Hello,
First off, my name is Brian and I live in Western Colorado. I decided to start building a knife or two because I am yet to find to perfect one, and tired of carrying 6 lower quality knives in the field while hunting for myself or guiding others.
I have a few questions, but first here are a few pictures of what I have done so far on my first knife...
Here it is after the majority of the Hacksaw cuts
After my hand filed shaping
A little embellishment, and traction for my fingers
And finally the overall, I still need to go back and resand out a few scratches.
This knife is basically a blend of my three favorite skinning knives, and is my own design. The steel is 1/8" CPM154, and the handle will be Olive Burl held on by 2 brass corby rivets. Everything has been done by hand filing, sawing, and sanding except for the drill press and a dremel with sanding drum to clean burs of the drilled holes. I have filed the blade down to 0.025" and will take it to 400 grit finish prior to heat treating. The knife is 7" overall with a 2 3/4" cutting edge.
The only thing I am not pleased with so far is my transition radius from blade bevel to the ricasso. Purely my fault for not grinding a perfectly flat sided safe round file, and using a full round to finish it. I therefore have a nice round groove on each side of the blade that will likely stay as a reminder for future knives.
When you grind a flat safe side on your round files, what machine do you have best results with? I have a bench grinder, and my boss has a small handheld 1"belt sander.
Who do you guys use for heat treating services? I was thinking Texas Knifemaker's Supply. I will have three blades, two skinners and 1 small caper.
Is there anything I should specify with the heat treating company, or is it generally a pretty standard process based on type of steel?
I am also thinking of having them cryo treated. Any major arguements for or against having this done on this knife?
Thanks,
Brian
First off, my name is Brian and I live in Western Colorado. I decided to start building a knife or two because I am yet to find to perfect one, and tired of carrying 6 lower quality knives in the field while hunting for myself or guiding others.
I have a few questions, but first here are a few pictures of what I have done so far on my first knife...
Here it is after the majority of the Hacksaw cuts
After my hand filed shaping
A little embellishment, and traction for my fingers
And finally the overall, I still need to go back and resand out a few scratches.
This knife is basically a blend of my three favorite skinning knives, and is my own design. The steel is 1/8" CPM154, and the handle will be Olive Burl held on by 2 brass corby rivets. Everything has been done by hand filing, sawing, and sanding except for the drill press and a dremel with sanding drum to clean burs of the drilled holes. I have filed the blade down to 0.025" and will take it to 400 grit finish prior to heat treating. The knife is 7" overall with a 2 3/4" cutting edge.
The only thing I am not pleased with so far is my transition radius from blade bevel to the ricasso. Purely my fault for not grinding a perfectly flat sided safe round file, and using a full round to finish it. I therefore have a nice round groove on each side of the blade that will likely stay as a reminder for future knives.
When you grind a flat safe side on your round files, what machine do you have best results with? I have a bench grinder, and my boss has a small handheld 1"belt sander.
Who do you guys use for heat treating services? I was thinking Texas Knifemaker's Supply. I will have three blades, two skinners and 1 small caper.
Is there anything I should specify with the heat treating company, or is it generally a pretty standard process based on type of steel?
I am also thinking of having them cryo treated. Any major arguements for or against having this done on this knife?
Thanks,
Brian
