2011 mini knife KITH

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Oct 27, 2010
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Well everyone here is the official start of the 2011 Mini Knife KITH! I don't know if it has been done here before, but this is the first one for me and I will host it. You are not obligated until the JULY 1, 2011 deadline when all will have to post:
"My knife is ready and in a box ready to ship."

This KITH is open to all who wish to make a mini knife or similar tool ( sword, hawk, etc.) that they feel represents the best of their abilities and efforts. The spirit of this KITH is to encourage makers of all skills and abilities to try their hand at making a mini knife. All others who have made one before should just try and do a good job. We have knives from fairly new makers to master smiths. All are given with the spirit of the KITH, and received just as gladly.

There will be no exceptions to the JULY 1, 2011 cutoff. If the knife isn't finished by then, you won't get a shipping label....no exceptions. ( If you need the lable early ,that won't be such a problem, but no extensions.)

So, if everyone wants to, lets get started. Here is the KITH:

2011 MINI KNIFE KITH
This thread is for all those interested in joining the 2011 MINI KNIFE KITH.
While the normal KITH's are for full sized working (or display) knives, this one will be exclusivly for miniatures. The purpose is to make a knife and give it away to another knifemaker. In return you will get a knife from someone. No one will know who they are making the knife for until after the knife is finished, and no one will know who they will receive a knife from until it arrives in the mail.

SOME BASIC RULES :
The entrant must make, finish, and box the knife by or before JULY 1,2011. Once finished, the maker can then post on the “2011 MINI KNIFE KITH - I’m Ready” thread. This thread will be posted starting MAY 1, 2011. Photos of the completed knives can be posted on a separate “KITH Photos" thread if it gets to the size where a seperate thread is needed.
By JULY 10, 2011 , I will make a shipping label and an envelope for each entrant, from those who have logged on the “I’m Ready” thread. I will have a third party randomly draw the labels and stick them in an envelope. The only examination of the names will be to assure no one is sent their own label. I will then email the name and address to each person in the KITH.

If you are interested in becoming a part of this:

Post on this thread,
“I’m In - I will make a knife by JULY 1, 2011.”
Also, send me an email to, fast14riot@gmail.com . Give me you real name, your forum name, shipping address, contact phone, and email.
At this point, that is all you need to do. I will keep track of those who are interested in participating. I will send out reminders by email to keep us all going. If you don’t finish the knife, or if there is a conflict of schedule, there is no problem this way - the recipients are only drawn from those who have completed their entry by JuLY 1, 2011.

About the knives:
A miniature can be many things, I generally think it should be of 1/4 scale or less, but it is up to you. A 1/4 scale bowie can easily be 4" long, but a 1/4 scale katana I would think of as a knife. Whatever scale you choose, be sure to pay attention to every detail to make sure it is true to scale. The entry can be any knife or bladesmith related item. Fixed blade, folder, axe, hawk, sword, etc. The only requirement is that it be made by the submitter and of miniature scale ( For simplicity, I will refer to it as “the knife“). The workmanship should be of the best quality that you are able to do. Levels will vary depending on ability and experience, but if you feel your knife will be a suitable gift, then by all means enter. If you are just starting, and still learning the basics, perhaps sitting this year out would be best. The knife should be fully completed, and a sheath or case is completely optional due to the non-usuabe nature of minis. You should provide all the pertinent information on the knife in a note to the recipient (put this in the box). Outside services, such as Water Jet, Stabilization, and Heat Treatment are fine, but the workmanship on the knife should be yours. The value level of the knife is up to you as most likely these will be made of scraps. It should be something that will be happily received by the new owner, but levels of value will vary, depending on the maker and their circumstances. It is a fun gift exchange, not a swap meet. It is not about what you get back for what you put in. Some knives will be woth more than others, but it is totally up to you. No one is obligated to go beyond their means to enter this KITH.

Lets all have some fun and make some truly worthy mini knives.


-Xander Holman
 
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Thanx guys for jumping on this! If you have already sent me an email with your contact info, no need to send another one, I have it. Please do make sure to post "I'm in..." in this thread even if you have already sent me your info from the other thread I started. I would like to get everyone on one thread.


-Xander
 
Well here is the list of names I have so far, some have already sent me info from the other thread I started so there are more names here than actually posted so far. If your screen name is in red I need your info. Please email it to me, fast14riot@gmail.com. All the details are in the first post of this thread.

UPDATED AS OF 5/28/2011

Fast14riot - Xander Holman
Bladsmith - Stacy E. Apelt
Southclaw - Zech Moore
Cbr900son - William Bishop
Daniel Fairly Knives - Daniel Fairly
Zaph1 - Charles Steffes-Clayton
Mike Davis - Mike Davis
Medtech - Steve Schantz
Koyote - Christof Harper
RyanW - Ryan Weeks


I will keep this list updated hopefully everyday or as I find time

Thanx
-Xander
 
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How about a bad pic for a teaser...! Anyone else have plans on what they might be doing for this? I don't know if this one will be for the KITH, but it is a mini.

2011-03-20195957-1.jpg



-Xander
 
“I’m In - I will make a knife by JUNE 1, 2011.” I will try.

email already sent.

Zech
 
Zech, I know two months sounds like a short time when you think in terms of a full sized knife, but I couldn't belive just how fast it goes when you are making one. The pic I posted above is the result of approx 2 hours work. From scrounging through the shop trash for a couple pieces of 1080, figuring out what I wanted to do, then what scale. Converted a few measurments, marked the steel and went to town. Now I did everything with a 6" bench grinder on a 150grt stone to bring the 0.130 thick scrap down to ~.040 and then hand sanded the rest of the way to .035 thick. Bevels were done wit needle files a pin vise and a small block of wood to rest the blade on. I have it saned to about 1200 now nd then a light polish is next before the heat treat. Like I said, working on these minis goes quite quick. Afterall look what Stacy was able to put out in just half a work day (I know that's about as efficient as anyone can get, and he even has a mini kmg grinder ) .

Anyone have any ideas of what they want to do, yet? Zaph1, you had mentioned damascus (I think it was you), what pattern and steels?
Greg, you gonna come join the fun!?


-Xander
 
Damn Im glad I read your post when i was thinking of my mini forgot I needed a thin piece of steel. Gonna order one today real quick!
 
Xander, I should be able to get it done in time. I was checking it out at the shop today and I don’t think that it will take “too” long. It is just that I have some orders that I need to finish and I am not the fastest knife maker right now. I am going to school, an hour away and I also work there, so I only have weekends to work in the shop.:grumpy:
I was thinking of making a mini of a knife that I am in the process of making right now. It is a bowie/clip point. It is the same one that is my avatar right now. I think I may be going 1/5th scale.:thumbup:

Why is this in the “sticky” section? I was looking all over for it. I thought maybe it got deleted somehow.
:confused:
 
Zech,working directly from a full sized knife will help get all dimensions correct. 1/5 is nice and easy to work in, just multiply original (decimal) dimension by 2 and move the decimal to the left!

I asked that this be put in the stickies specifically so it remains on the top page so anyone can see it and join in. It will be removed after everything is done. I will be sending an email to let everyone know it is here now.

Don't feel bad if you don't make it in time, but do make sure you don't give up on the mini!


-Xander
 
“I’m In - I will make a knife by JUNE 1, 2011.” This is going to be alot of fun.
 
Hey everyone, just want to let everyone know that the list of makers involved will be updated in this thread, post #6.

I would also like to encourage all to maybe post a pic of what they are making, or just the idea's they have. I don't want this to be the place for complete WIP pics, but maybe just a sneak preview. My hope is that others that are on the fence about this, get excited and decide to join in! In all reality I would love for this to get so big, I have to recruit a second helper for hosting!

Remember, the knives are supposed to be mini, not the KITH!


-xander
 
So...what is everyone making? I will start with a few details about mine. It will be a 1/5th scale Tachi sword. 7.7 inches in length, .200 wide and thickness will be a touch thicker than scaled proportion. Forged out of 1095. Tsuba and additional fittings will be carved/patina copper. The Tsuka, Saya and a matching stand will be made from stabilized maple burl and the tsuka will have a silk wrap on it. i will try to do a "mini" hamon. Crazy how difficult it is to hammer bevels into a tiny little blade! I was going to make it a take down, but that might be biting off too much lol....
 
HELLO ALL
I would like to be in. I'll have a kine done by June 1st.

Thanks,
Steve
 
“I’m In - I will make a knife by JUNE 1, 2011.”

Gald I've saved some of my handle scraps, this should be fun!
 
Hey Christof, I just checked out your site...beautiful work! That "scandivex" grind you do looks great, and the review sounds just as promissing. Well I get over to your gallery and there is one of my top favorite knives I have ever seen on here! I totally forgot it was you that made the tribute style chute knife some months back. That thing is just plain ol' purdy! It has given me inspiration for some upcoming projects!

I can't wait to see what you come up with in miniature!


Cheers-
-Xander
 
I'm debating between a Scratchard miniature and a through tang langseax..... tough choices. I do have 1/8 inch tubing stock, though.....
 
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