Beefy pocket utility in Crucible CPM3v and cherry burl

Matthew Gregory

Matthew Gregory

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Finished this one up yesterday, and need to make a sheath for it. It's yet another pocket utility, but with a few major twists. The profile is based on a Lloyd Harding profile, and in this case I started with .150" thick Crucible CPM3v. The primary grind and swedge were both ground on an 8" wheel, and the tang has been REALLY tapered, to .025" thick at the butt. Overall length is just over 7", and the blade is 2-7/8" long. Point of balance is about at the front handle pin, which gives a nimble, light feel to the rather chunky (for this design, at least...) blade. The handle tapers forward, and swells at the butt, and is made of some really pretty stabilized cherry burl I bought ages ago, and have been waiting for the right project to use. Total weight is 3-1/2 ounces.

The handle is gently faceted and the faceting sweeps outward toward the butt - I apologize for the inability to capture this in a photo. Despite what appears to be 'blocky', it feels rather nice in hand, and indexes well.


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Love the wormholes in the butt:):


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This video shows the sculpting a little better, I think:




Thanks for looking!
 
Nice cherry burl!

IF you were making that knife for me(and I think 7" is a very reasonable pocket sized knife, on the higher end of length) would rather see a 3 1/2" blade and handle of same length, accepting that it is a three finger size, which is all that is necessary.

Would like to see a bolster/minimalist guard in bronze, copper, ti or ss.

Blade profile is racy. Tapered tang is spot on, nice job!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
FWIW, I've come back to look at this a bunch of times, and watched the video too, and I just can't get over feeling the butt of the handle isn't "finished". It's just too square / boxy to my eye, especially given the lines of the blade. It's not a criticism, just my perspective and one you're obviously aware of being possible, but no matter how much I try to convince myself it's finished enough, I can't. I keep imagining it with a coke bottle waist right above the butt.

I do love the blade shape, the size, and the taper is wicked nice.
 
I totally understand. I admit that it's a pinch different when you feel it, but the squareness of the entire thing is really polarizing. I've gotten lots of comments elsewhere, and people either seem to adore it, or they wrinkle their nose at it. I considered adding a sweeping hollow right where the flat on the side is, with it being its widest and deepest right at the butt, too, but I worry about handle material like this having too much contouring. Unlike most others, I don't view stabilizing as a guarantee of integrity. Burls are no where near as strong as straight grain - all there is to it - stabilized or not. As this is going to someone that I'm convinced will be beating this mercilessly, erring on the side of caution felt like the right idea. :)


Camber said:
...and I just can't get over feeling the butt of the handle isn't "finished". It's not a criticism, just my perspective and one you're obviously aware of being possible, but no matter how much I try to convince myself it's finished enough, I can't. I keep imagining it with a coke bottle waist right above the butt.

I do love the blade shape, the size, and the taper is wicked nice.
Click to expand...
 
Appreciate the additional info Matt, and I think that's a great end point concern.

And to add a littlet context, even being square I'd have no problem carrying it, especially since I trust when you say it's comfy. At the end that means far to me than a small point of aesthetics.
 
at least it doesn't have a broom handle:p

it's a really endearing little knife, and the striations in the wood grain are so interesting I think because of the large planes you've created. Combined with the sporty clip, this knife has a real forward look to it- like a drag racecar
 
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