Morgan Valley Camp knife

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
9,437
Hey Folks-

This would have been a Js test knife :rolleyes: ;)

I made this for Randy Morgan...

12" blade of 1084, clay hardened and polished
wrought iron guard and fluted wrought iron ferrule
0.020 ss spacers on either side of the ferrule
presentation grade ironwood handle

orig.jpg


A big thanks to our very own Coop... another outstanding photo!!!

I will have this on display at BAKCA if anyone wants to check it out :)

Thanks for looking!
-Nick-
 
That will sure cut up the "taters and hawg jowels"
Looks good Nick!!!!!!!!!!! :) :)
Nice and long.Just the way I like um.


Randy
 
You should be proud of that one!

Is the name of the knife homage to Howard?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Nick,

Just an absurdly sensational knife! There maybe hope for you yet!

JUST CRAZY NICE!

Best,

P
 
Peter-

Are you saying I shouldn't turn in the application for the back of the hardware store? :D

Thanks :)

-Nick-
 
Thanks Adam! :)

So when are we going to see some knife pictures from the 2005 ABS Championship runner up?!?!? :)

-Nick-
 
NickWheeler said:
Peter-

Are you saying I shouldn't turn in the application for the back of the hardware store? :D

Thanks :)

-Nick-
Click to expand...
While I am certain that True Value Hardware could use you, I would suggest that you hold off applying for the forseeable future. :cool:

Seriously, the design of a harmonious knife with a 12" blade is no easy task! You have pulled it off with style and grace. :thumbup:
 
It's a beauty all right. The blade is as close to perfection in grinds that I have seen. Simply perfectly matched bevels and clip grinding. Plus it is THIN down to the edge. Light and efficient.

RJ has the term 'scary sharp' all wrapped up, but this one has 11" of edge that would spook anyone! :eek: Amazing.

In Nick's note to me he really wished to show the hamon, or temper line. As he should. This camper took two sessions to get it down. I spent well over an hour exploring things that didn't work. I ended up leaving it in frustration...

Come back next day with a fresh attitude and ready to keep on it and I figured out my method. That's a really enhanced hamon that just has clouds and all the right 'mystery' to it. It needed better than 'the usual lightbox' shot. See for yourself.

Congrats, Randy. You have a VERY wondrous piece. I am priviledged to have handled it!

Coop
 
That guy is Morgan Valley should open a knife museum. :D

Stunning work Nick!
 
Nick A very special knife for a really super collector. With out randy a lot of makers would not be doing as well as they are. Best of luck with your show Randy. I am sure it will be one of top shows of the year. Larry Bailey
 
Thanks everyone!

Wow Coop! Thanks! I was worried that maybe you were behind the scenes thinking, "Wheeler's a hack!" lol, What a post, thank you very much! :)

I really appreciate Coop's extra work to bring out the characteristics of the knife in his photography! I fully understand that getting a hamon to show in a static photo is damn near impossible. I'm am elated that he pulled it off!

But not just that, the overall photograph is just plain striking. I showed it to my folks and they both, literally, went, "Oh WOW."

I have several photos of the handle making process of this piece, but I was worried you guys would get sick of my "process" threads.

Thanks again!!! :D
-Nick-
 
Please, more process threads!!!

I held this one when it was partially completed in Reno. You'd be hard pressed to find a lighter, faster knife this size from anyone. Great job, again.

John Frankl
 
Okay John, it's your fault ;)

Here's the blade roughly polished (600 or 1000x) with the block of ironwood and small pieces of wrought iron after forging them down for the fittings-

campironwood0tw.jpg


Guard getting the final fit-

guardfit7zq.jpg


The guard in place (obviously not shaped yet, just fit to the blade)-

guardinplace5uu.jpg


Fitting the ferrule (spacer)-

fittingferrule2fy.jpg


The ferrule in place-

ferruleinplace7af.jpg
 
Drilling locator pin holes in the spacers... these will allow 1/16" precision ground drill blanks to be inserted through the spacers and into the handle material.

drillinglocators6zr.jpg


The ferrule and spacers fit, drilled, and tapped-

ferruleandspacers6di.jpg


Putting screws in through all the spacers-

puttinginscrews0vl.jpg


Laying out the tang on the block of Ironwood-

layingoutblock9vv.jpg


Fitting the slot in the block with a handle broach. It's got a long way to go on width in this shot. I try to get a really tight fit to the tang-

fittingblock6vk.jpg
 
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