2011 mini knife KITH

Well everyone, there seems to have been quite a few first minis involved in this KITH. That is excellent! It is a first for me as well. So t keep everyones interest up, why not post a problem, technique, or set of tools you had to utilize for your mini and how it can/will help you in making full sized knives?

For me it was surface finish. On a larger blade a small scratch or two are very easy to overlook, but when the exact same size scratch is on a blade only 2" long it can stand out like a clown at a funeral! Everytime I thought I had the finish sanding done I would walk into different light and see a scratch jump out at me! It was a little frustrating at the start but when I really was done, it felt great.

So, what has everyone else learned from this?


-Xander
 
Here's my entry for the KITH. This is my first properly etched damascus blade. Having seen how this one etched, I now know what to aim for when etching in the future. I may have to re-etch my damascus putter now that I know how it should look. I know I shouldn't use Joe in the picture, but it's such a perfect fit in his hand!

Forged Damascus hunter w/ Koa handle and filework on the spine
1080/15n20 "Bullseye" pattern low-layer damascus from Deker
2" OAL
1 3/8" blade length
Titanium guards
Koa handle w/ CA finish
mini1.jpg

And the filework on the spine turned out great, IMHO.
mini2.jpg


*GI Joe is copyright Hasbro Entertainment, Inc.
 
Dang. Too bad I didn't see this a month or two earlier. Looks like it would have been fun.

Greebe
 
My biggest issue was filing the guard slot....All i have is needle files and aside from the first 1/2" of them, they are too big for the slot. Also the heat treat...Trying so many small pieces of steel and trying to quench for a hamon and continually cracking the small pieces....I can say that .200 thick 1095 cools down fast enough to harden like a rock though!I was able to get a few hamons but was unhappy with them...My first attempt turned out great hamon wise, but had the micro fractures on the surface...Think i over heated..oh well :) I am really glad that the sword turned out...Might have pulled out my hair! All in all it was a great learning experience, and not that it is done...I might actually make a few more.

Thank you Xander for all the organization and giving us the chance to make some really cool mini's. Also i sense the need to thank Stacy for helping keep things rolling smoothly...and answering some questions for me along the way :)

Awesome job to everyone involved!
 
Hopefully everyone made it through their independance day celebrations with blowing themselves up! Just thought I would let you guys know that the name draw is done! Expect an email from me in the coming hours. Names were literally drawn from two hats, checked that no one drew their own name (which actually happened with three names so all were re-drawn) and stapled together.

Now everyone please do not share who you are sending to, it is supposed to be a surprise! This group is small enough one could easily deduce who gets what from just a couple of names revealed. Please send a quick reply stating you got the email, then post here when you shipped your knife.

Now about the shipping, please do get delivery confirmation so you get a tracking number. Insurance of an appropriate value is recommended.


Hope all is well

-Xander Holman
 
Email received and package sent! Hope the new owner gives it a good home. I spent a ton of time on this piece, and it gave me a whole new perspective on knife making in general.
I wanted to say thank you Xander and Stacy for making this happen...Pushed me into a new direction and made me focus on new aspects of doing this.

Cheers
Mike
 
I second Mike on the Thank you for setting this up, I came in late but had fun. I have mine boxed up and will get it shipped out first thing in the morning! I am excited to get a little package in the mail...
Ryan
 
Package shipped!

As far as the most difficult part goes, I think it was chamfering the aluminum tubes, they were tough to get right, Al likes to smear and is soft. I finally got it right using a single flute countersink and spun it by hand in the tubes.

I used a round file to shape the handle curve, I usually can get a wheel in there! That part went pretty fast but it was a unique process to this knife.

Thanks Xander and Stacy for putting this on, you guys did a great job!
 
HAHAHA! Awesome Zaph! I was hoping that was about the scale it would be! If you have any questions about it, please feel free to ask. I typed out a paper to send with it, but forgot it at home when i shipped it. So, sorry for the chicken scratch letter lol. I have some pieces left over that i am working on some new mini's with...Hope they turn out.

Hope you enjoy it!

Mike D.
 
Hey, Mike, what happened to the katana that you were working on earlier on in the KITH? How did the hamon turn out? I'm gonna have to go buy a GI Joe to hold this sword. Maybe a Jack Sparrow. . . .
 
zaph1 said:
Ecstatic!
GIJoeSword.jpg
Click to expand...

That is friggin awesome!!! Charles, when I saw what you were getting I knew that first thing was gonna be a photo shoot with Joe! Way cool that the scale is about right. Others should be showing up soon. I have to wait until Monday to ship mine due to some personal stuff getting in the way.

Everyone please do post pictures here when you receive yours!


-Xander
 
Thanks guys, The katana had a ton of micro structure cracks in the blade...Couldn't bring my self to send that to someone...I am pretty sure i got it too hot before quenching....Just in the last 3/4 of the blade and tip area....I still have it, will see if i can polish it out and etch it to show you guys. I have some of the fittings done for it....Maybe i will finish it out just for fun.
 
I have a fairly high failure rate on water quenched and clay coated minis. Using a small torch, it seems that you nearly always get it too hot. I should use the HT oven, but it seems dumb to heat a three inch toothpick in a 24" deep oven.
Some of the time, it cracks straight in one spot,near the machi, and I can shorten the blade into a tanto or wakizashi.....just like full size blades :)
 
Figured i should check the mail...Lookie what i got!
2011-07-11_17-57-56_999.jpg

2011-07-11_17-59-43_586.jpg

2011-07-11_17-57-37_200.jpg


Daniel....this mini is awesome!!! Great fit and finish on a mini! This thing is super cool!
Thanks for this :D

Mike

Also thanks for the Lapis!!! My wife is going to be stoked!
 
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