Folder #4 - New and Improved

Laredo7mm

Laredo7mm

Joined
Jul 8, 2002
Messages
1,240
Well all, here she is. I took alot of your feedback and modified this design. The changes are:

1) Contoured the scales and bolsters.
2) Counter bored the screws
3) Used smaller screws
4) Heat treated the bolsters and back spacer
5) Went with hidden stop pin
6) Moved the screw locations to flow better with the knife

I like this much better, now I have to go back and try to modify the other two. One I can contour, but I am not sure about the other.

The same damascus was used for the blade, bolsters and back spacer. It is a pattern that I developed a while ago, and it turned out O.K. It got a bit distorted when I forged it down to thickness. All the stars used to be alot closer together.

Anyway, thanks again for all your input and let me know what you think about this one.

folder4_col.jpg
 
Thats what I'm talking about! That is sweet :cool:

I hope I didn't come across like a dick talking about your last 2 folders. Its just that I'm used to seeing you post work like this, which is amazing, and the other 2 are almost there but you stopped just a little short of your normal work. You've got a lot more guts than me to try and go back and modify them too. Once I've called a project finished, I won't touch it, just try to remember things for the next one down the line.

What kind of handle material is that? Looks really cool with the damascus.
Great job :D
 
Thanks all, I forgot to give thanks to Chiro for the handle material. He brought it by when we heat treated his tanto. It is carbon fiber, neat stuff. I still need to sand out a couple spots a bit more and put the edge on her.

I think might go back and contour one of the other ones, but I won't be able to re-do screw locations/sizes unless I make all new liners, but then the ball detent would most likely be off. Maybe my time would be better spend making more "new style" ones. :confused:
 
much nicer! better lines overall.

I really hope you are wearing a quality resperator when working that carbon fiber.
 
How'd you like working with the CF, Sean? Rodiculously easy to grind, isn't it? Looks great. Glad I could contribute to a successful project! :D This is the stuff that supposedly comes from F-15 fighter jet wings or something. Has a big weave, but looks pretty cool. If you contour it more it will get a crazy random pattern that is really mesmerizing to look at.
 
This one shows some improvement from #2 and 3. I cant wait to see #5

One question...why do you use a stop pin when the spacer could double as the blade stop?
 
I had that question asked on the other post. My only reason is because my back spacer is really thin at that point. And what I noticed on this folder is even if I make it a zero gap fit from the back of the blade to the spacer with the knife open, after final profiling, sanding, and etching, I now have a small gap. At least with a stop pin, I know my full open lock will be tight.

Maybe I will have to try it in the future, but what is the main advantage to doing it? It only takes me a couple minutes to locate the hole and drill them. Plus if I don't have a stop pin what keeps the blade from hitting the spacer in the full closed position?

I set my stop pin location with the blade closed and then fuzz the back of the blade until I get a tight lock in full open. So my stop pin does double duty, determines full open, and does not allow the edge of the blade to ever hit the spacer in full closed.
 
Chiro- the stuff was pretty cool to work with. I actually put on some safety garb while grinding, imagine that, me being safe. ;) The biggest thing I like is how it "shape changes" at different angles of view. Almost like it is alive.

The other plus is that it saved me a bunch og heart ache and time starting out with material that was 0.125 thick. As opposed to cutting a chunk off of a 20 pound burl and bringing it down to 1/8 and flat.

Thanks again and I am going to have to sand on that Koa too and see what that looks like.

Oh, by the way, this blade was made out of that billet I pulled out of the drawer in the kitchen. Remember? One end was twisted sqaure and the other twisted when round? This is the round end, just enough for this knife.
 
There isnt any major advantage to using the spacer as a stop I guess. It just eliminates the pin. The spacer also acts as the stop when the blade is closed. The cutting edge never touches the spacer because that little flat spot between the plunges rests on the spacer.

Did You ever get married to that cutie?
 
I got it now! Maybe I will try that one of these days. I might have to beef up my spacer so it does not flex in the closed position.

No, me and the Alabama Hottie finally parted ways after being engaged twice. Things just couldn't seem to work out with here son in Alabama and my daughter here in Michigan. Maybe one of these days when the kids are older and one of us decides we can leave them. Sure do miss her "southern hospitality" though. :eek: :D ;)
 
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