First knife design critique / WIP (Almost Finished)

Fiddleback said:
Hey, love to see that Ameribrade. I use them as well. And also thanks for mentioning Pops. I am one of the owners, and I appreciate that as well.

I like the change you made to the handle. It needed to be longer. I like the design especially for a first. Its simple and repeatable and not ridiculous. Most of my apprentices wanted to start with a big bowie, and I made them make 5 pukkos first. Your grinds look stellar for a first knife. Nice work so far. Interested to see more.
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Thanks a lot I appreciate the feedback and compliments. As far as mentioning Pops no problem, you guys are doing a great job so you all deserve recognition of that. I'll keep making purchases from Pop's as long you have what I'm looking for!
 
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I just want to add too that my grinds are not totally done freehand, I've been using a grinding fixture and my work rest to rough the bevel in and then I practice following that rough bevel freehand to get the correct feel. I don't want to mislead anyone into thinking that my bevels look that good totally freehand grinding with only a small amount of past experience. Not my intent to deceive anyone here on that, so I figure I better mention that.
 
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Ocelot85 said:
I just want to add too that my grinds are not totally done freehand, I've been using a grinding fixture and my work rest to rough the bevel in and then I practice following that rough bevel freehand to get the correct feel. I don't want to mislead anyone into thinking that my bevels look that good totally freehand grinding with only a small amount of past experience. Not my intent to deceive anyone here on that, so I figure I better mention that.
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Do it how you do it and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. Great looking knives!
 
Josh Rider said:
Do it how you do it and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. Great looking knives!
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For sure man, I’ll keep on going no matter what. Just want to be upfront about everything. Appreciate the compliment, I’ve liked the work I’ve seen of yours in the exchange.
 
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So I reground the blade to .015 behind the edge thickness now at 17 DPS, it's cutting pretty good but considering this is 440C at 60RC with cryogenic treatment I don't think I'm going to go any thinner than this. I just put a rough 650 grit edge on to test it. The flats are sanded to a 120 grit finish right now, I need to re-sand the swedge / clip and the spine. After that I plan on working my way up to maybe a 400 grit finish then I'm going to finally put a handle on this thing. I'm starting to feel impatient about it, but at the same time I don't want to skip steps or cut corners.

I really need more time to work on this thing. Life keeps getting in the way. Thanks for following the thread though guys, appreciate it.
 
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So I'd like some advice from you guys, while I've been working on these I've been trying to decide what steel I want to use on these next ones after the basic 440C versions I've blanked out. I've been thinking either CPM154 or CTS-40CP, I want to try a PM stainless steel. Looking for a hardness of 60-62 RC with cryogenic treatment if possible, I'd like for it to be a well balanced steel for a EDC / Hunter that the average guy can still sharpen and have it hold an edge a decent amount of time and be reasonably tough.
 
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[QUOTE="Ocelot85, post: 19056184, member: 311684"I'd like for it to be a well balanced steel for a EDC / Hunter that the average guy can still sharpen and have it hold an edge a decent amount of time and be reasonably tough.[/QUOTE]
This is similar to a question i recently posed in another thread for a kitchen knife for my son. Pretty much unanimous recommendation was AEB-L. I still am not sure about the sometimes recommendation of “harder is better.” For a working knife like this, harder = more brittle, and harder=more difficult to sharpen. I guess it depends on what you expect your users will want? If they dont want/dont know how to sharpen, then go harder and give them a sharp knife out of the box. If they will sharpen, give them a lower hardness so they are not frustrated by the process?
 
I would recommend S35VN.
It is finer structure than CPM 154.

Ocelot85 said:
So I'd like some advice from you guys, while I've been working on these I've been trying to decide what steel I want to use on these next ones after the basic 440C versions I've blanked out. I've been thinking either CPM154 or CTS-40CP, I want to try a PM stainless steel. Looking for a hardness of 60-62 RC with cryogenic treatment if possible, I'd like for it to be a well balanced steel for a EDC / Hunter that the average guy can still sharpen and have it hold an edge a decent amount of time and be reasonably tough.
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Thanks for the recommendations guys, I'll think about both of them.

On another note, I finished totally sanding the blade to 400 grit last night, pretty happy with how it came out. I think I'm going to go to 800 and see how it looks. Then it'll be handle time.
 
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Sharpened to .5 micron finish with diamond lapping films and edge pro diamond matrix stones. @Diemaker These work great on 440C at 60RC, had a nice bite to it all the way to 4k. You make awesome stones they really are becoming my favorites on most everything I put on them. The diamond lapping films from Jende Industries follow them perfectly as well.

Trying to decide on handle material, I'm becoming more indecisive now that the time is getting closer to do it. I had intended on something basic like standard Micarta that I already purchased, but with how things have turned out I was thinking about maybe an ironwood burl or perhaps on the other end of things https://usaknifemaker.com/carbon-fiber-shred-blue-1-8-1-5-x5-scales-knife-handle-material.html maybe with .06 thick blue G10 liners. Might have to buy a Tyvek suit for the carbon fiber, I already wear a respirator for everything and have nitrile gloves as well. What do you guys think?
 
Coy Ranch said:
Next time you might want to hold off putting an edge on that thing until you get your scales finished. Be careful!
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I'll knock the edge off before I do, and the blade will be wrapped with painters tape then duct tape after that no worries. I just had a few minutes last night to mess around and wanted to see what it could do at this geometry.

I won't put an edge on prior to do doing handling on any of the future versions for that reason as well.
 
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Decided to forego all the fancy options and just go with straight black canvas Micarta like I originally intended. I have the scales roughed out and drilled now, it's getting late here so I'll epoxy them up tomorrow. Everything is going to plan so far. I'll update with pictures tomorrow!
 
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Eventful day had a tornado interrupt my work when I had a weather warning start buzzing on my phone while I was grinding on the scales. Had to run into the house get my family and run down stairs. Luckily it didn't touch down until about 5 miles past my house and went toward my work place.

Good news is that the scales are roughed and are now curing! Made sure to clean up all the squeeze out and had a good fathers day besides the weather drama!
 
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Pretty much done at this point, some minor touch ups to do with sand paper but that's it besides my makers mark. Going to work on getting some stencils made and figuring out what I want to do for a sheath. Knife isn't much good if you can't carry it. Going to work on the next 7, there are a few minor changes I'll make from what I've learned on this one. I think I'll be able to make the next ones considerably faster as well. I'm very happy with it though and I think it fits my hand very good, I look forward to carrying it and testing it.

I'll post some better pictures once I have access to a better camera and I get my mark on the knife. Thanks for following the thread everyone! I've appreciated all the feedback and support a lot!
 
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Been great following you with this proto. It is beautiful, you should be very proud ,if the others turn out like this one you will be on to something. When the others are done,please let me know by PM l would like acquire one in the black micardis, thanks wayne
 
wayneblocker5369 said:
Been great following you with this proto. It is beautiful, you should be very proud ,if the others turn out like this one you will be on to something. When the others are done,please let me know by PM l would like acquire one in the black micardis, thanks wayne
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Once I upgrade my membership level here and get the rest done I'll be sure contact you about it Wayne, thanks for the feedback and support!
 
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