OR, would there be enough room to drill holes in the steel plates AND the muzzle ring and then put screws throught the muzzle ring piece into the steel plates and then use the thong hole to secure it? Nope might still let the plates flop up and down on the back side. Never mind, I never claimed to be an engineer!

The plates would have to be pretty thick for that. But I think I might need to cut notches into the muzzle ring for the plates to rest in.

A lot (well used to be) of the overseas bases had well stocked shops, automotive, machine and woodworking.

I want to keep the profile down so I have room to shape the wood into a comfortable handle and still have room for the cord wrap. I plan to use ash since it last a long time.

I found a tutorial on how to get the Res C off with out hurting it too. Was pretty simple. Put blade in vice. Place block of wood on top of the Res C guard. Pound with a mallet.

Oh yeah, drill out the rivet first.

I didn't really know how thick you intended for the plates to be. Hey if they were thick enough, you could just mill out a groove for the tang and then shape the plates into a handle (if they were aluminum, which may not work). Hey all this talk may not yield a solution, but it may cause you to think of a way to make it work without having to drill into the blade/tang. Just trying to help and don't think I am doing that good. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" />

Haha, was just getting ready to say "remove rivet before pounding"!

That would work, possibly. I doubt the aluminum would be strong enough and may give a little in the long run and allow wobble in the muzzle ring, but I could use a carbide router bit on some annealed steel.

And squeeze the plate together with bolts on the outside of the plates past the edges of the tang.

Haha, that just made me think of something. ON Jets they have plastic covers that go over the intakes. Well they have in big letters "REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT". Guess there isn't to much common sense on a flight line!

Sounds like an Air Force problem alright! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />........ <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />