Hi All,
So I got bit by the "I can do that" bug again and this time it's knife Building. It started with a cheap blade I got years ago that has flat synthetic scales that make the knife feel disposable and uninspired. Wood scales will jazz it up and give it some character. Then I bought another good blade for low $$ but the tang is proud of the scales making the knife uncomfortable to work with - again, I'm sure I can fix that with some new scales or rounding of the edges or something if I only had to know how and tools...
Then I saw one of the most inspiring creations on another site - it's a stag handle lock back folder. The lock mechanism is a sort of symmetrical cross the wraps around the sides and is square pinned to the handle. The long part of the cross runs along the back of the handle and uses a ring to unlock the blade. It's all hand forged and the metal is fit to the bone - it looks like something made just after the wheel was invented but is artful at the same time. I corresponded with the gentleman that made it and he talked of tempering, heat treating etc. Stuff I have no clue how to do but he was encouraging in a way that made it all sound easy to do. I'd post a picture but it's not mine to go spreading around.
So then I started researching knives in general and building/making specifically - wound up here and started getting addicted to the research, products, process, tools and techniques. The research was dizzing - one thing led to another to another and so on.
On yoo-toob I found a man named Trollskyy who lives in Poland and demonstrated how to make a knife using some modest tools like files and an angle grinder and a toaster oven. He has a few other vids that I found helpful as well.
I found another yoo-toob guy in NYC that was very informative and apparently has a well-trained dog named Ricasso - As a newbie I have to guess that's his dog's name because he'd pull the steel away from the grinder and say, "Nice Ricasso" and then go back to grinding. I never actually saw the dog but had some nice blades. He sounded like Ray Romano without the whine.
Then I found another site somewhere along the way of a guy who defined the word "Vorpal" which I recognized from a long time ago. I sniffed around the site quite a bit and was very intrigued by his use of solder on a guard and the way the entire piece was fit, finished and polished. His site led me back here - his name is Salem something.
Again, I spent a lot of time reading and making notes on tools, equipment, etc. - I studied the stickies and links therein, going back and forth to the vids and getting more insight to what I was seeing but may not have been specifically explained. I found inspiration from the gallery and WIP threads - especially the Machinist guy making a pointy fighter piece. It makes me want to go back in time to kick myself in the nads and get me to become a machinist like my Dad suggested when he was stupid and I knew everything.
Then recently I pulled the trigger and went shopping down at the Chi Supply place and invested in some tools - tools are always an investment because they can usually be used for lots of things rather than one specific task. The 1x30 sander, some files, some small files, paper of various grits, gloves, glasses and so on - it all cost me about 2 fill-ups of gas worth not including the other stuff I got because I needed it anyway. I also ordered a couple lock back kits that I intend to build as gifts and to get used to the finishing part. I can also figure out the scale pinning and so on for my other projects. Ill probably try to grind a blade from scratch at some point but for now Ill make scales and try to do a partial tang type because the aesthetic appeals to me. Id also like to avoid using epoxy and synthetic materials because, well, it was done that way for quite a while before Dow and 3M came on the scene. I prefer wool over thinsulate
So while I've dived into yet another hobby I have a new appreciation for the time and effort that goes into making a nice tool. I found a lot of inspiration and encouragement lurking around here and wanted to say thanks for it all.
Thanks.
Hi, you can call me Sprocket
So I got bit by the "I can do that" bug again and this time it's knife Building. It started with a cheap blade I got years ago that has flat synthetic scales that make the knife feel disposable and uninspired. Wood scales will jazz it up and give it some character. Then I bought another good blade for low $$ but the tang is proud of the scales making the knife uncomfortable to work with - again, I'm sure I can fix that with some new scales or rounding of the edges or something if I only had to know how and tools...
Then I saw one of the most inspiring creations on another site - it's a stag handle lock back folder. The lock mechanism is a sort of symmetrical cross the wraps around the sides and is square pinned to the handle. The long part of the cross runs along the back of the handle and uses a ring to unlock the blade. It's all hand forged and the metal is fit to the bone - it looks like something made just after the wheel was invented but is artful at the same time. I corresponded with the gentleman that made it and he talked of tempering, heat treating etc. Stuff I have no clue how to do but he was encouraging in a way that made it all sound easy to do. I'd post a picture but it's not mine to go spreading around.
So then I started researching knives in general and building/making specifically - wound up here and started getting addicted to the research, products, process, tools and techniques. The research was dizzing - one thing led to another to another and so on.
On yoo-toob I found a man named Trollskyy who lives in Poland and demonstrated how to make a knife using some modest tools like files and an angle grinder and a toaster oven. He has a few other vids that I found helpful as well.
I found another yoo-toob guy in NYC that was very informative and apparently has a well-trained dog named Ricasso - As a newbie I have to guess that's his dog's name because he'd pull the steel away from the grinder and say, "Nice Ricasso" and then go back to grinding. I never actually saw the dog but had some nice blades. He sounded like Ray Romano without the whine.
Then I found another site somewhere along the way of a guy who defined the word "Vorpal" which I recognized from a long time ago. I sniffed around the site quite a bit and was very intrigued by his use of solder on a guard and the way the entire piece was fit, finished and polished. His site led me back here - his name is Salem something.
Again, I spent a lot of time reading and making notes on tools, equipment, etc. - I studied the stickies and links therein, going back and forth to the vids and getting more insight to what I was seeing but may not have been specifically explained. I found inspiration from the gallery and WIP threads - especially the Machinist guy making a pointy fighter piece. It makes me want to go back in time to kick myself in the nads and get me to become a machinist like my Dad suggested when he was stupid and I knew everything.
Then recently I pulled the trigger and went shopping down at the Chi Supply place and invested in some tools - tools are always an investment because they can usually be used for lots of things rather than one specific task. The 1x30 sander, some files, some small files, paper of various grits, gloves, glasses and so on - it all cost me about 2 fill-ups of gas worth not including the other stuff I got because I needed it anyway. I also ordered a couple lock back kits that I intend to build as gifts and to get used to the finishing part. I can also figure out the scale pinning and so on for my other projects. Ill probably try to grind a blade from scratch at some point but for now Ill make scales and try to do a partial tang type because the aesthetic appeals to me. Id also like to avoid using epoxy and synthetic materials because, well, it was done that way for quite a while before Dow and 3M came on the scene. I prefer wool over thinsulate
So while I've dived into yet another hobby I have a new appreciation for the time and effort that goes into making a nice tool. I found a lot of inspiration and encouragement lurking around here and wanted to say thanks for it all.
Thanks.
Hi, you can call me Sprocket
