Knife from forging demo at Blade West 08

Raymond Richard

Raymond Richard

Joined
Jun 17, 2001
Messages
5,705
Its been awhile since I have put a knife together. The blade I used for this knife was mostly forged when I did the forging demo 3 weeks ago at Blade West. I spent maybe another hour in the shop to get it to the point where it is in the first photo. Normally when I do the demo's I use Aldo's 1084 because it moves pretty easy and I can get more done in an hour demo. I chose 5160 this time and it slowed me down some. I don't do nothing fast anymore. The finished blade is 9 3/4". I used either a mule deer or a black tail crown for the handle. Iron buggy wheel for the guard and butt cap. The spacer is wrought iron. Overall length is 15 1/2".

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I just epoxied this knife thats why the tang hasn't been peened.
 
Ray,

Nice looking knife! The tang looks threaded so I thought you were going to screw a nut on. Do you solder the guard? How do you put the grooves in the ferrel? Hope you don't mind a fledgling maker pestering you.

All the best, Phil
 
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I really like the style of you're knives. They have such a nice older look to them. How do you obtain such a beautiful even gray patina on the blade?
 
Farmer Phil said:
Ray,

Nice looking knife! The tang looks threaded so I thought you were going to screw a nut on. Do you solder the guard? How do you put the grooves in the ferrel? Hope you don't mind a fledgling maker pestering you.

All the best, Phil
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Phil, The tang is threaded and I do use a nut to hold things together while the epoxy is setting up. I just took the nut off for the picture. Using the nut and the threaded tang alloys to disassemble and assemble as many times as I need to get the fit right. I'm basically making a take down until it gets epoxied. Before I epoxy everything is finished. I use JB Weld on the guard, spacer and the front of the handle. Once that is set up I'll remove the nut and butt cap and fill it up with epoxy. The wrought iron space was done with an abrasive wheel, files, and my rotary tool.

R.C., The blade finish is the result of hand rubbing down to 2000 grit and an etch in Fc and water. I'll use a metal polish after the etch.
 
What kills me is that behemoth at 15 1/2" would feel so light and alive in the hand. Maybe I'll with the lottery some day Ray, and when I do I'm going to own one or more of your beautiful works of art. Each of your knives has its own soul and destiny. Which sounds pretty mystical, which it ain't - that's just what masters at their craft create. There's no one else like you, and never will be.

We're sure lucky around here -- Thanks for sharing.
 
Nice job Papa!!
That knife looks great....
How did the Wa show go for you??? Do you need me to come over and haul some more awards home for ya????:)
 
Steven Kelly said:
Nice job Papa!!
That knife looks great....
How did the Wa show go for you??? Do you need me to come over and haul some more awards home for ya????:)
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My son from Montana. Good to hear you made it back home safely!

Do you remember how bored I was at the Montana Show? The Washington Show was v e r y, v e r y, s l o w. At times I wondered if the doors were even open. I picked up a couple more awards there and both came with the new 10 dollar bills attached. They looked identical to the old 100 dollar bills. The funny thing about this show is I had two sales. One instantly about 10 minutes before the closing of the show Sunday and a phone call when I got home Sunday night from a fellow who had been there Saturday wanting a couple knives. I ended up making 4X more than the previous two shows.
 
Its another one of your beauties Ray. I wonder if the knife kit you gave away at the forging demo will come out as well.
 
ib2v4u said:
Its another one of your beauties Ray. I wonder if the knife kit you gave away at the forging demo will come out as well.
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I think there's a high possibility of that knife kit becoming a sinker for sturgeon fishing. :D

It was good finally getting to meet the fellow behind the white ape mask at Blade West and at Scotts. For the life of me I can't remember your name.
 
Just me perhaps, but I think the first photo of just the plain forged blade is a work of art in itself. I wish I could get out of this condo where I live and learn to forge like that. How many hours does it take to create a knife like that from start to finish...approximately? Raymond, I left a message for you on you Visitor Messages box, but I don't know if you got it or not. Just wanted to say thanks. Randy.
 
R.C.Reichert said:
Just me perhaps, but I think the first photo of just the plain forged blade is a work of art in itself. I wish I could get out of this condo where I live and learn to forge like that. How many hours does it take to create a knife like that from start to finish...approximately? Raymond, I left a message for you on you Visitor Messages box, but I don't know if you got it or not. Just wanted to say thanks. Randy.
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Randy, Thats the reason I added the picture of the forged blade. As far as the amount of time involved thats something I don't keep track of. Off the top of my head I'd say 24 to 30 hours and there's still the sheath to make. I did get your message.
 
very nice looking blade! Is that knife all hand forged or did you use a belt grinder? Sorry for my Newb question. :o
 
Mr. Richard
I love the knife. I'm also a fan of your work.
I was wondering if you dyed that antler or had it stabilized?
I have a bunch of mule deer antler and would like for it to
look like that.

Thanks Greg
 
Gerberblades said:
very nice looking blade! Is that knife all hand forged or did you use a belt grinder? Sorry for my Newb question. :o
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The blade was totally hand forged. I'll do a quick profile grind before I go back in the forge for the final time. Truing up the edges makes it much easier to get the blade straight and get the bevels lined up.
 
I forged out that Knife kit this weekend and will try to get it ground out later this week.
You guys have no faith in us part timers.
 
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