First Fillet - Help with handle

Brass bolsters are not too terribly hard. There are several wips that will walk you along it. I just did my first bolsters last week and only had to beat them off of there one time.
 
Here are a few pics of my roughed out handle. The Corbys are only screwed in, no glue yet. This still needs to go to heat treat.
I just wanted to get the handle roughed out and see how it all fits up.
I used Walter Sorrel's YouTube twiddle jig method to make my own step drill bit as I couldn't seem to find one and got impatient.
It actually worked out pretty well first try. The tolerances are as good as I could have hoped. It doesn't cut great in the ironwood, but I just took it very slow and all went well.

Anyway, here is where I'm at with this. It gets sent to heat treat Monday.

....the ring around the one corby is just water that didn't dry yet. I washed the dust off it.

roughhandle1.jpg


roughhandle2.jpg
 
Stacy,

If you glue the scales on with G-flex, do you think you still need Corbys instead of bronze pins. I use three pins to hold the scales in alignment until the glue drys. I use G-10 for the scales and only sand them to 240 grit, which leaves a rough enough surface to take fish blood and guts without being too slippery. Why do you feel micarta is best? The only reason I like G-10 is because I can get it in bright colors in case it gets dropped in the stream.

Tim
 
G-10 or Micarta are both good rough use handle materials. You don't have to use Corby bolts, ...but there is nothing stronger. Good epoxy, like G-flex, and well fitted pins will work fine.

This is very much like many discussions in Shop Talk. While one procedure or material may be "better" the difference isn't often enough to make the lesser one "bad".
To explain it in words that a blacksmith would understand - If you had a choice between dating Gisele Bundchen or Hilary Rhoda the fact that Gisele is #1 and Hilary is #10 on the top model list last year does not mean that Gisele is a good girlfriend choice and Hilary is a bad one. Is there a difference....YES....does it really matter, heck NO!
 
Actually, the woman I'm dating is better looking than either of them and she's probably a lot less work.

I just thought you might have a reason I had never thought of for the corbys.

Tim
 
Stacy, I have some very acute knives in leather with no problem. You can always use a wider (not thicker mind you) welt. A kydex liner is a great idea though as long as it's designed well. Don't want that edge rubbing on plastic. :)

Also, leather should never be soaked in neatsfoot. A light coat is best. If you're looking for waterproofing, the best treatment I've found is an emulsion of beeswax and coconut oil, although there are plenty of commercially available wax based finishes.
 
Thanks Tony,
Yes, most good sheaths will hold up to a filet knife if build right.

The neatsfoot "soak" I give rough use sheaths is done with a pan of oil. I place the sheath in the pan, let it fill inside and out, then remove and drain while hanging upside down. I rub off all excess and allow to cure. I do this on sheaths that will get tossed in a tackle box or stored on a boat.

I have not had any edge problems from the edge touching Kydex or aluminum in a sheath. The Rc 61 edge is far harder.
 
I got my first two knives back from HT yesterday and am re-sanding them both. I can't wait to get these first two completed, but I am trying to go slow and do things right.
I have a question on the fillet knife. I want to grind down the handle a bit more. It still has a little too much belly so I want to taper it toward the ricasso.
Should I do this with the scales glued up, or prior to that?

post-HT1.jpg
 
I would do it now so you can dip it easily in water to cool it. Also, doing it now, you won't have to worry about messing up your scales on accident. It's unlikely but preventing the risk from the start is the best way to go.
 
Well, my first fillet knife, and actually my first finished knife is just about done. I still have a little shaping and some finish sanding to do on the handle, but I'm going to do it by hand so I don't mess things up too bad.
Those belts just take off too much too fast for me at my skill level.

I hope you'll let me know what you think and thanks for looking.


firstfinish1.jpg


firstfinish2.jpg


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It's a great "come along" and as I read has been a good encouragement for you ! a good project for sure.
Frank
 
Thanks guys, it came out better than I probably had a right to expect.
It really was a great experience and the finished knife is showing me several basic things I have to master.
Hand sanding S30V really makes you reconsider your grinding.
I had a pretty good laugh after I had sanded one side. I had that one little scratch, and after so many hours of sanding, I thought I'd let it slide, nobody would see it.
So I go show my wife the one side I had "finished" sanding. She says "it looks great, but you have a scratch on it." ROFL. 6 sheets later it was cleared up.

It sure is good to have the first one behind me.
I like making knives.
 
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