American Chopper Knife - Rock Video Showing Making Of the Knife in Our Shop

Status
Not open for further replies.
Archer Here

Archer Here

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 2, 2008
Messages
1,303
Making of The “American Chopper” Knife Rock Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhDVcv98aPo

Thought I’d get patriotic with this one. This video shows the making of the “American Chopper” Knife in our shop along with a few patriotic & military pictures.

I put hidden pins in the scales this time, like some of you suggested. Painting the flag was a bit time consuming because I had to use several coats, but I was pretty happy with it once it was done.

Pictures of the finished knife.
100_3753.jpg

100_3736.jpg

100_3740b.jpg

100_3718.jpg

100_3732.jpg

100_3781.jpg

100_3779.jpg
 
Steven Penner said:
The sharp edge points toward the fold in the sheath and not the welt?
Click to expand...

I don't do it that way, because I don't want to cut the stitching. That's my preference. I can't even imagine that you would want to do it the other way? Nothing like, over time, not realizing you've been cutting your stitching, then one day you look down... oh my .... my knifes gone.
 
you should use a welt, then your stitching won't be cut.

As to the knife, it has some issues but I don't know if you are looking for criticism.
 
Chris doesn't use a welt in his sheaths.

Chris, a welt is a layer of leather at the seam that you stitch through and prevents (usually) the edge cutting through the stitching.
 
Will Leavitt said:
Chris doesn't use a welt in his sheaths.

Chris, a welt is a layer of leather at the seam that you stitch through and prevents (usually) the edge cutting through the stitching.
Click to expand...

Thanks Will. Had no idea.
 
Hey Archer Here, I like the creativity. Theme knives seem to always rub at least a few people wrong but they are fun. Looking forward to seeing your next one.
 
Since it's supposed to be an art knife of sorts, I guess it doesn't matter much, but the knife looks kind of hard to hold and use. I mentioned this on your first knife and haven't brought it up since, but I really think you should consider carrying your grinds up another 1/4" at least, if not 1" or even a full grind, this will make many of them more handy.
 
I was wondering about steel type(s), who does the heat treat, and approximate Rockwell hardness.

AcridSaint said:
I really think you should consider carrying your grinds up another 1/4" at least, if not 1" or even a full grind, this will make many of them more handy.
Click to expand...

By handy of course you mean able to cut efficiently. I agree.

Angle grinders are not suited for grinding bevels.

Edit: I watched some of the other videos, and I see you have belt sanders. I guess I just don't get the choice of blade geometry.
 
Last edited:
A few points, in no particular order... And I liked that last one you posted, so I'm not trying to be rude, just helpful. :thumbup:

-Pins.
-Gaps on scales. Could be fixed by pinning, and clamping firmly (but not too firmly so as to squeeze epoxy out), after thoroughly flattening the bottom side of scales with sandpaper laid on a sheet of glass or something.
-Also, ergonomically, I like a handle to be more round and less flat. All of my firsts had flat, wide handles, that were not comfortable to use for any length of time.
-Also, if you don't have a belt grinder suited for knife making, getting a good flat file would be a cheap solution in the mean time to crisp-up those bevels and maybe bring them up higher.

That's about it. Good luck :)
 
I guess I have my knife in the wrong forum. I wasn’t so much looking for advise. I merely wanted to share this knife and shop video with you fine folks. I’m not saying I can’t take criticism, because I by no means know it all. However, I feel I have to stand up for my knives, bevels, and techniques. Believe it or not, my customers love them. I do quite a number of the “squared off” knives, and if I change the bevel on it, it would change the look of my design. As you can see, my knives look much different from the majority of the knife makers here. There’s one in particular who is always begging me to do a plain “bushcraft” style knife, but I refuse because that’s just not me.

I do realize what I’m about to say can cause a ruckus, but Gil Hibbens is in my mind, one of the best knife makers there is, and has an influence on my knives. If you look at his handles, probably 80 to 90% of them are square, like I do, and I’m sure if they were that uncomfortable or that horrible of a knife, people would not be buying them the way they do. I can only hope to be as successful as him one day. I’m not trying to be hateful, but there were a few of you that were a little rude. There is a fine line between construction criticism and insult, and I feel, especially one, was quite rude; but the majority of it was just pompous “I know it all” remarks.

As far as my heat treating, There’s really no need to go into detail, when I’ve already explained it on my “for sale” thread, and on my web site. I go through all the correct steps that need to be taken to normalize, heat harden, heat temper, etc, and these methods have been approved already by many knife makers on this forum that helped me when I first started out. Nothing has changed. All the “important steps” are being taken, which allows me to focus more on the creative side of knife making, which is a blast. Same is true for the steel I use.

As far as my hardness testing, I file test it myself, as many makers have instructed me to do. You’re the first that have ask “who does you Rockwell testing”.

Below is a picture of one of Hibben’s square handles, and man what a knife!:
HibbensHandle-1.jpg


As far as my bevels, I seem to be getting along just fine with what I have. You can put a very good edge on my knives. Not all of my knives have that kind of bevel. Just my big square choppers that have sold on this forum. Below is a picture of the bevel on my last knife as well, which a lot of people loved.

Wise Magic Knife Blade:
100_3608.jpg
 
I understand and respect your creative license, I didn't originally intend to get anyone on the defensive, that's actually the main reason I haven't posted on any of your other knives. That being said, since you post many knives here and since you're selling them, I think you should be open to what folks are saying. Everyone here is trying to be constructive and polite.

Gil Hibben is an incredible maker, I agree, he gets very wild with his knives just like you're going for. It may be hard for you to see, but I do think there is quite a difference in his handle contour and yours.

I've looked over all of the knives you've posted here and I've looked at your site, no one has to agree with me, but I think the grinds should be higher and crisper. Your knives will feel better, cut better, and (in my opinion) look better. If your choppers are more like splitters then they don't need a higher grind, if you're blades are interpretations of knives, then they don't even have to cut. If you don't want to improve, please disregard my advice.

For what it's worth, my knife grinds were pretty similar when I started and I thought they were fine too.
 
Chris, generally when someone posts a knife here people are going to critique it. It IS the maker's forum and we're all here to improve the craft, well most of us, I know I suck at knifemaking so I'm always looking to improve.

Gil Hibben also made very "normal" knives in addition to the blades that are "classic Hibben".

I'm not going to address the various posts, I hope you didn't take mine as an insult. I was answering someone's question because I knew you weren't on and thought I'd add some information regarding a welt. If I did come across as insulting to you shoot me a pm and we'll talk this out in private.

If you think your knives are fine then don't bother listening to people. If you want to improve then put your knives up for critique. If you really want to hear what collectors think about your knives put them up in the "Custom and Handmade" forum. People in here have been very mild and polite compared to what those guys will say to you if they bother to post at all.
 
bikermikearchery said:
I suppose you could use that gap between the tang and scale to put change in.
Click to expand...

As well as these quotes:
"Im sorry but that was kinda funny."
"Sorry but, I think it's ugly."

Oh ya... now I get it. I guess I was just confused about “constructive” criticism. I know now that you need to take your "butt kicking" and take it with your mouth shut because it is just constructive criticism from the constructive and polite folks like the quotes above. I know it's not just me. I've talked with plenty of other makers and it's well known that when somebody does something someone doesn't like that they all decide to come out of the wood work and jump on the band wagon.

Will: You were not one of the ones I considered insulting at all... I listen to you. You can see with your own eyes which ones were the insulting ones. And Will, if it gets worse over in the other forum, that's pretty bad, and not constructive at all. That little word, constructive, gets thrown around a lot to be able to insult someone else’s knives. So I guess maybe I should do the same to other knife makers and call it "constructive" criticism? Naa, I think I’ll pass on that.

Any who, I'm going to go finish my knife I'm making with my grinder. I've got a grind to do.

Thanks for this memorable experience.
 
I know if I was a customer, I wouldn't pay $200 for a knife with gaps in the handle, or a sheath without a welt with the blades edge in the fold. A sharp knife would make that sheath fail, and pretty dangerous
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top