Jim Rosa lkns

JayGoliath

JayGoliath

Joined
Mar 27, 2010
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It started with a Bob Lum folder from Spyderco (which i have yet to own one) that a friend shown me.
He described it as " a big blade in a small knife".
Now that statement clings onto me for a long time as i was already looking into compact blades (who doesn't?) that could actually perform most tasks but stays concealed when it needs to.

The idea of such design derived from the Chinese folder, particularly the famous Shilin folder:

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So what if we push the envelope a bit and make it into a fixed blade? Can we tickle the system a bit?

Let's admit it, every knife user will eventually want to try their hands on a classic- be it a Scandi, Moran,Dozier, Lum, Kephardt or most prominently, the George W.Sears model.

I was never caught on the design as such that i chose to lurk around the designs that i am so keen about and i think i finally found it;
 
That's looks like a cutting machine.....thanks for the pictures.
 
Let us revisit some of the very few outstanding,well thought-out and field-tested yet compact blades that very few lucky forumites have gotten their paws on:

From Dan Koster's-
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to Lerman's-
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Such alluring silhouettes of eye-piercing beauty that i finally succumbed myself of wanting one and out the lurking cocoon i broke out to find Kalel (er...he still wearing his inside, i believe) AKA Hunter Martin's design on this very thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Jim-Rosa-M390-Nessie-with-Culry-Mango-scales



Magical, innit?:D
 
Not to derail from the monster that Jim is making, i must give credit to Hunter Martin who actually designed the Nessmuk above and had Jim made it for him.
As my buddy, Phil said - Hunter's 52100 machete is a "work of art". I'm a big fan of his handle especially.
Hunter is now a full time knifemaker who dwells on 52100 and continuously experimenting on different steels and HT method.
I reckon it was only proper that i contacted him to ask if i could use the design above as a template for Jim and i to inject some steroids into it.
He was more than happy about it so off we go, sailing out to the world of steels next.

Concurrently, Jim and I have been sketching out some outlines on the Monster:



P.S: The upper left is the actual stock of Hunter's design and the lower one is what Jim had come out with.
 
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Before we go deep into the design intent, i would like to introduce the work of Jim Rosa, a knife maker that really gotten my attention:

Being one of the luckiest forumites to own and tested Jim's work, he is a man with utmost expectation of his work; It will take him as long as he needs if he finds out even at the very last stage that something isn't right, he just can't let it go, just like Ferrari QC.
Meticulousity is what gets to you when you have his knife on hand.

This is a review of Vanax Kephardt that was offered to me and it's one of my very few grails:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1101756-Vanax-Kephart-by-Jim-Rosa

Some of the "BBSK" that he made:
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Note: BBSK = Big Blade in Small Knife
 
Jay,

I'm very excited to see what you and Jim come up with! That sketch looks beastly.:thumbup:

For those of you who don't know him, Jim doesn't post too often (or as much as he should ;)) here but he is a seriously outstanding maker with alot of no nonsense utilitarian designs. I think one of his S90V sheepsfoot/nessie style knives I bought from him a few years back got me into super steels and showed me the importance of edge geometry in cutting performance.
 
Hunter,

Jim and I were talking earlier about the selection of super steels to use on this Nessie and after many positive reviews and feedback,i chose Elmax.
 
ELMAX is a great choice.:thumbup: One of my favorites and extremely tough. BTW just emailed you some CAD files to look at.
 
Now Jim added a new rendition, this time without the spear tip and more stream-lined. Notice that the pommel has a skull-crusher.


After Jim's sketches, i put the perspective into CAD file and drawn out the profile:


One can never be too convinced what's behind the computer hence a physical model is ever-ready:


I printed a 1:1 scale model of the part,attached it to a cardboard and drew lines around it. Have it cut out for the feel.

Hm....let's go crazy a little bit?
 
Great write-up Jay. Looking forward to seeing more progress photos. I like that last (purple) design in your last photo. Something about the angle of the edge to the handle appeals to me more on that one.
 
I like my knives with a bit of belly for that extra cutting so i went the purple version and here are some dimensions i measured on CAD:




That's about 2.68" on the belly for a 12" knife.
My intent is to have a compact blade that handle hot yet humid weather here and delivers all camp/trail job easily.

I repeated the same steps and cut out the profile itself. It felt alright on almost all grips:


Looking back into other profile, i remembered i wanted some jimping on the spine and maybe another one before the finger guard:
 
So as months passed i have forgotten about the blade. Jim is a very busy person but when you least expect it, he popped out with surprise:


0.198" thick Elmax stock for the big boy, a Kephardt (The very same profile of my Vanax) and a small blade, ready to be cut.
 


Things getting excited as the silhouette of the blade is floating out from 2D into 3D.




Sexy, isn't it?

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Jim managed to send me some WIP pics despite his insane working hours!



A semi-naked Nessmuk,with a layer of Cerakote.
 
We chose burlap micarta over G-10 to give the entire a rather savage yet sleek feel.
Here are some of the pictures from Jim on how he put the jigsaws together:

The virgin piece:



Went under the belt a bit:


Top view on the roughly scalloped scale, after a 45 deg run:

**Yes, there is a liner stacked next to the burlap for those with sharp eyes, which Jim commented i need not to have my vision checked:D

Notice the end of the burlap was machined to allow relief for the pommel as well as lanyard.



MORPHEUS!:

 
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