Just finished up "Knife 3"

[Noshtero]

This is my third knife. I think it turned out pretty well. I still have a lot to learn about fit and finish, but I think functionaly this one should be pretty good. It's going to go through a passaround over on WSS.

Specs:
01 Steel, home forge heat treated and tempered
3 3/4" blade
8" overall
Mirror polished convex edge
Handle is Emerald Dymondwood with Black Liners

Thanks for looking!

 

[knifemaniac]

Nice, man. Good bushcraft working knife. :thumbup:

 

[Fiddleback]

Hey Noshtero. Good to see you making them. I found when I started out that after shaping and sanding the handle, what made them extra good was to put them back in the vise and go at the handle again with files. A few days of use and then a re-design on the handle really refined what I did.

Let me say that thats way better than my third, btw.

 

[Noshtero]

Hey Noshtero. Good to see you making them. I found when I started out that after shaping and sanding the handle, what made them extra good was to put them back in the vise and go at the handle again with files. A few days of use and then a re-design on the handle really refined what I did.

Let me say that thats way better than my third, btw.

Thanks Andy!

I've yet to purchase any decent files. This one was completely shaped with a dremel. That is NOT the way to go, however. You start buzzing away and end up taking too much off. I'm sure some people can do it, but I'm not one of them. I think I need to get some files, I just don't really know what to get. I know what brand(Nicholson), but not what type. I figured I'd just get a bastard and smooth each in flat and half-round. That should do it right?

 

[go mike]

I finished my third a few days ago, so I thought I'd relay what one person told me that I think you should do: build a guide to get nice and crisp plunge lines.

 

[Fiddleback]

Thanks Andy!

I've yet to purchase any decent files. This one was completely shaped with a dremel. That is NOT the way to go, however. You start buzzing away and end up taking too much off. I'm sure some people can do it, but I'm not one of them. I think I need to get some files, I just don't really know what to get. I know what brand(Nicholson), but not what type. I figured I'd just get a bastard and smooth each in flat and half-round. That should do it right?

I use Nicholson. The most used is my half round. The three you talk about should be good for your large files. I use files more than anything else on a handle. Use a grinder, or that dremmel (if you absolutelyl have to) to hog off what is obvious waste, then switch to files. Be sure to get one of those file cleaning brush thingies. Most knifemaking woods are greasy and will clog your file on pass# 2. Especially Ironwood. You'll need the brush.

I'll tell you one more thing. Invest in a premium set of Swiss needle files. I'm using the same set I originally bought over 7 years ago. You will not regret this. You will regret buying cheap needle files.

A nice file guide will handle the plunge for you, as mike stated.