Sundown Trapper Knife Kit: Instructions: Download

Assembling the KnifeKits Sundown Damascus Trapper
(with Jigged Bone Scales)

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Tools recommended:
#46 and 3/32 drills
Wood and metal files
Small ball peen hammer
Wet or dry sandpaper
Drill press
Belt sander
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Here are the unassembled parts. We’ll demonstrate the assembly and finishing of this knife with the use of only hand tools and a drill press. If you have power tools, such as a belt sander, even a Dremel, then by all means use them.

The first step is to remove all burrs around the pin holes using a 10” smooth mill file. Then sand the inside surfaces using a piece of wet or dry body shop paper from an automotive supply store to remove all burrs.

Next, we need to file and sand the excess length from the scales to fit them to the liners. 

Now, use a #46 (0.081) drill to drill thru the liners and thru each scale four places.

Use a piece of steel as an anvil and a small ball peen hammer to peen over the tops of the two brass pins on the inside of the liners. Lightly peen the pins on the outside of the scales. Lightly, don’t split the bone.

Now drill the center pin hole through each liner using a 3/32” drill.

File the peened pins flush on the inside of the liners, sand and polish the insides of the knife before assembly.

Next, stack all the components up in order. Be sure there is a washer on both sides of the two blades.

Place the left liner on the stack and get ready for the center pin. The center pin will be used to pry all the components back toward the spine of the knife as it is tapped into place.

I filed a sharp point on one end of the center pin.

To assemble the knife, insert the pointed end of the pin into the hole in the scale and liner, pry the pin toward the spine of the knife using your thumb, and tap the pin into each layer using a small hammer. The point will pick up the hole in each layer and line everything up while tensioning the blades.

Saw the center pin flush with the scales.

File the center pin flush on each side, then peen all the pins, starting with the bolster on the end opposite the blades, then the pivot pin, then very lightly peen the center pin.

File, sand and polish all surfaces to your liking.

Your finished Sundown Trapper is ready for your pocket.

Congratulations!!