove knife and turn it over, that way any resin gathering at the formerly bottom end, will not cure into drops or bumps on the side facing down (did that make sense?).
3 People Made This Project!
wicks_10 made it!- Adika Briikase made it!
- jdrew7 made it!
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47 Comments
7 years ago on Step 5
I would point out to anyone planning to do this for a survival knife that by removing the inner strands you compromise the paracord's strength. this should be done for aesthetics. that being said even the empty paracord shells are better than no cordage at all.
7 years ago on Introduction
Bought a machete and did the wrap over the existing handle with od green and black cord.
10/10, would wrap again.
7 years ago
Recieving paracord from a friend to attempt my first wrap but don't know how to estimate the length needed. Is there a format for that. Hole to hole length is 6" with a raw handle width at 3/4"-1/2" tapering down from blade..
7 years ago
what knife is that?
8 years ago on Introduction
Where would I get a knife like yours to wrap? is it a kitchen knife?
I would like to make one so please respond!!!!
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
I have seen knives like this at my local sporting goods store and I believe at Walmart, again in the sports section. Some of these knives come in little kits with paracord and knife included. I personally would rather braid/build/forge my own knives and archery supplies. There is a certain quality found in the things one makes by hand that cannot be found in a store-bought product of the same nature, this is why I prefer hand made tools and trinkets.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
I forged mine from a bar of 1084, and ground it out and Heat treated it.
I'm not sure where the best place to find a blade without a handle is. You can look on bladeforums.com and see if you can find a knifemaker to buy one from.
8 years ago on Introduction
I have a machete that had some cheap wrap on it, it doesn't have any holes for tying the cord though, the entire thing was wrapped and then glued at the ends, any idea how to wrap it this way if there are no holes to start or end with?
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
I've had that "no starter holes" problem before, though not on a flat handle like these. Anyway, to solve this problem I typically use either a clove hitch or constrictor knot. Despite not having run into flat handles yet, I'm pretty sure that these two knots will do the job well and keep a low profile as well. Hope this helps!
8 years ago
nice ible, clear and concise. Why resin though? leave cord free for emergency use
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Because I was using a paracord handle because I like the look of them, and the grip they provide as a handle. If you leave them uncoated, the paracord becomes loose with use, gets very dingy and ugly, and on a non stainless steel blade (as this one is), when it gets wet, will cause rust behind the cord wrapping.
I'm not making this knife as an emergency survival knife or anything, I only like the look.
If you want to use a knife wrap as a survival cordage supply, I would suggest a wrap style that uses one very long length of cord, instead of two short pieces...
8 years ago
used what i had...black and pink, still rocks!
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Looks good!
8 years ago on Introduction
Is it possible to do the same thing without a starting hole near the blade. If so, would you have a photo to illustrat?.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
If you don't have a starting hole, or don't want to drill one for some reason, my advice would be to start the same way I show here, but instead of going through the hole, put a twist in the two cords, and wrap them around the handle, ( I don't have any pictures unfortunately), then start tying the wrap like the tutorial shows.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
you could just drill a hole.
8 years ago
Top shot is one of my favorite shows!
9 years ago on Step 7
Just out of interest, what brand of knife is that? I've been looking for a basic skeleton knife and have been considering the ka-bar ZK Acheron but that looks way cooler.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
he made it himself, his website is: http://eagleeyeforge.com/ or his blog: http://eagleeyeforge.blogspot.com/
9 years ago
wear gloves