1st knife complete!

I think the handle makes this knife. Its a beauty to just feel it!

Does anyone know how to treat leather to get a nice amber brown color?
 
Thanks to everyone that helped me along the way. On to knife # 2!
 
That's a beut! I wish my 20th knife looked that good. It's also got the look of a great worker. Can't wait to see #2.
 
how did you get that finish? I am working on my third knife, and can't get all the scratches out. Great job! WOW
 
blgoode, That is a product to be proud of!!

Purple heart wood is among my favorite to look at not to work with :)

Nice blade shape.

13 inch overall.....
WhooBoy!!!
:cool: :eek: :D
Tom
 
the finish is simply sand paper. Its actually pretty rough....

I used 220 to remove the heat treat scales and went from there.
To 280, then 320, then 400.
I need some 600 or 800 but don't have any so I just went for the 1500 grit. I just rub and keep rubbing......

Tonight I tried a little orange just to start the patina...very little happened because I waxed it first but thats the intention...to get a nice natural patina. I figure the more "Stuff" I use it for the better she will look. I still need to sharpen better though. I think I'll start that process better this weekend.

Oh, it handles 1" pine plenty well. Couldn't resist.... a natural chopper.

Even though its large this may find its way in the kitchen!
 
blgoode...

hi this is DaQo'tah!

Very good work!,,,way way way, better than my first one,,,

I was reading about the trouble you have had with your sheath, and was reminded of the trouble I have had starting out making knives.

I wrote to Ed Fowler to get his advice, and he was kind enough to send me a traceing of his knife and sheath.

I have built on the design he has given me, and have come up with my own ideas too. I have also made a webpage to help me remember how to make my design of knife sheath. (I seem to always forget how to make a sheath every time I start to make one) The address of my page is-

http://eastof29.tripod.com/daqotahforge2/id37.html


This is my page where I give myself step-by-step instructions on the making of the sheath.

As far as how to color the sheath?

I dont know what the experts do, but I just LOVE the look of my sheaths after they get a nice long bath in a mix of hot wax and mink oil and beeswax.

I soak the sheath in the hot wax/oil mix until I know the stuff has really gotten into the leather, then I place the knife into the sheath. (I first coat the knife in oil and wrap in plastic wrap.)

I hang the sheath with the knife in it on a stick to dry. I check on it every 15 min for about an hour as it drys. I pull the knife out and slide it back in to make sure I dont allow the sheath to get too tight. I form the mouth of the sheath a bit more open with my fingers as it drys.

In the morning the leather of the sheath is very, very hard. The knife actually makes a popping sound when it slides in and out of the sheath.

The color is a rich dark brown .
 
I don't see a web page...

I am thinking of heating to loosen some of the bees wax up and rubbing in mink oil. I think my problem was I started off with a raw.....sandy colored leather. I didn't color it at all. I am glad I made the sheath though. I know I will get better at it. I almost started a scout style carry one tonight but decided to try that later. I want to mess with the finnish more on this one......Figure I'll just abuse it with love. It actually fits well if I pull away from the welt when pulling it in and out. Still too tight in my opinion though. I'd like to see some of your sheaths DaQo'tah!
 
I'll be looking at your site alot tomorrow.

Where are the sheaths so I can look quick in the morning.

Talk to you bright and early....with loads of coffee!
 
hey, sounds good,,,I dont have to work for the next 3 months, so chances are I will be on-line anytime you are,,,LOL

I posted the addrress of my web page where I show how to make a sheath,,,,I made this to remind myself how to make them,,I keep forgetting,

The sheath I use is based on Ed Fowlers design that he sent me. I have worked out a way how to use his basic design with any size knife that I might make..

and I show a system for useing that yellow legle size paper we all can get in the store, that allows everyone to copy my design point by point. Although I have text to talk about each photo, I believe that actually if a guys just looks at each photo in order, that you can understand what Im doing at each step,,,Im not even sure I have read all the text yet,,,

I have seen many other web pages where guys show how to make a sheath, and I just wanted to add my ideas to the pile of knowlege.http://eastof29.tripod.com/daqotahforge2/id37.html

Freely Ed gave to me, so freely I give to others....
 
Hey, that is one great first knife!!! You have major huevos to take on a project of that magnitude first time out! :D And a fine job you did of it. I like the Loveless bolts, great choice. Your sheath looks great too! I have a tendency to make em too small myself, and have a drawer with several unused sheaths laying in it... :o :D Thanks for sharing, I have a feeling you got the sickness now too. ;)

Okay DaQo'tah, spring with the sewing method! That's a great sheath making page but you left me hanging! :D That has to be the best tutorial I've ever seen, thanks for taking the time to make it. (Not letting you off the hook for the sewing lesson though. :D )
 
Sheath making is a whole new art...thats for sure!
 
thats the thing...

Knife making is not just one hobby,,,,,it's 3


First there is the hobby of working with steel. My learning how to forge is a hobby all alone...

Then next we have to learn the hobby of handle making,,,,and on top of this, most all the tools that we use to work the steel have no use at all when making the handle!

and then...

then we come to our last hobby of the Sheath making and Leather Work....again few if any of the things we learned from our first 2 hobbys are carried over to the leather work...


Of the three hobbies we have to learn at the same time in order to m ake a knife, I like working with my forge the most,,,I like the fire and the hitting things part...

Next i like to do the leather work when I make a sheath,,,I could make sheaths all day long!

However, I hate to make handles,,I hate every part of handle making,,I hate the brass guard I hate the smell of Micarta,,,I hate fileing,,,,I wish I could forge a micarta handle somehow....
 
Funny...the handle on mine(after glued up and roughed out!)
Was the most fun. I guess because it symbolised...Hey. I can use this!:D
 
Brain
Fine looking knife,and the whole package looks good
The knife looks like it will be a mean chopper,
the sheath has a very nice touch to it.
Keep up the good work
Nathan:)
 
Thanks.
The sheath has a nice friction fit to it. A little too tight but it will go in. I have already wrote to add 3/8" on my pattern.

maybe a better fit 2nd time around!
 
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