Finishing up the HHH blade blank

tryppyr

tryppyr

Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Messages
3,911
Yesterday I got the HHH blade blank I bought from the exchange.

HHH00.JPG


I couldn't wait to start playing with it. I started off by grinding off the jimping... because... well... I don't like jimping. That meant that I need re-etch the blade, so I immediately sanded off the etching that had already been done. I did not get to the point of finish sanding, just removal of the dark exterior. I also spent some time flattening the tang and giving the read 75% of it a slight distal taper, so I wouldn't be fitting the guard to the widest part, I'd be fitting it to the bit right behind the ricasso.

Next I set out to begin working on the guard. I had a piece of steel laying around that I have long wanted to use as a guard, so I measured it and found it was the right size, then set to cutting the slot in the usual way. I drilled three holes (two bit sizes smaller than the desired width of the slot), then connected the holes with my flex shaft Dremel and the handy Harbor Freight diamond burrs.

The next two hours were spent with small files turning the ugly rough slot into a nicely fitted rectangular slot. I made sure that as I was working the slot, I slightly angled the files such that the hole in the back (toward the handle) would be ever so slightly wider than the front (visible) part. I wanted to be sure that there was almost no visible gap once assembled.

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Next step will be to shape the guard and finish sanding the blade before the final etch. Then I'll start assembling the handle.
 
Looking good! I don't dislike jimping, but I think that blade looks better without it. Good call.


-Xander
 
Started finish sanding. Now 320 grit is done, moving to 400. I also decided to make an attempt at drilling a slot through a block, so I now know I am capable of that (even with my undersized drill press). I may or may not actually use this block. It was my third (but easiest to slot) choice. The other two choices were a similarly sized hunk of jade ghost G10 and a center core block of walrus ivory (all tapioca, not white exterior). We'll see how it goes with this block before I commit to destroying either of the other two.

HHH06s.JPG
 
I've sanded the blade up to 600 grit now and done some preliminary shaping of the handle block. The original block had a flaw in it I wasn't sure if I could sand out, but I was able to do so. It now appears that using this piece of wood is a real option.

I gave some thought to how I wanted to mark this knife. Since I didn't make the blade myself, I didn't want to use my "Greg Davis Original" mark, but I did want to show I had a hand in making it. So I broke out the typewriter and the stencil paper and just typed my name. I etched that into the spine. I have to say I'm a LOT happier about the alignment of this mark than I am about any I do with my "original" stencil. For some reason I can never line that stencil up correctly.

HHH08s.JPG
 
Today I spent some time shaping the guard to fit better, so now it's in roughly the right shape. I also completed the finish sanding of the blade, put an edge on it, and etched it again, so it once again looks like the damascus it is. After that I gently sanded with the 2000 grit paper and applied some Renaissance wax. It looks real purdy now. It's a totally rainy/cloudy day here, so not enough light to take decent pictures, but I'll add some more next chance I get.

I also started working on the pommel. That will follow the lines of the guard... sort of.

- Greg
 
Okay we got some overcast sunlight today, so I got a few pictures, such as they are. You'll notice all the handle parts are still in VERY rough shape at this point, and I just started on the pommel piece.

HHH09s.JPG


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I have a question:

What the heck is jimping? I have never heard of that term before.
 
Jimping is when you file ridges into the spine of the blade, ostensibly to give the thumb some extra friction allowing you to apply more down-pressure on the blade without the thumb slipping. Personally, I think it's really more often used purely for aesthetic reasons.
 
Looking good Greg! I wasn't sure what direction you were headed with that chunk o' steel for the guard and I really like how its coming along.


-Xander
 
Thanks, Xander. I haven't been able to spend much time on it today, but I did some shaping for the pommel. It's not finished yet, but it shows the direction I'm going.

HHH14s.JPG
 
tryppyr said:
Thanks, Xander. I haven't been able to spend much time on it today, but I did some shaping for the pommel. It's not finished yet, but it shows the direction I'm going.

HHH14s.JPG
Click to expand...


Greg, is it just the angle or does it actually have a "v" shape where the guard and handle meet the spine? Looking good though.
 
Not sure what you mean by a V shape. The guard is intentionally narrower at the top than the bottom, and the handle is angled to match. I guess you could call that a V.
 
Sorry should have been more specific. Where the guard is it looks like spine and the handle make a somewhat V shape there. In other words they both look like they are on an angle heading towards the guard. Wasnt sure if it's just the camera shot or not.
 
tryppyr said:
Jimping is when you file ridges into the spine of the blade, ostensibly to give the thumb some extra friction allowing you to apply more down-pressure on the blade without the thumb slipping. Personally, I think it's really more often used purely for aesthetic reasons.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I never knew that feature actually had a name for it. Then again, maybe I did and forgot it! :eek:
 
I made a decision tonight to start over on the handle. I feel I can do better, so I'm going to give it another go.
 
Good for you Greg, that's the hardest part, to scrap materials, effort and time to start over. Kudos for staying true to your vision in your minds eye!


-Xander
 
Meet handle block number two... an amboyna burl block I had laying around that I seem to recall getting cheap.

HHH15s.JPG
 
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