Antler JKM with choil and etch, be easy on me!

ArchAngel

ArchAngel

Joined
Feb 13, 2000
Messages
2,688
Well today is a rainy, and cold day outside. This got me thinking about how my new antler JKM really needs a choil to be as handy as I would like. I found the JKM to be a perfectly handy size, except that the handle is more of a three finger size. I thought that if I put a choil on it I would be able to choke up on it and get a little more leverage for working with. The blade is about 4 1/2 inches long so I felt that a 1 inch choil would still leave a nice 3 1/2 inch cutting edge. So I set out to putting a choil on it. After I got done I was reading someones post about etching their Ed Fowler Pronghorn to see the hardened area show up. I did the same thing and am pleased with the results.
The JKM is a handy little knife and I think that it will become an EDC item as it is small enough and handy enough to handle any daily chores that I could put it to. It fits right in my pocket nicely. It does feel much better as now I can get the whole hand on the handle and it feels secure now!
 
Great job! What tools did you use to grind the choil? In the photo it appears that only the tip of the blade is hardened, is the back edge softer?
 
Beautiful! Now...get out a jeweler's file and get a spot for your thumb to rest.

P1010042.JPG


P1010045.JPG


Choil by Dan, filework by Keith (aka FerrousWheel, aka Ferriswheal, aka who knows who else? :) )
 
Thanks guys! I used a die grinder with a 3/4" double cut carbide burr. These cut fast and do NOT create a lot of heat like you can with a stone grinding tool. After that it was some polishing with a 1" hard scotchbrite wheel then a dremel tool to polish further.
Nasty, That is weird. I was just telling my lady that I needed to put some traction grooves in the spine for a better thumb grip area. Then you post yours! Strange how we all can be on such close wavelengths. :eek: I like yours. It makes me realise I might have gone a little deep on my choil. Looks wise at least. As for feel, It is great now, so I won't second guess myself now.
I think the kami most likely did a tip dip hardening on this blade. That is OK with me since most of the work this knife will get is in that hardened area.
Well I'm off to the cellar to look for my jewelers files. :cool: ;)
 
Well, after some effort with the jewelers files. TaDa,,, the "NASTY PAD" is installed. It was the finishing touch that this user blade needed to make it solid in my hand while cutting tough items where grip is needed. I am happy with the finished project. :cool: It was a fun time getting it where I wanted it.
 
AA very nice job! :) Me likeky. It looks really good. Thanks for sharing those pics.

Heber
 
Question:

On the antler handles- There is the white part, and then for want of a better term the "porous" part. Is it possible to polish the handle further and polish out the pores, or does it have to do with what part of the antler it is?
 
The porous part is the marrow of the antler. The best fix is to fill the pores with superglue, let it dry, and then sand it smooth with 220+ grit paper. You can get the entire surface polished this way.
 
Thanks for the compliments guys. It was a fun project. I do love doing those things that make the knife more ME. It is a chance to more fully bond with a knife.
HD, I polished up the antler on my JKM and the antler Kumar Karda that I got also. I was able to get the raised areas of the white and the black to actually shine up. I was going to try to fill those areas that were deeper, but they actually enhance grip and have a nice aged feel to them so I did not bother. The antler seem real solid, but I have been treating them with mineral oil just in case. We will see.
 
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