Finished My First Two

[flakjacket]

Finally finished the first two knives that I set out to make around Christmas time last year. I sent these two out for heat treat together and just finished them up this weekend. I have three others already in the works, which is part of the reason that these took so long to make. I tend to get sidetracked on the other knives. These two are already spoken for. The kitchen knife goes to my mother in law and the other is going to my brother in law as a wedding gift.

This one is made from 1/4" 440C. It is 11" overall with black linen micarta handle scales and stainless fasteners. I don't really like the way that the fasteners turned out and plan on using some black oxide torx fasteners next time. The butt on this knife was "aborted" because I originally had a more squared off rear, with a lanyard hole, but after all the shaping and fitting, the amount of metal around the outside edge of the lanyard hole was extremely thin. So I cut it off and reshaped the rear. Kinda explains why the rear fastener looks like it's off center. That's what I get for drilling the holes too early in the process.

For the kitchen knife, I used 5/32" 440C and maroon linen micarta handles with corby bolt fasteners. Overall length is 12". This one came along much easier after learning from some of my mistakes on the first one. Plus the thinner stock was much easier to work with. 5/32 is pretty beefy for this kind of kitchen knife, but I wanted something that she could really abuse. I've got another kitchen knife going right now in 1/8" stock that will make a much better slicer with a full flat grind.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

I really like the second one... the micarta turned out well.

...looks like you and I share the same fear of grinding knives too thin. I'm just now starting to get my blades where they ought to be for proper geometry and ease of use.

Keep up the work, it's looking good!

 

[cerberus]

I like the looks of the first one, it looks like a beast.. Have you done any testing with the 440C to see how it performs? Oops, i just re-read that it is a gift. Make another one and sent it to me and I"LL test it

Great job on Both of them.

Cerberus

 

[flakjacket]

No long term testing yet. However, I did baton the first one through a 3 inch log and it held up fine. I also abused the tip pretty thoroughly by digging it into a 2x4 and it passed with flying colors. Some other light cutting with both knives and they looked good. The kitchen knife has already been used for a couple of dinners and the mother in law seems very happy with it.

That first one is a heavy beast. I should have drilled the handle area to lighten it up. I have another one in the works with the left over 1/4" stock from the first knife, but this time I'm going to give it an almost full flat grind.

I learned a lot on these first two. First off, I would have made the thumb ramp on the rear a little smaller/narrower. Secondly, I would not have drilled the lanyard and handle holes as early. Things are moving along much more quickly now that I have got these two finished. I hope to have pics of my next two posted by the middle of May.