13" Crow Knife Pics

[Leatherface]

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

Thanks Norm....A RD series from Justin is on my short list of knives to get...

 

[Daniel Koster]

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

Back-o-the-line, my friend.

I'm probably not first in line...but I have probably received/purchased 20+ defective/reject khukuris from H.I. and have managed to fix up/straighten out/rehandle/etc. nearly all of them. There's another box-full out in my garage waiting for me after the Blade Show this weekend.

I actually seek these out...and like Kis said...they do become my favorites. But they take a lot of energy, thought and attention. So, I have to pace myself.



Norm - I do understand your aggravation though...


I believe Yvsa says it best "Them D#$^% kamis!..."

 

[Nasty]

You trust *me* behind you in line with those sharp knives Dan?

I'm flattered...

or insulted.

 

[Svashtar]

Back-o-the-line, my friend.

I'm probably not first in line...but I have probably received/purchased 20+ defective/reject khukuris from H.I. and have managed to fix up/straighten out/rehandle/etc. nearly all of them. There's another box-full out in my garage waiting for me after the Blade Show this weekend.

I actually seek these out...and like Kis said...they do become my favorites. But they take a lot of energy, thought and attention. So, I have to pace myself.



Norm - I do understand your aggravation though...


I believe Yvsa says it best "Them D#$^% kamis!..."

Well, not really aggravated, and don't want to be in a position of publicly complaining, but know there's a way to fix this up esthetically and want to try it, which is why I was soliciting feedback.

From a usage standpoint it's hard to knock it: the edge is straight and, sharp as hell, it's hardened expertly, the handle is one of the most comfortable I have held on _any_ knife, and the scabbard is very well done. My QA eye of course ignores all that and focuses on the spine!

I know Sarge grinds hardened files down to make his knives, and I assume does NOT retemper them?, so I plan to go slow with the grinder and quench in water frequently so the temperature does not get too high and screw up the edge temper. I am making some changes to the handle and spine as well.

Thanks for the feedback.

Norm

 

[Daniel Koster]

Since the khukuris are hardened to 56-58 Rockwell...and we assume they are 5106 (or similar) steel....then that means you can "accidentally overheat" them up to straw and even straw-brown before you start to remove hardness from them. Mostly the problem with overheating is that you add stress to the blade which will weaken it over time. As long as you don't let the blade turn purple or blue, you'll be ok.

Do I let mine turn even straw? No - I keep 'em dunked. But just wanted to let you (and anybody else considering the same) know you don't need to pitch it just because it turns yellow/brown a little.

Have fun with it, Norm! :thumbup:

 

[Svashtar]

Since the khukuris are hardened to 56-58 Rockwell...and we assume they are 5106 (or similar) steel....then that means you can "accidentally overheat" them up to straw and even straw-brown before you start to remove hardness from them. Mostly the problem with overheating is that you add stress to the blade which will weaken it over time. As long as you don't let the blade turn purple or blue, you'll be ok.

Do I let mine turn even straw? No - I keep 'em dunked. But just wanted to let you (and anybody else considering the same) know you don't need to pitch it just because it turns yellow/brown a little.

Have fun with it, Norm! :thumbup:

Ah, that's what I hoped to hear. Thanks Dan!

Norm