Copper M16 - Can't get a good alignment. [PICS]

[ibbob50]

Howdy everyone,

First, let me preface this post by saying I am not a knife-maker. I have lots of tools, and have always been a creative little guy, so I gave this project a shot. I appreciate all of your skills, and acknowledge I am a hack!

I busted my ass making my M16-14ZSF special. I wanted it to be my beautiful work-knife (firefighter), and I'm SO close to finishing, but I can't seem to get a nice alignment when it comes to blade relative to scales (when the knife is closed).

Here are the pictures of my project. The LAST photo shows my predicament. Hoping someone with (real) experience can help with some advice!

Thanks for lookin'

Animated GIF of finished knife: KNIFE

PICS:

 

[Phillip Patton]

Probably either too much slop between the blade and scales, or the blade is warped or badly ground.

Nice work though. I like the texturing.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Tiny misalignments in the screws and tightening them is what causes this.

First:
Try listening the screws and putting a cardboard wedge beside the blade to push it to the other side. Tighten the screws and remove the cardboard. Hopefully that takes care of it.

If a bit more force is needed:
Loosen the screws on the frame a tad.
Using a plastic or wooden wood clamp, grip the knife from the ends on opposite corners so when you tighten it pushes the blade back to center.
Tighten the clamp and bring the blade past center to be offset to the other side.
Tighten the screws and release the clamp.

This usually will re-center the blade.

On the most stubborn folders:
I have had ones that I had to set on the butt with only one scale on the bench top, and struck the opposite end side with a wooden mallet to "tweak" the frame in order to move the blade back to center. You have to be gentle enough not to shear off any screws or crack a scale, but firm enough to move things. I do this with the screws snug but not hard tight. After tweaking, I tighten all screws again.

 

[gjblade]

No help from me but wow, great work! I love it.

 

[RedFury]

Here comes the dumb question. It looks like you milled that out without a milling machine. You are showing a couple of end mills on the drill press. Did you get some sort of vice that tracks back and forth on the drill press table?
Thanks

 

[Gunmerc]

How did you get that texture?