I hate when that happens

R APPLEBY

R APPLEBY

Joined
Mar 11, 2003
Messages
2,403
I wanted to do a large camp chopper so I have been fitting it in between projects. While finish grinding I noticed a crack about 1 1/2 inches in front of the tang, what the f@#! crap, I really hate when that happens. So off with the shop lights and out with the wine glass, am I the only one that gets kind of emotional when I ruin a blade. Next day I was looking at it a little more, once the pain wore off I gave it a light etch and didn't see any other cracks so, I put it on the chop saw and cut it off just before the crack. I reground a new tang, finished the grinding and polished the blade. I finished the blade with a multi level etch in a random splatter pattern. I had my wife pick out a new handle for it which was some really awesome crotch flame walnut that I finished in oil. My pain went away and I liked what was happening so much I even made a sheath a little better than a plain brown wrapper. When my wife came home last night I gave it to her I feel better and she's a happy girl.

The original specs were 5160, 1/4 inch thick 13 inches long 2 inches wide and 18 inches overall.

New specs are 5160, 1/4 inches thick 8 inches long, 2 inches wide and 13 inches overall.

Its doesn't happen very often and normally can't be salvaged but this time it all worked out OK.

Thanks for looking.
 

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Bob, you already know this old saying, but others may not:
There are no mistakes in knifemaking... Only shorter knives. :)

Coop
 
Pretty good looking salvage piece there - and wow, what a gorgeous piece of walnut that is.

I'm not sure I get how the handle fits up with the fuller once the ricasso got ground off?

Roger
 
I have had one heck of a week as well. First I had a 10 1/2" ladder pattern bowie that I forgot about in the Ferric for hours. Completely fried the blade. Tried to regrind it but it was to far gone. Next, I broke 3/4" of the tip off an explosion pattern integral while press fitting the spacer. I was hammer fitting the last couple thousanths and it just wasn't going so I figured, hit it HARDER! It slid down in my vise and the tip which was already ground to very thin just couldn't hold it's own against 3/8" plate with me hammering on the other end. Like Coop said," there are no mistakes in knifemaking, just shorter knives. I feel your pain my brother. :)
 
RogerP said:
Pretty good looking salvage piece there - and wow, what a gorgeous piece of walnut that is.

I'm not sure I get how the handle fits up with the fuller once the ricasso got ground off?

Roger
Click to expand...

Thanks Roger, here is a quick drawing. should explain it. The light moves through the walnut like tigers eye. I really can't capture it.
 

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Mike Quesenberry said:
I have had one heck of a week as well. First I had a 10 1/2" ladder pattern bowie that I forgot about in the Ferric for hours. Completely fried the blade. Tried to regrind it but it was to far gone. Next, I broke 3/4" of the tip off an explosion pattern integral while press fitting the spacer. I was hammer fitting the last couple thousanths and it just wasn't going so I figured, hit it HARDER! It slid down in my vise and the tip which was already ground to very thin just couldn't hold it's own against 3/8" plate with me hammering on the other end. Like Coop said," there are no mistakes in knifemaking, just shorter knives. I feel your pain my brother. :)
Click to expand...

Darn Mike, I don't think wine would have covered that, sounds more like whiskey. I have some lead ingots I put in the vise and set the point on it so far so good on points.

Thanks again all
 
Hey Marcel - yep, I got that it was a new handle - but I was wondering about how the handle fit against the concave hollow of the fuller. Flat wood handle against flat ricasso I get.

Cool knife, without a doubt. I keep coming bach for another look at that walnut.

Roger
 
RogerP said:
Hey Marcel - yep, I got that it was a new handle - but I was wondering about how the handle fit against the concave hollow of the fuller. Flat wood handle against flat ricasso I get.

Cool knife, without a doubt. I keep coming bach for another look at that walnut.

Roger
Click to expand...

Sorry Roger, I guess the drawing doesn't explain it completely. I mortised the handle block smaller than the tang. I wrapped the blade in a heavy wet rag and heated the bottom half of the tang and burnt the tang into the wood block.
 
Okay - I got it now - thanks for the explanation.

What do you use to finish the walnut?

Roger
 
RogerP said:
Okay - I got it now - thanks for the explanation.

What do you use to finish the walnut?

Roger
Click to expand...

Minwax antique oil finish, applied in several applications, I wasn't counting but I think I have about 9 coats on it.
 
I would have liked to see the intended project, however you made it work, and very nicely too!

"Bob, you already know this old saying, but others may not:
There are no mistakes in knifemaking... Only shorter knives. "

Coop


Coop, I love your quote!

Steve
---------
Potomac Forge
 
Steve Nuckels said:
I would have liked to see the intended project, however you made it work, and very nicely too!

"Bob, you already know this old saying, but others may not:
There are no mistakes in knifemaking... Only shorter knives. "

Coop


Coop, I love your quote!

Steve
---------
Potomac Forge
Click to expand...

Thanks Steve, The original project was to have a redwood burl handle(similar handle shape) with a copper guard sandwiched between 1/16 brass and a mosaic pin. The blade was to have a hand rubbed satin finish. Oh well what the hell, my wife's happier for it anyway, Thats all that matters.
 
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