I got sick and tired of so much poor advice about knifemaking without knowing anythin

The General

The General

Joined
Jun 6, 2000
Messages
3,625
May be of interest, but I am geting a knife made to test Talonite as a good material for a med sized camp knife. It will be a custom scratch built design by myself. I am considering who to get to make it! Tom challenged me to do this. We will see once and for all in an unbiased and honest test whether it works for me anyway!I will report on the 'diary of a knife' and go through, step by step, the
trials a tribulations of designing and getting a custom knife made. Once it
is built I will test it and report on its performance. I and my kind sponsor
Tom, would like to show the group, really what is involved and how well it
aught to go, or not as the case may be. I hope some of you will find this
interesting and of value. If any of you have any suggestions of what you
would like to see or have me do (no rude comments please!)please feel free
to post to the group. I will consider carefully all suggestions, and
appreciate your time.
It is my intention to keep the group up to date and show the newer members,
what knife making and designing is really like. As Tom told me, there is a
lot of bad advice going around in this group (paraphrasing) and many people
run off at the mouth in an ill educated fashion at times! Don`t take offence
I have done that at times also!

Have a good one!

W.A.

 
wow!looking forward to seeing how everything goes.

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the pompetous of love lame bastid
 
I sent Tom Mayo a billet of Talonite (r), and he crafted this fine knife for me. It is a drop point hunter, with full tang. Blade length is 5 3/8"; the stock is 3/16" thick. Scales are of black linen micarta. I sent Tom a knife to use as a rough idea of what I had in mind, but we changed the final design a fair amount from the concept knife.

I am very pleased with the result; I am sorry that my poor photographic skills cannot do Tom's work justice. Cost was $300; if you do not supply the Talonite, Tom advised me that the price would be $425-$450.

View


Hope this helps, Walt
 
Full tang flat ground Talonite.....according to the customers specs/very similar to a certain other makers knife.

[This message has been edited by tom mayo (edited 10-06-2000).]
 
My first opinion suggestion, without any other imput was this.

At present I am looking at a modified spear point of about five inches long.
The blade would be quite thick to give it extra toughness and resilience. I
would chose a simple sabre grind, and would prefer a rolled edge. The scales
would be made from a material that is very comfortable such as textured
carbon fibre or Micarta with finger groves. The knife would of course have
an exposed full tang and a lanyard hole. The sheath would be made from
either Concealdex? Sorry if misspelt, or made by Eagle. The company that
made the excellent sheath for my D2 KABAR knife. The material of the blade
would obviously be Talonite. This is my current, un-advised idea as to the
perfect knife shape for me. It would have a good edge, but strength and
resilience is vital. I think this basic idea would work for me. Whether the
materials would do it justice, is another matter. The blade would of course
be plain.

That at present is my very very rough proposal.


When I made my requirements clear, I was describing a set of
vague criteria for a tough knife that would stand up to the day to day
rigors of camp use. Allow me to explain what a typical camp day is for me.
But first, I have no intention of testing any knife to destruction. Yes
others do this and often break knives. That was never, ever, my intent,
period. My typical camp needs are as follows.

1. Cut firewood, this includes slicing branches and heavy chopping of said
branches. The actual very heavy work is done by a med sized axe.
2. Use the knife to 'feather' the wood so that it will light more easily.
3. Use the knife to make kindling, by shaving it. This means it must still
be usable at this point
4. Use the knife to do a little digging, to make the placement of pegs
easier.
5. Use the knife`s back to hammer in pegs.
6. Use the knife to cut, prepare and dress food.
7. Use the knife to cut various things at the camp site, such as rope,
string and other soft materials.
8. In extreme cases use the knife to open a bottle or can. I would add
however that this is an emergency feature, and I would NEVER EVER do it
myself. I am always well equipped. It is nice to know that the knife could
take it however.
9. The ability to perform in the wet, cold, heat and snow, typically found
in beautiful North Wales.
10. A sheath that will not let the knife fall out when hiking, or damage the
knife edge. It must also be comfortable to wear and not to heavy.
11. The knife must have a lanyard hole for safety and feature a handle that
will not get damaged easily or cause blisters or irritation when used.
12. The knife must be easy to control with one hand and be balanced slightly
tip heavy.
13. Very good rust resistance would be a highly desirable feature, but is
the one thing that could be sacrificed to get all of the above.
14. The ability to resharpen in the field with a small DMT stone or similar.
15. An edge profile that allows simple re working.
16. A material that will not chip out even when used to dig or prod in stony
ground (and I mean gently!)
17. A knife that will take moderate prying, in other words a thick strong
profile.


Thanks for the help!

W.A.




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Nothing wrong with your photography that I can see. Knife is nothing short of awesome! Pic is just a nice.

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Danbo, soul brother of Rambo
 
Hoh! Walt, you get the best out of these knife makers with your concepts, that's all I can say.

That's awesome.

[This message has been edited by Steve Harvey (edited 10-06-2000).]
 
Jerry, if Mayo made it, something is bound to be just a little out of kilter, off center, eccentric, or odd. But I can't see anything assymetrical, out of place, or wrong with this awesome knife. It does remind me of some other knives I've seen, but I just can't remember whose...

Gotta go now, I hear a mad dog barking loudly Outside
wink.gif
 
lucky for us there is no rabies out here in the middle of the pacific.....no hossoms either!!!!!!
smile.gif
......ooooopps...spelled it wrong again!

[This message has been edited by tom mayo (edited 10-07-2000).]
 
Walt,
That's a beauty!! I was going to say that Tom forgot all the holes but....... AH, I'll let it go for now!!!
That has some other distinctive lines to it, other that just being a drop point?? What knife was it based on??
Well DONE Tom!
Neil

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Knives IN STOCK!!!!

blackwoodknives.com
 
That is a gorgeous knife Walt! Tom did an incredible job! Maybe Tom will offer a few tips to Jerry and help him out.


------------------
Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Very well, gentlemen, since you wish to have more information on the knife which was used as an inspiration for Tom's masterpiece, here is a pic of the two knives together, with one of Tom's smaller Talonite fixed blades for comparison. The 'inspiration' knife, as many of you have guessed, is a Mad Dog Mako.

The more I get into photography, the more I learn how hard it is. I spent over an hour arranging the lighting so that there was a subtle 'S' curve of light so as to make the front rivet appear in alignment.
wink.gif


Also included is a #18 Kit Carson folder in Talonite, just to show you that holes CAN be drilled in alignment.
tongue.gif


View


For those of you who would like the big kahuna pic, all 1.5 Meg of it, go here: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=306668&a=2279510&p=30470026 click on the photo to get to full size.

I would recommend that you look at least once at the big picture. You can see up close the beautiful proportions, even grind lines, perfectly located holes, elegant design and truly fine craftsmanship. Oh, and don't forget to look at Tom's knives while you have the pic on the screen as well.
tongue.gif


Seriously, look just to the left of the highlight on Tom's large knife; you will see the lacy pattern of the Talonite which is caused by the hot rolling. Tom's knives are definitely top notch. I recommend his work without reservation.

Walt

[This message has been edited by Walt Welch (edited 10-11-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Walt Welch (edited 10-11-2000).]
 
ok, ok...I will call Kit right now and find out how he gets those holes so straight... oh wait...I have to catch a plane for lost vegas.....it will have to wait for another day......
smile.gif
 
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