13" Crow Knife Pics

Svashtar

Svashtar

Joined
Dec 28, 2003
Messages
4,794
I promised Sarge I would post these, so you could get an idea of what I was talking about the other day.

I've already written too much about it, so won't repeat myself, but these pics will kind of explain it. In fact, the first pic kind of says it all. The shop foreman should have kicked Vim's behind on this one. ;) From some angles it looks worse than others, with head on being the worst (first pic) and blade up the best (last pic.) Still not sure what I'll do. I'm thinking of just taking it to the belt sander and see what I can come up with; it might be a good learning experience.

For reference I grabbed a knife with a very straight spine off my bench, that I happen to be working on, a Ranger knives RD6 (prototype.)

I welcome any and all input, thanks!

Norm

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Hey buddy...yer knife is bent!

Maybe it's the difference in humidity...or the planets were misaligned...

LOL...that's the kind of thing that drove Bill nuts.
 
Whattsamater with a bent blade? All them there kookries got a bent blade and y'all seem ta like'em:D
 
Norm, I once knew a pretty girl who had a mole on her face. At first it bothered hell out of me, but in time I stopped noticing the mole and saw only the pretty girl.

Your knife's spine ain't perfectly straight, but the cutting edge looks fairly true. Sharpen that thing up and put it to work. In time, you won't "notice the mole" either.

Failing that, send the durn thing to somebody like Dan Koster or Steve Ferguson that's good with a grinder. You'll lose a bit of blade weight, and overall shape may be altered slightly, but by knocking down the high spots and regrinding that false edge straight and true, I think you'd be happy with the result.

Sarge
 
There you go.

You know, being as how it's flawed, it might actually be good to use


munk
 
munk said:
There you go.

You know, being as how it's flawed, it might actually be good to use


munk
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We're only supposed to use the flawed ones?!?. Woops, I'd better go apologize to my once perfect WWII :eek:

Just kidding, I know what you mean. I had to buy a used kumar karda that was pretty banged up because I couldn't make myself use my beautiful antler handled one.
 
Well, you know what I mean. And here is Credit where Credit is Due; there is has been no one more a force for celebrating life and your work by using beautiful tools than our own Yvsa. I must acknowledge this. He has taught a lot of us this. It is important to know. The beauty of a fine tool is not only to be admired, but adds grace to one's activity. It is a compliment. Do not be afraid to use your prettiest stuff, even if you are a hopeless collector. Surely there are some of the tools in the collection that are used, that cry to be used. And if using a 'flawed' one makes the process easier, why not?

Using a fine tool can be a way of acknowledging the self worth of your efforts and life. Or not/.


munk
 
Depending on how far you want to go you should be able to correct the problem. First thing I would do is etch the blade to determine where it is hardened. If it has the traditional khuk hardening you might be able to put the blade in a wood padded vise and make wooden turning fork. By gently bending the blade in several spots the blade should straighten out pretty well.

Personally, I think you're going to have a hell of a time trying to grind that much bend out. I'm not sure if you'll be left with anything but a steel tooth pick :).

Or you could go full out and take the entire knife down, anneal it, lightly grind, HT, polish, and reassemble. I'd be happy to do the HT for you. Maybe put a real hamon on it :) ;).

Good luck.

Matt
 
Thanks to all for your input. I plan to keep it. Besides, Yangdu already gave me a blem price on it when I got it.

It may not look like it, but the handle is very pretty and very comfortable. LongRifle, I did the dowel thing on the front 2" where it is most out of alignment, but hadn't etched it yet so was not sure how far to go and didn't make much difference. I'll try it again after etching. This post will serve as "before" pics and I'll post some after, assuming anything is left!

I plan on etching it and then trying to true up the front with the dowels, and then will try on the grinder and see what I come up with. I think Sarge is right and I can take out most of the wobble. The edge is 95% straight, and last I checked that's what I was cutting with...;)

Thanks very much.

Norm
 
Norm?

Betcha this becomes one of your most treasured blades.

Problem children are like that.


Have fun.
 
So we've asserted once more there's a place in our hearts for three legged dogs...

There's one in my town that falls asleep in the road in the Town square trusting no one will run him over.

munk
 
All things and beings are imperfect. Celebrate individuality.

I have one such child, an antler Sarge with a severe twist to the handle ... and it makes it curve tight to you and show less profile as an EDC.

Strength is weakness. Maybe this one is ideal for some yet-unknown task.

Like carving patio tikis...


Mike :foot:

Oooooooommmmmmmmmmmmm...........
 
munk said:
...There's one in my town that falls asleep in the road in the Town square trusting no one will run him over.

munk
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"...no one will run him over." *again*?
 
I guess you have to send it back to Aunt Yangdu so that she can send it back to Nepal. Pala or Gelbu have to sit down with all Kamis for review discussion. IMO rust on blade or crack handle can always be tolerated but not bent blade.
 
Send it back? I think shipping costs alone are about half the cost of these knives. Even then...I am sure that Pala has already told them to straighten up (intended) and frankly, on the profit margin HI has, sitting around discussing what they all know is a waste of time that could be spent making knives.

What I imagine as having happened is that Yangdu sent an email to Pala, Pala ripped into Bura and Bura threatened holy hell out of the kami.

An exchange if the customer wants it...then offer the returned blade *as is* at reduced cost.

I would love to be on a short list of guys who are offered *defective* blades...
 
Nasty said:
I would love to be on a short list of guys who are offered *defective* blades...
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As would I!!! So called "defective" blades are very utilitarian in most cases as most defects tend to be cosmetic in nature. I'm not into knives for cosmetics (otherwise I would be like my son and be into so called "fantasy" blades). I prefer my knives to be used.

Jack
 
hmmm....bent blade?? I would rock it!!:D

I need me a basketcase sarge knife of my own...!!;)

Norm,
Ahh what makes that RD6 a prototype??
 
Nasty said:
An exchange if the customer wants it...then offer the returned blade *as is* at reduced cost.

I would love to be on a short list of guys who are offered *defective* blades...
Click to expand...

Well said; that's the correct process IMO The straight edge says that it did not rate a return, even though the spine was curvy. Although Nasty, just FYI, it wasn't offered to me as a blem, but as regular production, although I consider the price it was given to me as a "blem" price. In other words, I believe the condition of the piece as a whole was factored into the price, so same difference I guess. Works for me.

ShadowchaserUFP said:
As would I!!! So called "defective" blades are very utilitarian in most cases as most defects tend to be cosmetic in nature. I'm not into knives for cosmetics (otherwise I would be like my son and be into so called "fantasy" blades). I prefer my knives to be used.
Click to expand...

Yep, I agree. If the edge itself had been curvy and unusable OR if I had paid a premium for it as is, I would have just quietly written to Yangdu about it, rather than posting the spine question at all. I have only sent two items back in a little over 2.5 years, and those were items that I believe anyone would have sent back, and they were made right. These days I would only send something back that was clearly wrong, i.e., I ordered an M43 and got a BGRS, etc., or it was an expensive special order that was all wrong.

I was just taking the opportunity to ask about whole blade heating, which Sarge answered, thinking I might be able to tinker with it that way without messing with the great handle. It's still waiting in line for other projects, but I'll get back to it and post pics later.

Leatherface said:
hmmm....bent blade?? I would rock it!!

I need me a basketcase sarge knife of my own...!!

Norm,
Ahh what makes that RD6 a prototype??
Click to expand...

Leatherface, this is a prototype made for Sage Creek Outfitters by Justin. It has a plain satin rather than the more common black finish and osage orange handles instead of black, tan or orange micarta. The edge is good but needs a little bit of work, and I am going to sand out the wood and treat with linseed oil.

Norm
 
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