Everything about this turned out wrong. The steel, the handle, the pin...everything. I am not proud of it, but here it is. The steel came from a piece of electrical panel and it turned out to be entirely too soft. Even after heat treating it was still no good. If bent, it stays in that position. However, I figured I might as well try to finish it anyway.
The handle is from a stick I found outside. As you can see, it is full of holes and very dry. I should have known better, but I went ahead with it. Not having any kind of decent way to cut a slot in the handle, I just used what I had on hand. The hacksaw did not cut a nice straight line like I hoped it would. Although it does not show in the pics, the slot is off center a bit.
Well, as you may have guessed, I was at this point thoroughly disgusted. But, I went ahead with it anyway. After filing the blade to shape and fitting the brass pin, I drilled a hole through the handle and hammered the pin in. Of course the handle cracked.
At this point, I just decided to stop and not do anything else to it. Overall, it looks like junk. Much too big and ugly as sin.
Embarrassed by the way it turned out, I was just going to toss it. However, a little humiliation is good for the soul and now it's now posted for the world to gape/giggle/cringe at.
Did I learn anything? Absolutely. Use the right steel. Use stabilized wood. Use the right equipment. Arrogance has no place in the shop.
By the way, the 2 knives in the picture are a #8 Opinel & SAK Recruit.
The handle is from a stick I found outside. As you can see, it is full of holes and very dry. I should have known better, but I went ahead with it. Not having any kind of decent way to cut a slot in the handle, I just used what I had on hand. The hacksaw did not cut a nice straight line like I hoped it would. Although it does not show in the pics, the slot is off center a bit.
Well, as you may have guessed, I was at this point thoroughly disgusted. But, I went ahead with it anyway. After filing the blade to shape and fitting the brass pin, I drilled a hole through the handle and hammered the pin in. Of course the handle cracked.
At this point, I just decided to stop and not do anything else to it. Overall, it looks like junk. Much too big and ugly as sin.
Embarrassed by the way it turned out, I was just going to toss it. However, a little humiliation is good for the soul and now it's now posted for the world to gape/giggle/cringe at.
Did I learn anything? Absolutely. Use the right steel. Use stabilized wood. Use the right equipment. Arrogance has no place in the shop.
By the way, the 2 knives in the picture are a #8 Opinel & SAK Recruit.
Thanks for sharing- that was awesome!
