2011 mini knife KITH

[fast14riot]

Some more progress today, got the pommel cut out and rough fit, handle is close to final shape, and the guard is getting a final fitting. Still need to do final finish sanding on all metal, finish needs polishing on handle as well. I am thinking about the best way to cut grooves in the handle without tearing a ton of fibers out. I was thinking of using a hack saw blade, but don't know if it will work well enough. I could always leave the handle smooth, but I have tried so hard to keep it true to scale I kinda don't want to skimp out now.

Anyways, here it is so far...

Still not sure what to do about bluing or coloring the metal, three different steels used so I don't know how each will take it.


-Xander

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Looks nice.

I would give them a ferric chloride etch. It should darken the steel nicely.Birchwood Casey perma-blue would probably be fine,too.
As far as grooves go, the best way would be using a very fine cut jeweler's saw blade. They come in thinness up to 7/0. If not available to you, use a small knife edged file, or a scalpel blade.

 

[RyanW]

Wow Stacy and Xander those are great! I am looking forward to this finishing up...

 

[fast14riot]

Thanx Stacy! Ill stop by Radio Shack and get some Ferric Chloride today. I don't have a jewelers saw or any quick way to get one, but I do have some knife edge needle files. Ill give it a shot, hopefully I don't screw it up! Now on to searching for how to etch and neutralize...


-Xander

 

[fast14riot]

First complete test assembly...

Now on to etching. With the PCB etchant, how long should I soak the mini? Normally, as I understand it, soak and wipe off scale every few minutes except let it sit for last 15 minutes. Then go to 30 minutes at boiling in fully saturated sodium bicarbonate/water solution.

Are there any issues specific to minis I should watch out for when doing this?


-xander

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Looking good!

Etching is both an art and a science. Experiment and see how it goes; keep your immersion times on the shorter side at first until you are used to the results. The first etch will determine how clean it is so keep it very short.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The mini tanto is done and ready for final photos. Photos tonight or tomorrow.
This is my entry in the KITH.

Xander,
Dilute the FC from Radio Shack 3:1 water to FC. This makes a good stock etchant strength. To darken the blade, dilute the stock solution 3:1 to get a 9:1 solution. This will darken the blade without etching it severely. Wash it well and don't touch with your fingers. Etch for a minute, then wash off and rub with a paper towel. Re-etch, rinse, wipe.... as many times as needed to get the desired effect. When done, wash well, spray with Windex, and boil in clean water for 10 minutes to set the color. You want the color darker than desired, as the clean up and buffing will lighten it. Buff by hand with a soft cloth and just a tiny amount of Flitz or Simicrome.

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

Not able to get a working handle. The wood keeps splitting when i get it down to 1/8" and I need slightly smaller. Gonna have to start working with something synthetic and white. Possibly some fiberglass rod. I can split it, mortise and glue together.

This damascus has a delamination near the tip, so it won't be in the KITH. My KITH entry will be the koa handled hunter that GI Joe is holding. Still, I thought I'd show off my habaki/tsuba/seppa. Really zoomed in, but it's 1/4" diameter.

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Not able to get a working handle. The wood keeps splitting when i get it down to 1/8" and I need slightly smaller. Gonna have to start working with something synthetic and white. Possibly some fiberglass rod. I can split it, mortise and glue together.

This damascus has a delamination near the tip, so it won't be in the KITH. My KITH entry will be the koa handled hunter that GI Joe is holding. Still, I thought I'd show off my habaki/tsuba/seppa. Really zoomed in, but it's 1/4" diameter.
View attachment 219944

Cool! Nice tsuba.

 

[fast14riot]

Hey, that does look good! I see you fancied it up a little bit some sort of pattern. On a side note, I figured out a way to use a very small punch on thicker steel. The pommel on my knife is .050 mild steel (16g). I managed to punch a few holes and not a problem at all.

I am going to try the FC etch tonight after the little one goes to bed, I still have some scraps of 1080 an the two other mild steels for trial runs. Keep your fingrs crosed for me!


-Xander

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The Mini KITH Tanto is done and in the box. Email sent.

Specs: 1:4 scale Tanto, OAL 5.5"
Blade -
3.5", Forged W2
Shinogi-tsukuri
Ko-kissaki
Mitsu-mune
Koshirae -
Habaki - copper
Tsuba - San-mai sterling and copper, with yellow gold "taiyo".
kozuka and kogai hitsu-ana
Koiguchi - sterling
Mekugi - brass
Tsuka/saya - Buckeye burl and ebony
Illustrated and labeled diagram ,and Maintenance kit sent with tanto


Notes:
The fit between the habaki and koiguchi is superb. It goes in like butter and locks up on the last 1mm.

There is a photo angle on one shot that makes the tsuka look to be at an angle to the saya. it is a smooth curve. Cutting the blade recess in one piece of wood and then cutting this to make the two components assures proper alignment of the two later on when the shaping is done.

The mekugi can be removed and the tanto disassembled as normal. No glue or other things are used. The fit-up of all parts is dead tight.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

A few more photos

 

[RyanW]

Absolutely Beautiful Stacy, that is a very generous KITH entry!

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Stacy that looks fantastic!


I took some photos of my mini today.

It is a 1:4 scale chopper. The original is about a foot long, .250" thick, and has 1/4" tubes. This one is about 3" long, 1/16" thick and has 1/16" tubes.

It is made of differentially hardened O1 Steel; the spine and handle are slightly softer. The pins are aluminum and the sheath is concealex that I ground down thin so it is close to scale.

I made the scale material, burlap mycarta. I tried to make the mycarta glow in the dark and it has a very faint glow.

 

[RyanW]

Daniel that looks Great! it is one of those mini's that you would have no idea it was 3" long, and that is a great thing.

 

[Mike Davis]

Man! You guys are rocking this stuff! Great job to everyone! I just got back from my anniversary vacation so i am thinking about heading out to get crackin on this tonight...maybe even finished. I will let you know about the progress tomorrow.

 

[fast14riot]

Ok guys, seeing some truely nice work being done here! Now I need to start getting everyone rounded up that is done and ready to ship.

So far of all the completed knives I have seen I have only received one email stating that they are done, ready to ship and very courteously a shipping address to confirm what I have on file. Please send me a confimation to fast14riot@gmail.com.

So with what I have seen on here I am going to tally up all the makers who seem to be finished. Expect an email from me in the next day or two to confirm if I haven't heard anything.

2011 mini KITH
Finished knives

Bladsmth -- Stacy Apelt
Fast14riot -- Xander Holman
RyanW -- Ryan Weeks
Mike Davis -- Mike Davis
Zaph1 -- Charles Steffes-Clayton
Daniel Fairly Knives -- Daniel Fairly

If your name is in italics I need an email from you for confirmation. I know it may seem a bit redundant to post pics here and send an email to me, but I want to be absolutely certain that no one gets left out because I assumed someone was done and had a knife to ship, but they were late for the dead line. Now if someone has a knife done and cannot post pics here, feel free to email me the pics and I can post them for you.

I am within a couple hours work of being done on mine, and looks as if Mike Davis is too. Now this list is a little smaller than the one at the start, but that is to be expected. It is also why I require pics and a statement of completion so no one who did not make a knife, gets a knife.


Hope all is going well and everyone keeps making minis.

-Xander Holman

 

[thanphap]

These knife blade is great
Thank you :thumbup:

 

[fast14riot]

My mini KITH US M3 fighting knife is done and ready to ship.

1/5 scale
OAL 2.3"
Blade 1.36"
1080 blade, peanut oil quenched and tempered 2X @ 400*/60min
Guard - mild steel .025" thick
Pommel - mild steel .047" thick
Handle - CA soaked stacked leather 20 layers
Through-tang handle
All metal cold blued


Well I decided not to cut the grooves in the handle because I was not sure of my abilities to do it properly. I think it looks fine the way it is. Included is a special note for whoever gets it, I will let the recipient disclose the surprise when it is received.

Hope to see more in th next few days from everyone!


-Xander Holman

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

Wow, the etching looks great!