Coming Soon: Charlie Mike custom!

res1cue

res1cue

Joined
Feb 2, 2010
Messages
2,138
Hey guys, so this is my first custom fixed blade, and the maker is none other than our very own Charlie Mike!

So my original design parameters were: Tanto point, 3/16", 4.5" long blade with integral front guard, and deep handle choil. It was also important for me that the spine was in-line with the tip, and also with the direction of the handle. I made this picture in Paint to give him an idea:
knifel.png


We talked over the specs, and decided on Carbon fiber handle scales, leather sheath, 1095 full double sided convex blade. Also he will be sending it for a differential HT (where it is right now) and said if I was lucky I may get a hamon. Shortly afterwards, he sent me these pictures, of it being made:
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I particularly like how he put on a Strider-style secondary grind.. very short and strong

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I am very excited about this blade, and will post a full in depth review on it. Even though I have not received this blade yet, I am sure I will love it. Going with a custom maker who is just starting out is the way to go. The price on this piece (it would probably vary with different designs) is $160, which is around ESEE/Nimravus price range, but with the added bonus of being a one-of-a-kind knife of your own design. CM has been incredibly patient with my constant emails and even several changes I made while he was making this knife. Also, he has given me regular updates, and pictures. Total time so far that it has been in production is less than a month, and it is already being HT. On an already established custom knifemaker, this process would have been a year or more.

I would recommend him highly (based on my experience with him so far) and my advice would be to get your order in before his business takes off!!

BTW I get nothing at all for posting this.
 
I'd suggest to round the protrusion behind first choil a bit. From using my Enlan EL02, the sharp protrusion tends to bite the finger.

It's the advantage of having custom build :)
And Congrats on your first custom!
 
I should have it within a week.
 
Chris "Anagarika";10392648 said:
I'd suggest to round the protrusion behind first choil a bit. From using my Enlan EL02, the sharp protrusion tends to bite the finger.

It's the advantage of having custom build :)
And Congrats on your first custom!
Click to expand...

Thanks! Do you mean between index finger and middle finger?


CM: Cant wait!
 
By the way... I didn't have him do a differential HT because at this size there really wouldn't be any gain. I did some research and found those are suited best for choppers and other big blades.
 
Charlie, can you post some pictures of your tactical straight razor friction folder ?
 
Here's another for a kid that used to post here a couple years ago ... HWpaintballer. He's in Army ROTC now hoping to get infantry.

2012-01-16_10-56-23_817.jpg
 
Charlie Mike said:
By the way... I didn't have him do a differential HT because at this size there really wouldn't be any gain. I did some research and found those are suited best for choppers and other big blades.
Click to expand...

No problem, that makes sense
 
Been sick as a dog but I still manage. My inner tweaker won't let me get any rest.
 
Amazing work CM! Take care of yourself though.

I always look forward to any thread mentioning Charlie Mikes handmade knives!
 
[video=youtube;O3esCTA_SM4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3esCTA_SM4[/video]
 
Charlie Mike is still using a drill press to cut his patterns out?!

Wow! That's not perseverance, that's love of pain....
 
All I have for power tools is... Drill press, Dremel, 1x42 belt grinder.
 
CNC laser, availible online, plugs into 220v, handles 1/4" (and above), with sheet sizes up to something like 36" x 36". Google should point you in the right direction.

If your belt grinder has the horsepower, get some 60 grit. It gets expensive in belts, but that's the way Loveless did it for all those years.

I lucked into a 1 HP single phase wheel grinder that chews through annealed 440C with no problems.

You can get diamond/CBN wheels for a drill press.

I used an angle grinder and 1/4" cutoff wheels for quite a while.

And, if you really want to have fun, get an arc welder! Seriously. They're fun.
 
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