Hand mades...sort of

glennbad

glennbad

Knife Moddin' Fool
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jan 13, 2003
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In addition to loving knives, I also like to make them when I have some spare time. :rolleyes:

Now, you can't classify what I do as 'making' knives. I usually buy a pre-ground and heat-treated blade, then do all the guard and handle work myself, kinda like a kit knife.

I've made about 20-30 knives, some I even made for sale. Unfortunately, the real good ones are gone. :(

I have pictures of some of my best, and if I ever figure out how to use my scanner, maybe I'll post them.

I also dabble in making my own leather sheaths. This is fun and challenging. Nothing fancy, just dyed leather and hand stitching.

I finished a dagger about a month ago. I'll post a pic of that soon.

But here are two of my favorites that I still have. The curved one is a carbon steel blade from Jansky, with some dymondwood handles. The sheath is something I was thinking about, being able to use it with a shoulder rig, and as a belt knife as well. Don't have a clue about shoulder harnesses, though.

The other is a cheap damascus blade from Atlanta Cutlery, with some dymondwood handles, about 4" long.

As far as Schrade content, there is none, other then the mention of the name Schrade earlier in this sentence, so technically, I'm covered. This probably doesn't belong here, but I'd much rather hang with you guys...

Sorry if this is boring...
 

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I'm in the same league with you, so maybe somebody can tell us both where to go.
People are always telling me where I can go anyway. ;)

I have made several knives using bed frame steel too, and the work knife that I carry daily was made from it.
 
Nice work, Glenn! Good for you. I try and find the time to do things like this, but just never do. I have one of my frontier lockbacks with the handles off, and some elephant ivory slabs almost fitted to it. Almost.

And hang the Schrade content!

Will! Glad you have decided to hang around here. Can you post a pic of your knives???

Phil
 
Glenn,
Great knife work.
What did you use to affix the handles to the Atlanta Cutlery blade.
I have a old 2OT thats has 1 handle missing and the other is held together with what looks like bondo. I'd like to rehandle it without peaning the rivits.
Larry
 
Those are great, Glen! I like the first one especially, that wood looks really nice! The pins are a good touch, too! :)

20-30, that's alot of knives! I've done 2-1/2 so far, still have a long ways to go. One thing I really want to learn is sheaths, haven't even attempted them yet.
 
To Texttoothpick: Thanks. I had the address from awhile back when I was looking into something about Camillus Cutlery. I have a friend who is a big Camillus fan. He was from near there and his grandparents had a restaurant across from the factory.

I haven't made a lot of knives (too busy) but I enjoy it. Another friend of mine has a digital camera and maybe I can borrow it.
My work knife is antler handled and is scimitar shaped. The squiggelly bits broke off of the butt from dropping it too many times and I have a 3/4" copper sweat cap there now. It is the second blade for that handle. The first one had stress cracks in it and broke when I dropped it one time too many.
I have hafted a few pocket knife blades, made a few whittling tools, made an Arkansas Toothpick out of an old similarly shaped file. I keep it under my pillow. I made a filet knife from a keyhole saw blade. I cast the bolster for that one from pot metal. My latest project has been on hold for a couple of years now and there's at least one to do after that.
I'd call my style "primitave" but I've gotten some compliments on some of them.
I make my own sheaths too, but nothing fancy. I found a guy who had a large box of leather for sale when he became unable to continue his leatherwork and I figure I have a lifetime supply. I make other things with it too.
 
Thanks for the good words, guys.

It's a hobby, and recently I don't have any time for it. I guess my work is good enough when people pay me to make a knife for them.

I actually made 2 knives last year for ladies that worked at a local elec. distributor. They heard from a coworker that I did that, and hired me to make one for their husbands. One I did in ATS34 with Curly Maple Handles and Nickel silver bolsters, the other I think I did in D2 maybe. It was the dendritic steel blades that K&G sells. That one came out nice enough, I guess.

Larry, normally I use a 2 part duro or devcon epoxy. What is it, like 2-ton or something. The key is to rough up the material good with sandpaper or something, otherwise it won't adhere good. I'm sure you already knew that though. No offense.

As far as sheaths, I just decided that since the kit knives didn't come with one, I would have to make my own.

I bought a big side of leather from Tandy (now Heritan, I think), and some basic punching, stitching, and riveting tools. Nothing fancy, no bevelers, design punches or anything. Then i just make a template from the knife and go to town. It's amazing how easy it really is. Hell, if I can do it, anyone can...

Will, filet knife from a key hole saw? Cool. You got skills, bro.
 
Nice work,

Here´s a knife that I rehandled, it´s not too good but not bad for a 14 year old, which is what I was when I did it, it´s a German boy scout knife that my dad gave me when I was in junior highschool, the bone handle came loose real soon so I took an old piece of 3 mm plywood, cut a bunch of pieces, drilled them, stacked them in the tang with some glue (probably epoxy but I don´t remember) and shaped with rasps.

This was my only fixed blade for years and it was often with me when backpacking in California back in the 70´s (my college years as a foreign student at UCLA).

scoutknife1.jpg
 
Nice work back at you, Don Luis...

Ya know, it's kind of a psychological thing with me. I find it easy to make a handle for a new knife, but it is intimidating for me to re-handle one.

I don't know... :confused:
 
To Don,
That is a good looking knife.
I have never made a handle using stacked materials but I'll have to keep it in mind.

Backwoodsman Magazine recently ran an article about using stacked pieces of Birch bark, which due to its absorbent and porus nature makes for a good gripping surface.
 
Hi I was reading your posting and you do some nice work it must be rewarding to have that ability, my best tool is a sledge I guess some are here to create and some to break things. As I have remarked before I can look at a screwdriver from across the room and have it fly off and assault me. The exception being knives guns and other similar items. However that being said here is my question. I have included a scan (a poor one ). Of a sheath used for the double imperial knife set ( see pic) . I also have in the scan another full sized pic of a similar style sheath. The double version has a pouch for the toothpick as well as the regular holster for the sheath version. As you can see a small band of leather and a snap secures the toothpick. This style of holster is a bit smaller and different than the picture of the set I recently posted. ( see other posting ) The other sheath ( in this scan)has rulers around it for a size reference. Could you, or would you have the time or inclination to make me a similiar sheath ( with pouch and snap ). I could buy it or swap for a knife ( I believe I may have one or two around. ) Both of these have rivits I do not care if the new one is just stitched. I certainly understand if you do not have the time. I just thought I would ask. LT PS if you can do it and need more info please just let me know.
 
I sent you an email, LT

Glenn
 
Okay, as promised, here is the dagger that I recently finished. It has a thru-tang, so that was a new challenge for me. The handle is a solid piece of emerald colored dymondwood, that I drilled a hole through. I also used some black and white spacer material at the top and bottom. The butt cap was a machined brass piece that I reworked the shape on, and it screws on the end of the tang.

The guard was a solid piece of brass stock that I shaped and slotted, then brazed into place. There is no sheath for it yet. Luckily, the picture doesn't show my mistakes. :rolleyes:

Yes, that is one of my old socks. That is the sheath right now...
 

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That is quite nice I like the shaping of the handle and the pommel. It looks like it would have great balance of course those materials are too nice to use in a knife that might be thrown if the same style was done with a rubber or similiar handle material it looks like it would be a great thrower the pommel is also nice in case it hits backward. A dandy design. The one in the pic is a beauty the handle and guard again quite conducive to hanging on to when sticking and not having your hand slip. the overall looks of the knife are also very pleasing. A+ on design.

Just a couple of questions 1, is your other foot cold. 2, what happens if you have 3 knives with no sheaths or are you a rich guy with more than one pair of socks. I am just about done so keep your shirt on ( so to speak ). Nice Job LT.
 
Very nice work. If there are any mistakes, they must be so small as to just add some character to the work. ;)

Oh, you know something very strange? I have a couple of sheaths that look just like that one in the picture. I think mine are much older, though.

Bill
 
1. my other foot is not cold. I take turns swapping the other sock back and forth between feet just for fairness. And I turn it inside out, as my left foot does not like the way the right one smells...

2. Oh yeah, by nature of the fact that I only have one pair of socks, I'm only allowed to make a new knife when I have the sheath complete for the current one...
 
Nice, I like pommels on knives, in utility knives flat for hammering, in fighters pointy like what you made, a good skull crusher.

Socks are versatile things, Lt has mentioned about a rock in a sock, now we have a knife in a sock. My grandmother would make cofee with a new, clean white cotton sock, just put the coffee inside, tie a knot to keep it in, bring water to a boil, turn the flame down, drop in the sock, wait a couple of minutes and serve.
 
That would be coffee with a little soul (sole) :p
 
I have learned soo much from you guys in the last couple of months. 1st it was the distance and velocity one can expect from a ping pong ball. Then it the different sizes and all that was new about the rubbers used with thos ping pong balls and now in 1 day I learn 2 great new uses for my old socks.. I had been using them for shining my knives, the oil in them keeping the patina at bay....
:D
TTYL
Larry
 
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