Lefty Ouparator in 1095

STR

STR

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I got an order the other day for a south paw Ouparator in 1095 blade steel. I somehow got a burst of energy today and managed to get some things done in the shop even with company here.

Anyway, this one is traced like all the rest showing like its a right handed one but trust me, it will be a true lefty frame lock in some .105 thick titanium slab handles shown here. (both sides)

The plan is: This little gem will have some artistically grooved handles for grip and looks, and some traction grooves carved into the lock release area on the thumb press part of the lock and again on each scale for the index or thumb to use and maybe on the spine of the blade also. I'll know all that when we cross that bridge but its all for grip to the specs of the customer. I'll let him decide where.

In the end after drilling the thumb stud hole I'll gun blue the blade for three coats for a nice classy black/blue look to it and get some feedback.

This one should be moving along shortly. Its all dependent on my energy level and what the wife puts me up to to take me away from my projects. :D Stay tuned.

STR
 
I cant believe someone is ordering the same damn knife I am!!:mad:
Beyond my expectations of how fast you would start working on this baby!:eek:
 
steve is pretty amazing.

Communication is amazing and he's top notch.

Enjoy your lefty!

Brett
 
Nothing takes long with me. I try not to let things back up. Its just the way I work. No time like the present I always say. :D About the only complaint I've ever had on my work is a guy that got mad once because he mailed me his knife for a rebuild of the body like I do a lot of and then changed his mind. It was a Spyderco but I don't remember which. All I recall is that it arrived and typical of the way I do things I got started on it shortly after that. Maybe that day, I don't really recall that well. Anyway, he wrote me after it got here and changed his mind and decided on a different handle material. Regretfully I had to write him back and inform him it was not only done but in the mail done up according to the work order.

So I'd say if you want any changes you better speak now. :D

I will be needing to make a trip downtown to get more blue solution. I didn't know this stuff could weaken over time. I can't even get it to work but only slightly so its past its expiration date I think. I guess Monday I'll have to pick some more of this up. Maybe a small bottle this time. ;)

STR
 
I am near to reconsidering the blueing (are there any signifigant advantages to it besides the looks??).
In your "opinions" thread i saw that anodized ouparator and it got me thinking.
But of course im running up a tab on this guy. But i know there is a limited range of colors that you have. I was thinking of keeping the original Ti greyish color and if possible some black inlay kind of thing.
I am sure i want the traction grooves in the lock area and on the spine of the blade. I really cant decide on the texturing style of the handles. I liked how they looked both on that manix you did recently and that opinions ouparator.
DAMN IT
Decisions...decisions:rolleyes:
 
The blade will gain a natural patina over time anyway and regardless of what you do. I mean the first time you cut a pineapple or meat with it and from then on it will change. The problem with this is that many people don't like the uneven look of the natural patina and either blue it or do some kind of patina to it all at once to make it fairly uniform looking. But I think you will be very glad you went with this blade. I always kept these blades around because they were for myself. I used them for my wood carving. They are some wonderfully thin workhorse blades that can get terrifyingly sharp! I've polished the edge on these I work with so that they push cut in the hardest wood like a dream. I really like em. Staining or not. But they work very well with a course edge also. For you I'd recommend about mid way between for an edge that can both slice and push cut some to give you some of both worlds.

I can leave it the plain satin finish if you like and would if you want. I just need to know before Monday morning because if I don't need the stuff to blue it I'm not going to buy it right now.

I don't know what difference you are seeing between the Mini Manix with aluminum and the one in the Opinions thread. But that Opinions thread knife changed from one pic to another to the final brown one I sent you in email the other night. So, I'd need to know at what stage of the developing patterns I did that you are referring to.

I think a grooved free hand pattern just bead blasted would look and function for grip just fine personally. The bead blasted finish is certainly the most durable. Anodizing looks great but if the knife is going to be a user I'd suggest not doing that because its just going to scratch up. I did my nieces knife that way because I know that knife will end up in a drawer and rarely see the light of day once the newness wears off which I'm sure has already happened.

Here are a couple of knives from the past I did with blued blades if you just want to see one. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=74320&d=1182624965

STR
 
Its not a problem. I just need to know soon because I'll probably have both yours and Brett's done here real quick if I can just get away from the wife and this computer long enough to get another half day or so in the shop. ;) The bluing can be done last so I'm not too concerned about that. It dulls the blade though so technically sharpening it is the very last thing I'll do.

Typically I get more to do on Monday so if it holds out as usual I'll have more knives arrives next week through out the week so these need to get done here quick.

Also, I need to know, lanyard? Yes - No? Type of pocket clip? Low rider or standard and mode of carry tip up or tip down.

Let me know and I'll check for the info later. Off to bed now. :yawn:

STR
 
Ill pass on the lanyard, but i definately want one of your new style low ride clips tip up please.
 
Got a little further on this baby today also. Seen here we have both sides drilled out and cleaned up some to a nice satin finish. I've got the lock cut out and my lock relief cut done to spring it. I also did the lock release area for the non lock side. I have yet to spring the lock but I did get my STR on both sides like I always do on my all ti knives. Tonight I'll drill out the detent hole and mark that in the blade, then heat treat the lock. Once I get that far I'll call it a night. I expect to see this one done my next day in the shop. It may be tomorrow and it may not. I never know until I get up and have a visit with Mr. Coffee. :D

I will go out sometime tomorrow to pick up my bluing solution but seriously I do expect to have it knocked out tomorrow unless my wife changes my mind.

Stay tuned.

STR
 
Its really fantastic to see it come together like this. I really blow away by how fast this is getting completed.
 
hey six, steve is amazing. Timing is unlike any other and his communication is top notch.

Enjoy your new knife.

Brett
 
Looking good STR. Love the sweep on that blade. Anxious to see the finished product.
 
Yeah I used to use that same blade in a folder I called the WhittleJack and I always liked it but the Ouparator kind of bumped that one out. I thought a while back to take the blade from the Whittlejack which I liked a lot and try it in the Ouparator though and it worked well. I think it will stick at least with this 1095 version of it.

Here is an early WhittleJack I used for a good while before I sold it. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=73957&d=1182093078

And here is one with a gun blued blade like I'll be doing with this one.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=74320&d=1182624965

STR
 
Sixstrings its basically done except for the clip now. Oh and they were out of my bluing solution and can't even tell me when they will get more. I meant to go to a gun shop downtown but lost track of time. I'm sure they have something.

Works great. I always liked these ones a lot and they are a very balanced well built little gem of a folder. I think you will be very pleased even if I do say so myself.:D But hey a nice knife is a nice knife right?

Anyway, here are some teasers for you until I get the clip knocked out. I had more pictures but I forgot to turn the flash off and it ruined a couple of the shots so after the clip I'll try again.

You can drool now over your true south paw frame lock my friend.. :D

STR
 
Chances are it will be done by tomorrow and I'll be off on the next one.

I suspect if you are ready to settle that it will be going out tomorrow in the mail. Its pretty much done. I just haven't made one of the clips like you want in a while and have to cut out a blank. Haven't had to do that in a while since I keep a bin of them handy but that one I have not made in a few.

Not a problem though. Just an extra step. Then it will be ready for you to put to work once I blue it and sharpen her up.

STR
 
Just so we are on the same page. We are both talking about the low ride design that you just put on that AFCK?
 
Oh man. I am so glad you said that. That makes a diff huh. I had just talked with Steven last night about his. He is the one wanting the one like on my knife in my signiture line. Oops.

Well, sorry bout that near miss. I have too many damn Ouparators coming at me I guess. :D:eek: Not that I'm complaining. I'm actually having the time of my life with this forum. I think its great! I guess I had in my head you were the one that told me to get the other clip for some reason. I don't know how I tied that one into the 1095 folder. Oh well, no harm done though.

Yours will be done soon. I have a blank already cut for one of those clips I just have to fold it over and shape it.

STR
 
that's a beauty. I really like the jimping (or whatever it is called) on the lock part. Very cool.

I should have mine wednesday. Yipee!!!!



:)
Brett
 
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