MY first ever JACK

[ChILd_ReBoRn]

AFter finishing up my sword and scabbard, I decided to try my hand in a full DIY knife making process. SInce I lost my mora, and deciding not to buy another... I said to myself lets try to make a bush knife. I'm into fishing, and often end up trying to cut down trees and branches in order to retrieve a snagged lure or just to get to a nice spot. Quick surfing led me to my first pattern wich I found will work nice for chopping.

I got some old spring steel which was straightened using a makeshift propane oven

not having an anvil, I used a big vice as one...

I've cut out the rough shape using an angle grinder..

I made a forge from an old boiler, and hammered out the bevel. the steel is roughly 4mm thick, so i flattened the bevel to about 2,5mm.

using an improvised belt sander... i got the rust out...

I've gone through all the heat processes, and polished the blade up to 2500 grit

made some micarta using two T-shirts, and made the handle

I had some old leather, that was rigid, but damaged, so I glued a thin strip od fine leather on it, to make a simple sheath, which i plan to wet/and shape later.

and here it is... my firstborn. far from perfect art some of you post here, but for a first timer.. came out pretty nice.....

This was made using only basic tools, a hammer, belt sander, a stand drill and a lot of sandpaper and elbow grease. Comes toshow, that you can make something from nothing, if you're up to it.

 

[boshi74]

well dan!

 

[gtshin]

I am quite impressed, although a bit disappointed that you didn't actually fabricate a new sander, pour fresh concrete for your oven, forge an anvil, or grow a cow from which to harness fresh leather.

Seriously, this is just about the most impressive DIY project I have seen in some time. You are MacGyver reincarnate! Cool knife, too. Congratulations!

 

[ChILd_ReBoRn]

this is the "forge I plan on using....

there's an 1" pipe at the side, where the fan will connect, as soon as I finish it....

 

[ChILd_ReBoRn]

some people say I should shorten the ricasso. Other than possible individual aesthetics..is there a reason why to do so? It's a small chopper' I won't be making fiddles

 

[wasatchdan]

some people say I should shorten the ricasso. Other than possible individual aesthetics..is there a reason why to do so? It's a small chopper' I won't be making fiddles

For things like feathersticking and carving notches it's helpful to have the edge come up as close to the hand as possible. I actually agree with the people who told you that. But if you're not planning to ever have to do any carving, I wouldn't worry about it, since you can always use a ricasso that long as an improvised choil. I don't think it'll cause any problems unless you try to carve for long periods of time.

I'm mightily impressed with that knife. Great improvisational engineering there, CR. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with next.