Fighter Step by Step

C

Charles Vestal

Joined
Sep 22, 2004
Messages
587
A little over a year ago Keith Montgomery contacted me and wanted me to make a(edit to add: Loveless style) knife for him.

We exchanged quite a few emails working out the type of knife Keith wanted. From the start we knew it would be a large fighter but we had to work around the set of interior mammoth ivory that Keith sent me to put on the knife.

Here is the pattern we agreed on, and the blade blank. 8" blade a little over 1 1/4" wide at the guard and 13 1/2" OAL, blade steel is 1/4" CPM-154

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Holes drilled in tang for bolts and we decided to use a 5/16" thong tube.

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Using a 8" wheel to take some meat off the tang to make tapering a little easier.

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Tapering the tang.

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Using a 4 1/2" wheel I take some more material from the center of the tang.

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Using the disk to true up the taper.

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More to come.


Charles
 
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that's awesome.
:thumbup:
 
I LOVE your work! I very much am looking foward to seeing more!
 
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I haven't seen any of these images, so this is going to be as enjoyable for me as it will hopefully be for the rest of you.
 
Thanks for posting these pics Charles. Please keep 'em coming. Love seeing the progression and for Keith I'm sure it's too cool seeing his knife being created step-by-step!
 
Thanks Charles, you do very nice work.
Keith,
This is going to be fantastic, can't wait to see it with the ivory.

Doug
 
Kevin Jones said:
This is the same knife as in another thread Keith posted the other day right?
Click to expand...

Kevin, yes this is the same knife.

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

Progress through 220-600 grit to cleanup the blade.

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Scribe the grind lines 0.030" apart.

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Grinding a 45 degree +- relief to the grind lines

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The center grind line .050" above center

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I start by grinding the top grinds first.

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Those thumb guards are really slick. :cool: :thumbup:
I guess they offer a sure grip on the knife and serve as an extra few layers of skin as well.
 
Kevin Jones said:
Those thumb guards are really slick. :cool: :thumbup:
I guess they offer a sure grip on the knife and serve as an extra few layers of skin as well.
Click to expand...

They are also very good at keeping the heat away from your fingers, up to a point:eek: and then it's time to dunk the blade.
 
I can't believe how true your grinds are for free hand. You must be awfully steady with a keen eye..:thumbup:
 
As a maker of Loveless(ish!) style knives, I'm really looking forward to this!
I'm impressed already!:D:D

Ian
 
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