David Wesner - modified "Gus" model camp knife - WIP- Coop pics added!

[stabber]

More great pics David! Thanks

 

[NickWheeler]

Me likey big time!!!

 

[David Wesner]

Hey Guys Thanks for hang'in in there :thumbup:

At this time I'm working on my guard and spacer stock. Yesterday I spent some time on the saw, rough cutting stock.
Being the hack machinist that I am ( hey you and me Nathan ) my next stop was my mill and surface grinder squaring that stock up.
I'm prepping for what I think will be a cool twist on how thing's will come together on this knife.

Here's a pic of the stock I'll be using along with a simple mill vise and stop set-up. The stop will allow me to remove and replace pieces, while maintaining position, as they progress through different operations in my process.

:thumbup:

 

[David Wesner]

A Week or so, in the Life of a Belt

Yesterday also found me doing a bit of cleaning around the shop, specifically, in the area my belts reside.
I also removed my belt rack, replacing it in what I think is a much better place

I know there are quite a few knifemakers checking this thread and I'll bet real money they go through exactly the same thing I do when it comes to belts.

Like everyone, I order from one of the many suppliers of quality abrasive belts.
After receiving them, I hang them on a rack I made several years ago.
I try to place new belts towards the back of the rack so the older ones get used first

Every belt inevitably ,ends up here, on my grinder.

And they never, ever last long enough :grumpy:

 

[David Wesner]

The next spot they end up is like a time warp. It's pure and simple..... denial

I have a spot, a couple of garage hooks actually, where I hang belts that aren't quite used up yet


I'll bet every knifemaker has a spot like this.

The belt numbers seems to grow in an exponential manner.

Isn't that just a pitiful sight ??? Denial !!

It gets to about the point you're seeing in the pic. One day it seems like I've just had enough and they move here .....................

I don't have to tell anyone where the next stop after this is The garbage can !


I've wanted to move the rack that's been hanging on the wall for quite some time now. Recently I made a chip guard of sorts that separates my Lathe and Mill. It also kept chips from piling up inside the lower area of my hanging belts (the rack was mounted kind of behind my mill).
I decided to move the rack to the backside of the chip shield. It's on wheels so I can easily move it if need be.
So far, I like where its at. Only time will tell if it stays there

OK, I'm getting back to work now ................

 

[stabber]

Enough about the belts Yea, Back to work

 

[David Wesner]

Started work on the guard and spacer today

Here we see some guard slotting going on.

Next up was the spacer ......

Here I'm milling a boss on the guard side of the spacer.

And for what you might ask


Well............ so I don't have to use any pins for part location

 

[David Wesner]

I thought that would be a good way to mate the spacer to the handle block too :thumbup:

So I milled another boss on the handle side of the spacer ......................

I need to mill my spacer pocket into the handle block next, then cut my tang slot through.
I'll most likely be putting the handle block in my mill vise and taking it back out more than a few times before everything is ready for hand finishing. To make sure I can accurately locate until that time comes, I squared this Beautiful block of Koa up too

Just to be on the safe side.............

Thats where I'm at now. :thumbup: :thumbup:


Thanks guys :thumbup: Check back often, it's starting to get good now

 

[xaman]

Can't wait to see that Koa polished out. Looking great so far!

 

[RogerP]

Love that approach to the guard and spacer!

Roger

 

[RoyalM]

Really great thread and an awesome looking piece.

 

[Lorien]

that stepped spacer/reverse ferrule is an excellent concept!
Great thread, I really enjoy your knives David.

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

That's slicker th'n dog snot!
You gonna bring that to Ohio?

 

[David Wesner]

Can't wait to see that Koa polished out. Looking great so far!

You and me both Eli The time is finally here

Love that approach to the guard and spacer!

Roger

That makes me very happy :thumbup:

And Roger, all that matters to me right now, is that you're happy with how things are going

 

[David Wesner]

Really great thread and an awesome looking piece.

Thank you very much Royal :thumbup: I very much appreciate the fact you're following along.

Leaving a post is even better Thank you again.

that stepped spacer/reverse ferrule is an excellent concept!
Great thread, I really enjoy your knives David.

Thanks Lorien :thumbup:

It took a minute for the idea to materialize, but when it did, I just knew it was right

Thanks again for posting and following along.

 

[David Wesner]

That's slicker th'n dog snot!
You gonna bring that to Ohio?

Thanks Karl

I must admit, I was really excited to get your thoughts on the concept :thumbup:

In regards to bringing it to Ohio .... I hope it's far enough along that I can

I'm sure you can appreciate the fact, at this point in a build, rushing and hurrying is the last thing a knifemaker wants to do.
One wrong move and things can go south in a heartbeat. Literally !

Thanks again my friend :thumbup:

I'm really looking forward to getting together at the Bladesmithing Symposium.

 

[Matt Brook]

Love your approach to the Gaurd and Spacer with the boss. It will look very clean with no chance of a pesky pin showing up!

Thanks for taking the time to show us how you go about your knives David!

Matt

 

[RogerP]

And Roger, all that matters to me right now, is that you're happy with how things are going

I'm tickled pink and happy to be along for the ride.

Roger

 

[David Wesner]

And moving along ..............

After at least a dozen handle to spacer/guard/blade positioning attempts on the squared up handle block face, I came to the conclusion I wasn't pleased with how the Koa stripes looked relative to the blade. They looked like they were tipped forward too much, like this \\\\\.
IMHO they needed to at least be perpendicular to the blade.
Preferably, I wanted them to tip in at the bottom, towards the ricasso just a tiny bit, kind of like this ////, not quite as extreme as the keyboard stroke.
That being said, I ended up re-milling the face of the handle block at 1 degree, which positioned the stripes perfect relative to the blade, IMHO :thumbup:

I figured, as best I could, where the pocket for the spacer boss needed to be and milled my pocket.

and deeper ....................

After I had a nice snap fit for the spacer boss I milled some rough guide lines where my tang slot needed to be. You can see the shallow guide line pocket, in the boss pocket, in this next picture.

The next picture shows me milling the tang slot. I position using a square and the tang guide lines I traced onto the handle block. I tip the block accordingly and clamp in my vise.

 

[David Wesner]

So I milled and drilled, flipped and flopped, and finally, I have a nice snug fit for the tang

Next I knocked the extra-extra length I had on the topside of the guard and spacer

I still left a nice bit for finishing


I also roughed in the backside of the handle. That visual really helps me when I'm thinking about exactly how I'm going to attack the pommel cap, the fit-up and finial nut. I think I have a good plan :thumbup:

So thats where I'm at tonight fellas

I'll be semi finishing parts (the guard, the spacer, the pommel cap and the finial nut) for hardening and tempering right quick. Hopefully sometime tomorrow :thumbup: :thumbup:

After that ?? Thats when the real fun starts. Final finishing and etching :thumbup:


Thanks again guys