A trio of Xmas Wharncliffes... holiday orders finished!

Salem Straub

Salem Straub

Joined
Oct 20, 2008
Messages
5,547
Here's a few iterations of my "Knip" model, a small wharncliffe utility. They are going to the family of an old friend of mine.

One is in 52100, with stabilized box elder burl.
One is in 52100, with an aluminum diamond plate handle. This was a kind of a bear to do, my first try for this type of handle. The diamond plate is domed out from the back for a better shape, and "book matched" pattern wise. I used blue G10 liners.
One is my own CruForgeV/15N20 damascus in a maiden's hair pattern of 324 layers, with more box elder burl.

Let me know what you think! Thanks for looking.

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I like the checkerplate.......great idea for a handle.
Darcy :)
 
Three very cool knives. The damascus is my favorite of the three and with cruforge in the mix it must cut like the dickens.

Steve
 
Thanks guys!

Eric, that's 1/8" diamond plate. I used a top fuller over a half round dip on my swage block side, with the block padded with a leather caul, to dish the rough-cut scales outwards cold. Then, I put them on the anvil tang side down and used a plastic faced hammer to forge the ends down flat with the sides, and flattened a bearing edge around the sides of the scales. I flat ground them on the platen to further establish the bearing edge, then flattened by hand on granite with paper. That, plus the liners, gave me enough room for threaded standoffs through the tang. The aluminum is hand sanded to 600, then scrubbed with green scotchbrite for a satiny, easy to touch up surface. The original brite finish was too high maintenance, and I think the plate looks more robust with a matte look anyway.

I figured the liners would also help because aluminum likes to develop crustiness when in contact with other metals. This way, it's "insulated" from the steel of the tang.

Steve, I love how that CruForge cuts in a damascus blade. I've made a couple of chefs now with this mix, including one as a gift for my wife that I've used a lot, and they take a thirsty edge and stay sharp.
 
Salem, everyone already said what I would have said. I really like the Diamond Plate. It's unique.....and should be repeated some time. The sheaths are very nice also....good progress there, my friend.

Paul
 
Mighty nice Salem.
Not what I was expecting to see when I opened the thread,
A mighty pleasant surprise. Like them all.
And a compliment from the "sheathmaker!"
Have a Great New Year,
Dozier
 
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