Latest folder- kinda sorta engraved

[Matt Shade]

Here's my latest folder, been almost a year since I made one :grumpy: . Made myself a new EDC, I've had a handful of people request folders and things just weren't coming out how I wanted for them to be going to customers. So I decided to just take a step back and make one to try and get the bugs worked out again. I think I've about got it down again, although I've still got a few things I want to change.

I gave engraving a try. I'm going to be wanting something other than a 10 year old dremel and $15 set of bits if I do anymore! Just buzzed it in there as deep as I had patience for (I know thats not technically how your supposed to do it, but I don't have a graver or whatever they're called), after heat treat the scale down in between the letters gives it a really nice contrast. Don't know how anybody can do the detailed stuff with scrollwork and all. Staying in the lines was enough challenge for me....I was never too good with the coloring books either though

This side is kinda boring huh?

Can't see it too well thanks for my wonderful scanner, but there is some filework on the backspacer, and I filed my mark on the spine of the blade again.

Wanted to take a pic of the lockup, as its pretty good on this one. Damn scanner just wouldn't do it though.

I guess I'll throw some specs in here:
All .125" thick 440C stainless steel, all hardened (both slabs, spacer and blade)
Thumbstud is a brass pin with copper tubing peened together, pins through the spacer are also brass.
Closed length is 4-3/4" ....Blade is 3-1/2"
Clip (large stainless) and pivot (3/16") are from TKS.
Weight-aproximately 12 lbs. I really should have drilled some holes in that handle
So what do you think? Thanks for looking

 

[rebeltf]

Pretty cool ! Being a new "knife maker" on fixed blades , I can appreciate the trouble it must be to complete a locking folder that actually works lol

Sorry to a gullible here but , its not really 12lbs , right ??

I've made a few folder kits from TKS and I really enjoy those

 

[happycat]

Matt, I will have to say that that is the first engraving like that that I've seen. I like it alot. Nice job.
Ed

 

[Matt Shade]

Pretty cool ! Being a new "knife maker" on fixed blades , I can appreciate the trouble it must be to complete a locking folder that actually works lol

Sorry to a gullible here but , its not really 12lbs , right ??

I've made a few folder kits from TKS and I really enjoy those

Nope its not really 12 lbs I don't have a scale to weigh it with, but its heavy. I guess, pretty close to whatever a 12"X1" peice of 1/8" 440C weighs I've been carrying it a couple days at work now though and haven't noticed it. Its nice and slim and carries pretty easily.
Folders are fun, but can be quite frustrating. Next kit you make, try to copy all the peices and put together a copy of it (or do like I did and just decide to make one some day and start grinding) Don't have to have any fancy tools really. I did all the milling type work (lock tab and stuff) free hand with a dremel and cut off wheel, and a file. Takes awhile, but its do able I think I could do them a lot faster if I would get into the marking and measuring mindset instead of flying by the seat of my pants and making each peice to fit the one that came before it


Thanks Ed
Glad you like the engraving. I thought it turned out ok...something to dress up the handle anyhow. I got the idea from the first pair of spurs I made. On them, I ground away the inside of the letters and then filled them in with silver solder. For this, I cut away the negative/background so there would be less material to remove and to make the letters stand out. Tried to make my cuts follow the same direction and be from the same angle so it would look a little cleaner.

 

[rebeltf]

Next kit you make, try to copy all the peices and put together a copy of it (or do like I did and just decide to make one some day and start grinding

Actually not a bad idea , the pieces I am sure I could make, getting the frame'lock part to bend and be 'springy' (dont know proper term) I am clueless how to do that part. I have plenty of left over screws and whatnot from previous kits. I think though , the blade would be the hardest part for me to attempt to make..... hmm , someday

 

[Matt Shade]

You could do it. Its kind of like making 3 or 4 fixed blades. Each peice is kind of a project in itself....have to fit, heat treat, and finish each peice individually for the most part. Then you just stick em together and hope that it works