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

[David Wesner]

I wouldn't have the slightest objection - I hope Dave gets to make a bunch of these.

Roger

Me too !! So far, it's turned out better than I could have ever imagined.

 

[David Wesner]

WOW! What a great WIP. I'm thoroughly impressed with the way you tackle knifemaking, precision of a machinist combined with the flow of an artist. A perfect combination in my opinion:thumbup:. Great job, David.

Thats quite a compliment Mike, Thank you very much :thumbup:

I've loved everything I've seen of your work too You've been knocking them out of the park for quite a while now !



:thumbup:

 

[David Wesner]

Incredible job on the Fittings!! She sure is lookin good David:thumbup:

I love the way you did the Diamond shape part under the locking nut!!:thumbup:

:thumbup: Thanks for hang'in in there with me stabber !





Call me :tears_of_joy:

 

[David Wesner]

Yesterday I spent a lot of up close and personal time, using this Bad Boy !!

And that's what it is ...... this thing is a chopping monster !

I tried taking some still pictures to document the chopping but that just didn't cut it ....... pun intended

I've wanted to use YouTube in some of my posts for a long time now and this seemed like the perfect time to give it a go and learn something new.

I mentioned to Roger how bizarre making video of myself seemed, so bear with me here guys

There is definitely a learning curve to this one.

The best description I've come up with in regards to how it felt talking to nothing but the camera is, I felt like a real NINNY


Just for reference sake, the first thing I chopped (before I started the camera) was a regular pine 2x4.
I have to admit, I started out rather gingerly. As the chopping progressed and I became more confident in the design, I started really whaling on it.

The next thing I chopped was a simple 5' L. x 1/2" diameter bamboo garden stake. If you haven't ever cut bamboo, just for the record, even the small stakes are tough stuff.
I just started lopping pieces off. As you'll see, the knife was sinking so deep into the maple stump I used as backing it was at times, getting stuck

The last thing I chopped in the video was an old seasoned hophornbeam pole I had cut years before for holding up snowfence.
Now that is tough stuff !! Folks around here, and other places too for that matter, mistakenly call hophornbeam ....... "ironwood".
It is not true ironwood as in Arizona Desert Ironwood but it is nearly as tough.
This knife went through it like it was the pine 2x4

After everything I did with the knife yesterday all I can say is, "this design works like a champ". I couldn't possibly be happier with how it's turned out so far !
When I tighten the finial nut it comes together like a single, solid piece.
Sorry to toot my own horn here, but I'm excited as heck about this one

I nailed the blade heat treat too :thumbup:

The edge held up perfectly to everything it encountered.

Can you guys tell that I'm delaying posting my YouTube debut

Well......... here it is. Set your coffee cups down so you don't spill it all over your keyboard when laughing


[video=youtube_share;G-z4K_gxIdo]http://youtu.be/G-z4K_gxIdo[/video]

 

[RogerP]

Cool vid David - I never had any doubt that this knife would cut well - but it sure is nice to see it all the same. I like how when you're cutting the bamboo, the knife bites so deep into the stump it's hard to pull it back out.

Roger

 

[Lorien]

looks like a fun knife!

 

[penvisser]

I have gone trough this thread several times, now, really keeps impressing me, thanks for sharing it step by step!

Great knife.

all the best,

Jan

 

[David Wesner]

Cool vid David - I never had any doubt that this knife would cut well - but it sure is nice to see it all the same. I like how when you're cutting the bamboo, the knife bites so deep into the stump it's hard to pull it back out.

Roger

Roger, I still can't thank you enough for "nudging" me into doing this knife build as a BladeForums WIP.

FWIW, over the years I've had several customers who have been instrumental in helping me become a better knifemaker by some of the requests they've made. You being one of them
I've learned quite a few new skills while doing this build.

Doing the YouTube Chopping Video, as crude as it may have been, has now given me the confidence to use the application more often. In hindsight, I can't imagine using anything but videoto document how well this knife performs :thumbup:

The new Take-Down construction method, most likely wouldn't have come to be, at least not for a while (maybe never) without your confidence in my skills as a knifemaker.

Here's a few pics of the knife, just after hardening and tempering of the fittings (you can still see the heat coloring in them). These pics were taken just before I started chopping and making the YouTube Video.
You can also clearly see the swedge. Just like we had planned, it starts at the tip and finishes as it blends into the large radius of the grind plunge.

 

[David Wesner]

looks like a fun knife!

It sure is a fun knife ! It's really great when a new design comes together as seamless as this one has

I have gone trough this thread several times, now, really keeps impressing me, thanks for sharing it step by step!

Great knife.

all the best,

Jan

Thank you Jan :thumbup: You are very welcome

 

[Lorien]

geez, that's a sweet knife

 

[David Wesner]

I've been progressing through the finishing of the knife the past few days.

I had to clean-up the little bit a scratching that occurred on the blade sides while doing the chopping vid. I also had to clean-up the heat coloring that occurred during heat treat of the fittings.

In regards to the AAA+ Koa handle, even though I sent the block out for stabilizing, I've found that most stabilized wood handle materials look much better, if they have a traditional gun stock type oil finish applied to them. I've been using Tru-Oil with excellent results.

I don't however, use it as it comes right out of the bottle, I find it much too thick to use as is.
When I'm getting ready to finish a handle, I mix up a small batch of 2 parts mineral spirits to 1 part tru-oil, applying ~ 5-7 very thin coats. I apply each coat with my fingers while wearing nitrile gloves, allowing each coat to dry overnight.

 

[David Wesner]

I've heard a bunch of folks mention buying a bottle of tru-oil only to get one or two handles finishes out of the bottle before it thickens and hardens to the point where it's unusable, making ~ 3/4 of the bottle a waste.

I can't remember who told me or where I heard this tip, but it works great !!
After opening the bottle, it's imperative that you fill the bottle with something (I use steel ball bearings) to bring the level back up to the very top edge. You must fill it to the point that, when you put the cap back on, there is zero air space left in the bottle. I've had this bottle opened for well over a year now, and used it to finish at least a half dozen handles, and it's still the same consistency as the day I opened it.

At the same time I'm finishing the handle I'm also etching the fittings.

Like many knifemakers, I use a dilute mixture of ferric chloride crystals and distilled water, about 4 oz. of crystals to 1 gallon of water.

To prevent my etchant from eating away the areas I spent so much time precision fitting, I paint them with a "resist". I simply use my daughters finger nail polish thinned out a bit with acetone .........

The guard, the spacer, the triangular shaped finial nut washer and the finial nut, are made using one of the very first "properly made" Damascus billets I made. The Billet was made while working, and learning to forge weld with Kevin Casey.The guard and finial nut washer are made from a 2 bar 1080/15N20 Turkish Twist pattern. The finial nut and the spacer are made from the same type steel, but in a simple straight pattern. I thought that would look great with the Ladder Pattern Blade and the heavily tiger striped like Koa Handle material.

 

[RogerP]

Okay - seeing that KOA grain pop with the tru-oil, and seein the etch on the fittings, I am officially DROOLING!

You nailed the swedge, too - just exactly what I was talking about.

Roger

 

[xaman]

I agree with Roger --- awesome swedge, and beautiful wood grain!

 

[JParanee]

Threads like this is what makes this place great

Looks like this knife is gonna not only be a looker but a performer also


Thanks

 

[David Wesner]

Okay - seeing that KOA grain pop with the tru-oil, and seein the etch on the fittings, I am officially DROOLING!

You nailed the swedge, too - just exactly what I was talking about.

Roger

Because of exactly that ("seeing that KOA grain pop") I've had a tough time trying not to get ahead of myself

I've had to fight the urge to put this knife together before the oil finish has completely cured.

Good Deal on the swedge :thumbup: I must admit, I was a bit apprehensive about that particular operation

 

[David Wesner]

I agree with Roger --- awesome swedge, and beautiful wood grain!

Thanks Eli

Threads like this is what makes this place great

Looks like this knife is gonna not only be a looker but a performer also


Thanks

Thank you Joe Just doing my part :thumbup:


In regards to the knife .......... this one here is going to give me a BAD case of "Post - part with 'em- Depression"

I can feel it coming on already

 

[David Wesner]

This Knife project is coming to a close. Since my last post, I've added several + a couple more , coats of Tru-Oil to the handle.
Today I'll be applying some paste wax and giving the handle a final "soft cloth rub"

The Blade has been etched, as have all of the fittings.

Here's a picture of the set-up I use to etch long blades. Pretty simple, and from what I've seen other knifemakers use, it seems to be "standard procedure"

4" PVC pipe, capped on one end. Even though I store my etchant in a separate container, I've added a screw on top to my etching tube just to keep it as clean and gunk free as possible

Here's a picture of what the blade looked like about mid-way through the etching procedure

Stay tuned guys I plan to take pictures of the finished knife today :thumbup: :thumbup:


And just for the record, I can't thank you guys enough for following along.

This has been a BLAST !!

 

[billf]

David

This just keeps getting better and better !

As a well-known Koa lover....well, what can I say, that handle is just a thing of beauty - really brought the grain out perfectly!

Bill

 

[xaman]

Can't wait David, I know she's a beauty.