- Joined
- Aug 4, 2012
- Messages
- 254
I believe this to be the right place for this, it is my first post.
Other than sharpening this is my first knife mod of any kind. This is my Christmas gift to my father. I had plans to make custom scales for a few folders i pickup in trade, but they were used and i really didn't like to give a used knife for Christmas. so I bought 3 kershaw skylines fixed blades for $18.99 a piece the day after Thanksgiving sale. i figured these would be a better start to my first endeavor in this. though i have only had time to make one. the others will have to be birthday gifts.
I did some research on glues and screws and every thing in between for making custom handles. i figured on these, i would just abandon the screw and epoxy the handles on with some mosaic pins. well to my surprise the tang of the knife had been hollowed out quit a bit to make it better balanced. and with so little to epoxy i figured i couldn't rely on it hold well by its self, so went the search for screws and a sleeves to fit the holes. end up not finding any thing to my liking, i had to drill the holes a little bigger to make room for the only threaded sleeves i could find locally. what a pain it is to drill 55-57 RC steel.
when handing the knife with out the scales its stone wash finish seemed very slick. so i added some jimping on the spine. i did it with a round tile blade. it is a carbide blade that fits a hack saw frame. i got mine from sears for $5 or $6. I made little pre cuts with my dremel and cutting wheels so the tile saw had a guide on where to start.
as for the handles i searched and searched for a decent price stabilized wood with character that wasn't $50.(more than double the knife price and not worth the price if i messed up since this is my first time with this.) I found some York gum burl for $20 with some good character. http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/arid/york_gum.aspx . I really like the look of it. and i wanted the handle to encompass the handle not stop short like the factory scales.
here is a pic of the scales when i got them. they have water on them to make them shine. you can see the out line of the handle on the knife. i was trying to fit 2 on there but it wouldn't have worked.
and here is the semi finished knife i still have to more coats of tung oil on it for it to be done. it is also next to knife the way it comes from the factory.
i also plan on putting a micro bevel of 30/40 on it as well. an new thing to me
Thanks for looking.
Other than sharpening this is my first knife mod of any kind. This is my Christmas gift to my father. I had plans to make custom scales for a few folders i pickup in trade, but they were used and i really didn't like to give a used knife for Christmas. so I bought 3 kershaw skylines fixed blades for $18.99 a piece the day after Thanksgiving sale. i figured these would be a better start to my first endeavor in this. though i have only had time to make one. the others will have to be birthday gifts.
I did some research on glues and screws and every thing in between for making custom handles. i figured on these, i would just abandon the screw and epoxy the handles on with some mosaic pins. well to my surprise the tang of the knife had been hollowed out quit a bit to make it better balanced. and with so little to epoxy i figured i couldn't rely on it hold well by its self, so went the search for screws and a sleeves to fit the holes. end up not finding any thing to my liking, i had to drill the holes a little bigger to make room for the only threaded sleeves i could find locally. what a pain it is to drill 55-57 RC steel.
when handing the knife with out the scales its stone wash finish seemed very slick. so i added some jimping on the spine. i did it with a round tile blade. it is a carbide blade that fits a hack saw frame. i got mine from sears for $5 or $6. I made little pre cuts with my dremel and cutting wheels so the tile saw had a guide on where to start.
as for the handles i searched and searched for a decent price stabilized wood with character that wasn't $50.(more than double the knife price and not worth the price if i messed up since this is my first time with this.) I found some York gum burl for $20 with some good character. http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/arid/york_gum.aspx . I really like the look of it. and i wanted the handle to encompass the handle not stop short like the factory scales.
here is a pic of the scales when i got them. they have water on them to make them shine. you can see the out line of the handle on the knife. i was trying to fit 2 on there but it wouldn't have worked.
and here is the semi finished knife i still have to more coats of tung oil on it for it to be done. it is also next to knife the way it comes from the factory.
i also plan on putting a micro bevel of 30/40 on it as well. an new thing to me
Thanks for looking.
That is some great looking wood, and you did it proud. Really nice job!
