First SlipJoint I am happy with

Bruzek Knives USA

Bruzek Knives USA

Knife Maker - Semper Fidelis
Joined
Oct 17, 2014
Messages
1,582
Hello members. I have been a fan and collector of slip joints for 20 years. As a gunsmith I love tinkering with projects and challenges and decided to try my hand at making my favorite style of knife. I have gone through a few slip joints and patterns Which I call my learning curve. This is the first one I am posting. Starting to learn what works for me and how to get a nice walk and talk. Still working on my blade grinds and many other areas. I still have much to learn. I do want to give a huge thanks to all the members and to this forum. Without it, I would be lost and confused! Also a special thanks to BladeForums member SBuzek. I was struggling trying to tin my bolsters and liners until I found your post on how you solder bolsters. Many thanks Mr SBuzek. My next struggle is inlaying shields; Still have a lot of trouble getting that right.

Knife Steel is CPM154, Bolsters 416 Stainless, Liners are 410 Stainless, Stainless Pins and tube, and stainless Bail I attempted to make (not sure if I care for the bail?) Handle material is burlap from ShadeTree Custom Composites. Sorry if the pictures are not the greatest! I am still learning how to take pictures of my work!

I use a Grizzly Knife grinder (Not the best grinder but for beginners it does the job) with gator belts. I did make a custom tool rest (which is a must because the one that comes with it is junk and not big enough) . I am cutting my steel with a Milwaukee Deep Cut Band Saw Kit and is attached to a SWAG V3.0 Portaband Table (works great!) and several other of the basic tools.

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Impressive! I like the long pull and the handles- is it red canvas micarta? Looks really nice with the solid unmarked bolster.
 
T_MAC686 said:
Impressive! I like the long pull and the handles- is it red canvas micarta? Looks really nice with the solid unmarked bolster.
Click to expand...

Thanks T_MAC686. The handle material is from ShaeTree Custom Composites. They use burlap sacks. They sometimes difficult to work with as some times they appear dirty looking after buffing them out.
 
rrbruzek said:
Thanks T_MAC686. The handle material is from ShaeTree Custom Composites. They use burlap sacks. They sometimes difficult to work with as some times they appear dirty looking after buffing them out.
Click to expand...

Well yours look nice! Great job, I look forward to seeing some of your next designs!
 
Good job!! Nothing is like carring your own made slippie :thumbup: Congratulations for the bolsters soldering and well hidden pin!!!
Have you considered making a parser tool for inlaying the shields? I have yet to inlay a shield and i'm seriously considering that traditional method.
 
The knife looks great!

As for the bail, have always hated that bent wire type of bail, and made my first one for a Case Peanut this summer, using the method where you craft one out of pin stock for the center, that goes through the rear of the knife, and make a "u" and peen the ends....much more elegant, much more durable.....took about an hour and is worth the effort, imo. You would benefit from a bezel setting punch kit regardless if you are going to make peened pins, it helps keep them round, rather than sort of oblong.

You can acquire a relatively inexpensive one from India from a variety of jewelry making supply sources.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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