Brief tutorial - a simple fixed blade

I have on occasion scuffed the tang , but that is easily fixed , though using the " shoe shine " motion with the shop rolls , I don't have that problem very often.

After shaping the handle and I have it to final grit I will go back to 120 , 220 & 400 on the tang anyways , but usually there aren't too many cross scratches to remove.
 
...the bolts , which never seem to fit just right , so I turn the bolts down to fit the holes nice and tight. ( cordless drill and slack belt ...poor boy lathe )

I've had to do similar fudging on a couple re-handle jobs. Didn't care to redrill a hardened tang so I turned the the bolts down to fit the existing holes. I just chucked 'em in the drill press and gently held a file against them till they fit. I worked real slow because I was afraid of knocking the chuck out of whack. A proper machinist would likely cringe at the idea, but it does work. I've come to really like Corbys. One client wanted removable scales so I just cut the slots deeper, so he could grab 'em with screwdrivers if needed. Worked out nicely.

Anyway, it's a nice handy knife and a good story :)
 
This Saturday is the ceremony where the scout will get his Eagle award , knife is done , I will be there to hand it to him in person , along with a photo album documenting the build.

Hope he likes it :)

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Tonight , after the scout was awarded his new rank , and all the formalities were out of the way , his mother called me up to award him the knife , I also gave a brief explanation about how it was made , and the number of friends I have made while enjoying this knifemaking hobby.

After the presentation , all the other Eagle Scouts there were asking how they can get one.

I hung around afterwards and talked to many people , a lot of older gents were also Eagles , one whom is related to Devon Thomas.

The photo album with the build pictures was also a big hit.

It was a very rewarding thing to do , and something I am going to continue to do , I will sitting down soon with a few scout masters in the area to see how many other scouts will be making Eagle this year.

I think I will have to get a dozen or so of this pattern water jet , and go to 1095 steel , to keep the costs down so I can do them for very little cost to me , so that I can continue to give them away at no cost to the scout's parents.

I encourage other makers to get involved in their area , let's start these Eagle Scouts out with a sharp blade , and spread the word about handmade knives. Who's with me ?




A few quick shots from tonight , still have to process all the raw files ( I did remember to shoot some in RAW + jpeg finally ! )
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It sounds like your efforts were well recieved, that young man looks very proud of his new knife!:thumbup:
 
Love the tutorial. What thickness were the scales before you sanded?

I sure would be proud of receiving a knife like that if I was an eagle scout!
 
That is a very good thing you did there. Once I get to a point where I can do something like that I will be happy to pitch in for the locals or even help you out with some supplies. Been a rough couple of years for me after the Aluminum plant I was working at shut down so it might be a while until my feet are under me all the way again, but I start at the Montana Resources mine here in Butte in about a month or so and I love doing stuff for the kids. Before I went to the plant I was a manager for 13 years in the newspaper industry and I would hire a lot of kids who had done something stupid and got it trouble with the law. Tried to help them see where their lives where going to end up if they did not start walking the line, sadly, more of them still thought they knew it all and ended up back in jail or worse prison. Out of the over 200 of them I hired, only about 20 of them took what I said to heart and are still out in the community working and having a life. Very low percentage of success and a lot of heart ache to see them screw up worse, but at least I was able to help a few. Had to move on to a better paying job though to support my own 4 kids is the only reason I am not still doing it. So I would love to help out.

Very nice knife to by the way.

Ronnie
 
Zaph1: What is do is always sand/shape/grind the front part of the handle where it meets the ricasso BEFORE I glue it up. I use the handle bolts to hold the slabs together (or clamp firmly), without the blade between them, then work it on the grinder or hand sand until I'm satisfied. It might take two or three times to disassemble and look at the slabs on the knife before I quit. No danger of nicking the blade this way.
 
Love the tutorial. What thickness were the scales before you sanded?
I believe the material was.250 or just a tad thicker.

What is do is always sand/shape/grind the front part of the handle where it meets the ricasso BEFORE I glue it up.
same here , sure it takes a bit longer , but it so worth the extra effort. I don't much care for the look when the scales just end with no bevel at all.
 
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