Establishing Center Line on a Dagger

P. McKinley

P. McKinley

Joined
Jan 27, 2008
Messages
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I've been slowly working on a rather thin, dual edge-bladed knife. Its not actually a dagger, but a Searles Bowie hybrid. I have all the pieces and parts fitted to the tang, but left unglued. I now need to establish the center line for the handle to keep everything in line. The blade has a triangular profile with no ricasso with which to work off of.

My normal method would be to mount the flat ricasso on a square block then run a pen(height gauge) down the length of the blade edge(s), then all the way down the handle block. This would give me the proper visual reference from which I can then carve the handle.

I can't do that on this blade. How can I properly establish an accurate center line for this blade/handle?
Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated.

-Peter



 
I would slap a chunk of putty or clay down on my surface plate and set the blade into it, adjusting until my height gage read the edge consistently all the way around. Then the center line of the handle would be easy enough.

Bob
 
As a computer nerd I would probably take a picture or it on that grid then scale it to match in GIMP. From there you could draw the center line, print to scale, cut it out bisecting down that line, lay it over the knife and scribe... or use a projector.

Barry Clodfelter said:
A string might work if you tied a small loop to hook over the point.
Click to expand...

Or that which seems MUCH faster and easier.
 
Last edited:
Yeahhhhhhh...... I'll get right on that.:o

oic0 said:
As a computer nerd I would probably take a picture or it on that grid then scale it to match in GIMP. From there you could draw the center line, print to scale, cut it out bisecting down that line, lay it over the knife and scribe... or use a projector.
Click to expand...
 
Peter, RangerBobTX had a good idea as well. Machinists and tool makers have been using putty and such for years for fixturing. Get a couple eggs of silly putty, that is we always used in the shop I worked at.
 
Well, it seems as though "Playdoh"(mixed with my daughter's homemade version) has found a home in my shop:





 
Ha! I kept trying to figure out the putty idea by re-reading the first couple threads.... I finally got it in my head..... then went back and continued scrolling down.... DOH!!! Should have scrolled down first... GREAT PICTURE!

THANKS for the great idea and pictures of it working!
 
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