Jess Horn Mauve ZDP project step by step

[STR]

I sent out one of my two ZDP189 Jess Horn folders to Tom Krein to have him grind it thin like he did for some of my friends. This was just so I could see exactly what they see and use exactly what they use and were talking about. I figured I could have done it myself but I wanted to have just what they have and as it turns out Tom uses a 14" wheel on these. Since my biggest wheel is 10" it would have been different I'm sure. Anyway, I've been using it. Decided I liked it, a lot! But I'm not quite man enough to be carrying a 'pink' folder so, I decided to do it over in bead blasted .100 thick titanium with a new spacer/spring holder in the rear also out of titanium only thick enough to make up for the new blade thickness with a couple teflon washers in the pivot to go with the new 1/8" stainless knife kits barrels I plan for it.

I got it underway this afternoon.

Seen here are some progress pics for today. First two show the folder before taking it apart, but after Tom's masterful regrind. The rest show it pretty rough but I'm having some fun.

Stay tuned. Should be a good one when done.

STR

 

[Tom Krein]

This should be interesting! Looking forward to seeing your work in progress.

This is the same knife/grind that I carry every day. I kind of like the mauve handles.....

Of course Ti would be soooo much cooler!

Can't wait to see what you do.

Tom

 

[STR]

Thanks Tom. I plan to post more on it tomorrow. The wife made me promise to help with cleaning the house tomorrow though. :grumpy: Not my thing. I'm great at the mess part though. Hopefully she won't strap me to the vacuum all day or something. It might be later but at least a couple more steps in the right direction should be up sometime tomorrow if I'm lucky.

STR

 

[STR]

Being on latrine duty all day I didn't get the time I wanted in the shop today but I managed to get this far.

Still a ways from done but getting there.

Thanks for watching.

STR

 

[STR]

Got her done today and started carrying it again.

Thanks for looking.

STR

 

[STR]

Here are a couple of one untouched Jess Horn still minty new just out for these shots, and my Krein reground thin user.

In case you are wondering the original knife weight was 1.6 ounces according to my postal scale for mailing.

This new one in titanium clothing is 2.6 ounces. Significant gain but still a very light weight folder.

Thanks to Tom for taking it on and thanks to Thom Brogan and GunMike for talking me into it.


STR

 

[gunmike1]

Here are a couple of one untouched Jess Horn still minty new just out for these shots, and my Krein reground thin user.

In case you are wondering the original knife weight was 1.6 ounces according to my postal scale for mailing.

This new one in titanium clothing is 2.6 ounces. Significant gain but still a very light weight folder.

Thanks to Tom for taking it on and thanks to Thom Brogan and GunMike for talking me into it.


STR

Beautiful work, STR! Glad me and Thom could bring you over to the darkside, if only for one knife. I guess titanium is about the only thing I could think of to really add to my love of Tom Krein reground ZDP 189 knives (I have the Jess Horn and ZDP Caly Jr. with Krein grinds). Let us know how the cutting goes with it, I think you will like it a lot.

Mike

 

[Tom Krein]

Looks really GOOD STR!!:thumbup:

Tom

 

[STR]

Thanks everyone. I concede that I get it now. I mentioned on the Spyderco forum for Sal that after using this knife lately I can see that there would be a market for some wood carving knives out of this steel ground down nice and thin for those of us that like doing that. It slices some thick leather easily also, and we are talking some tuff bull hide Stanley blade dulling stuff I use for the backing against the blades in sheaths.

I think a three knife set of some thin Wharncliff wood carving knives would be the bomb out of this steel.

STR

 

[STR]

Ok well, with the arrival of my new grinder imminent I am pressed by the wife to take control of what she terms and out of control MasterCard. It did get a bit wild this month. Had to be done though.

So, this one is for sale also.

$275 shipped

Its a little gem of flawless perfection this one! If I don't get any takers I'll just hang on to it.

Pay pal preferred. No trades please.

Contact me with any questions.

Oh and Tom. Please don't think this sale has anything to do with your work on this. I'd love to keep it. Really! What you did is flawless and professional. It really sets the knife above some of my other upgrades IMO.

Here is a spine view to go along with the rest of the pics above since I neglected to show that earlier.

STR

 

[STR]

Whew! No takers? Good. The wife said, "Ok, you can keep it." Its mine at least for now.

Sale withdrawn.

STR

 

[gunmike1]

Whew! No takers? Good. The wife said, "Ok, you can keep it." Its mine at least for now.

Sale withdrawn.

STR

Good for you! I only carry my bank card on me, which can create even more havoc than a credit card, at least when I have money in the account. But having the CEO (wife) look over the bank statement definately curbs some of my "must have" purchases that I may otherwise have pulled the trigger on.

Oh yeah, how do you like the cutting of your masterpiece after a few days with it?

Mike

 

[STR]

I love it Mike! I think its something that the edge seems to be able to hold quite well and still be stable also. I do tend to be more careful with it though. Something about it almost seems delicate but so far the thing is holding up great. I've done some wood whittling with it, big a$$ slices and lifted a few up just to test it a bit and it handled it well.

Honestly its the only knife I have right now, besides the little super thin 52100blades Ray Kirk did up for me that will keep up with my Japanese White Steel and Blue Steel carving knives.
STR

 

[gunmike1]

I pay attention to what I'm doing with the thin knives, also, but they are much more durable than they seem at first. As long as you cut fairly straight and don't hit packing staples (which would ding a thicker blade, also) they just keep on cutting for a long time without taking damage. The edge retention and cutting ability really are something to behold. Glad to see you are liking the knife.

Mike

 

[Tom Krein]

Nice to hear you get to keep it!

Watch it when you are cutting with the reground blade! They are like light sabers!! I was cutting a zip tie tonight and it went through with no resistance..... until it hit my finger! It bit me GOOD!

Stay safe!

Tom

 

[STR]

I've noticed it is quite effortless to cut with also. Fortunately I always have a wallet full of bandaids as a general rule anyway, but I can see from the first few cuts with this thing that it might need restocked.

STR

 

[jaislandboy]

wow finally saw this masterpiece.....awesome Steve... :thumbup: