- Joined
- Dec 27, 2010
- Messages
- 6,852
Well, this is where I started. With an old file. No heat treat, nothing. I keep it in a prominent position to find out how far I've come.
All kinds of problems with this knife. Tang wasn't the right size, so I ended up filling the sides with that metal putty stuff, and the handle scales were cut wrong, so the grain angles the wrong way. Yikes!
Long story short, and a bunch of pictures of misshapen blades, I eventually started using actual steel and found Darrin Sanders, who was just starting a heat treat service (and, in my case, providing LOTS of helpful advice).
One of the first blades I made and that Darrin heat treated for me:
After much ado, I started trying to design an ergonomic handle for my favorite grip style, the saber grip. Ended up with these:
Also was inspired by Barry Dawson, and made a couple fighters:
I tweaked my handle design to the point where I feel that it's got almost a glove-like fit, and started fitting different blade styles. Also made a little EDC version.
That one let me know that a choil would be comfortable for choking up on the blade.
Did some experimentation with Damascus, thanks to Alabama Damascus (who I highly recommend, and want to mention that their customer service is superb).
I've made a couple swords:
Both are getting reworked, and the gladius is off getting kydex pants...
And here's some of my most recent work:
I'm in love with this persian. I contoured the handle like usual, then decided to experiment with my dremel. I really like the way it came out; the extra texturing really makes the grain in the bocote look interesting.
I feel like I've come a long way since I started, and hope to continue learning with every blade. I started out making blades on a 3x18" belt sander and a bench grinder, and then progressed to a 1x30, which I've been using for a while. I just traded one of my utility pattern blades for a craftsman 2x42, and will use that until I have saved up for a real knifemakers grinder. Eventually I might get a heat treat oven too, but Darrin's service is so good that that day will be a long way off, I'm sure. For anyone who's starting out, I highly recommend Darrin's service and advice. Hope you enjoyed my journey thus far; I know I sure have.
More pictures to come. I hope someday to look back at this thread and always remember where I started.
All kinds of problems with this knife. Tang wasn't the right size, so I ended up filling the sides with that metal putty stuff, and the handle scales were cut wrong, so the grain angles the wrong way. Yikes!
Long story short, and a bunch of pictures of misshapen blades, I eventually started using actual steel and found Darrin Sanders, who was just starting a heat treat service (and, in my case, providing LOTS of helpful advice).
One of the first blades I made and that Darrin heat treated for me:
After much ado, I started trying to design an ergonomic handle for my favorite grip style, the saber grip. Ended up with these:
Also was inspired by Barry Dawson, and made a couple fighters:
I tweaked my handle design to the point where I feel that it's got almost a glove-like fit, and started fitting different blade styles. Also made a little EDC version.
That one let me know that a choil would be comfortable for choking up on the blade.
Did some experimentation with Damascus, thanks to Alabama Damascus (who I highly recommend, and want to mention that their customer service is superb).
I've made a couple swords:
Both are getting reworked, and the gladius is off getting kydex pants...
And here's some of my most recent work:
I'm in love with this persian. I contoured the handle like usual, then decided to experiment with my dremel. I really like the way it came out; the extra texturing really makes the grain in the bocote look interesting.
I feel like I've come a long way since I started, and hope to continue learning with every blade. I started out making blades on a 3x18" belt sander and a bench grinder, and then progressed to a 1x30, which I've been using for a while. I just traded one of my utility pattern blades for a craftsman 2x42, and will use that until I have saved up for a real knifemakers grinder. Eventually I might get a heat treat oven too, but Darrin's service is so good that that day will be a long way off, I'm sure. For anyone who's starting out, I highly recommend Darrin's service and advice. Hope you enjoyed my journey thus far; I know I sure have.
More pictures to come. I hope someday to look back at this thread and always remember where I started.
