synthesist
So many knives so little time
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2004
- Messages
- 933
As I work on folders more I realize that I need one of the small anvils called a "Knifemaker's Steady Rest" like the one on the cover of Ben Kelley Jr.'s book, The Complete Book Of Pocketknife Repair.
http://www.knifeworld.com/combookofpoc.html
There is a description of this tool in the book which goes like this, "This item is used by the cutler as a small anvil. It is on the "steady" that the pins holding blades are peened. The slot on the thick end of the steady is used to insert the blade while adjusting it so it will not strike (or scratch I assume) the other blades when closing. The thin portion of the steady can be used to reach into a knife so that a cover pin can be peened (huh? Cover pin? Shield pin?). See the drawing of the steady rest in Fig. 13 (on page 19 of the book). This is an item that will have to be made by a local machine shop unless you are lucky enough to find one at a knife show (or eBay these days).
I'll try to get a postable pic of that page and upload it later.
But what I really want is to know is if anyone has one of these that they'd sell? Or, alternatively, does anyone want to make one for me? I think making one out of mild steel and carburizing and case hardening it would be the way to go (hard outside but not too brittle to hit and shockable inside) with a couple of 3/8" threaded holes in the bottom to allow various bases/holding options to be employed.
On the other hand, if someone has any ideas on other ways to do these tasks I'd like to hear them. I've considered modifying a PanaVise for example.
I'll explain what I am thinking about here. I have a passion for older, multi-blade slipjoints (Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the strength, and safety, of newer knives, materials and locks, to say nothing of being able to diassemble a knife put together with screws/torx fasteners, but the old ones fascinate me, particularly, locking whittlers and Orange Blossom patterns.). Whew, sorry about that sentence. Anyway, to learn more about them, I've taken many "beaters" apart. Some of them are worth restoration/repair. I'd like to be able to do a good job of that and need a steady rest (or similar tool) to help do that.
Thanks.....................
Syn
http://www.knifeworld.com/combookofpoc.html
There is a description of this tool in the book which goes like this, "This item is used by the cutler as a small anvil. It is on the "steady" that the pins holding blades are peened. The slot on the thick end of the steady is used to insert the blade while adjusting it so it will not strike (or scratch I assume) the other blades when closing. The thin portion of the steady can be used to reach into a knife so that a cover pin can be peened (huh? Cover pin? Shield pin?). See the drawing of the steady rest in Fig. 13 (on page 19 of the book). This is an item that will have to be made by a local machine shop unless you are lucky enough to find one at a knife show (or eBay these days).
I'll try to get a postable pic of that page and upload it later.
But what I really want is to know is if anyone has one of these that they'd sell? Or, alternatively, does anyone want to make one for me? I think making one out of mild steel and carburizing and case hardening it would be the way to go (hard outside but not too brittle to hit and shockable inside) with a couple of 3/8" threaded holes in the bottom to allow various bases/holding options to be employed.
On the other hand, if someone has any ideas on other ways to do these tasks I'd like to hear them. I've considered modifying a PanaVise for example.
I'll explain what I am thinking about here. I have a passion for older, multi-blade slipjoints (Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the strength, and safety, of newer knives, materials and locks, to say nothing of being able to diassemble a knife put together with screws/torx fasteners, but the old ones fascinate me, particularly, locking whittlers and Orange Blossom patterns.). Whew, sorry about that sentence. Anyway, to learn more about them, I've taken many "beaters" apart. Some of them are worth restoration/repair. I'd like to be able to do a good job of that and need a steady rest (or similar tool) to help do that.
Thanks.....................
Syn
