My first knife, critiques please

B

Brian.Evans

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Aug 20, 2011
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Well gents, I finally got a handle on a hardened piece of knife shaped steel. I have ground several knives, but just recently had the time to send a couple off for heat treat and then finish them out.

This isn't the first blade I ground, but it is technically my "first knife" because it's the first one I've ever had heat treated then handled and sharpened.

It is my own design in Aldo's A2, 3/32" thick with and OAL of ~6". The scales are brown canvas micarta with 5/32" brass pins. Texas Knife did the HT.

It was taken to a A30 machine finish on the Craftsman belt grinder, with a 90 degree inclusive unsharpened swedge. I wanted a bit steeper, but I didn't have that capability on my tool rest. I actually just did it as an afterthought. It looks ok, not perfect, but ok. Next time I'm modifying the rest to make a more aggressive swedge.

I use an A45 belt to start the bevel, then edge trailing on a piece of 800 grit wet/dry on wood, then stropped. It pops hairs, which is good enough for me!

I need to get some kydex and make a small sheath for it so I can actually use it.

All in all, it turned out decent. Lots of fit and finish type stuff I'll do different next time.

All critiques are welcome.

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In hand. The spine is tilted slightly towards the camera, which results in a kind of funky perspective.
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Hair popping sharp!
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Sorry for the crappy cell phone/bad light photos. I'll try to get some better ones tomorrow with the good camera.

I'll have another knife to show that really should have been done before this one, but the scales haven't dried yet. It is going to look classier than this one, I hope. :)


Thanks for looking and opining.
 
If that is your first... I want to see your third! Haha that knife looks excellent! I would love to see some more work!
 
Looks very good! It should be a nice, comfortable user.

Out of curiosity, how hard is the A2 run by Texas Knifemakers?
 
Bit more pointy I hope, and want to add a lanyard hole to support a grip with 2-3cm knot of paracord.... but totally love it!
 
Uh.....Huh?

But that does make me think, a lanyard hole would have been a good idea on this knife.

I'm going to order some .08 kydex to make a belt sheath now too. I thought about a neck sheath, but I think that would drive me crazy, and I'd like it more easily accessible.
 
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Thats one to be proud of for sure.

Great job.
 
Excellent work!

Great looking grind, handle, ergonomics, fit and finish... awesome!
 
Thanks for all the kind words gentlemen. To be honest, I wasn't expecting all good stuff and no bad.

I took it out today and got it a little dirty. I still need to work on the edge a bit, but it worked ok. It will be good for a moderate use knife for me. My hands are too big and the handle too small for me to really give it the leverage situations the blade can get itself into.

I made a fuzz stick from a dead oak stick from the front yard. It still shaved hair without stropping after this, and with stropping I'm sure would be right back to where it was. I'm all smiles right now. That full flat grind on the long blade is really a slicer! Felt wonderful!

12%2017:18:16
 
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