My first knife

[xrgong]

I did a pretty simple one- this is stock removal, 5/32" O1 (59 Hrc by Peters') and some red linen micarta with Corbies. Knife is 8.5" with a 4" blade. Flats are finished to 600 grit; micarta is to 2000 grit with beeswax. I didn't put much contour at all on the handles.

My plunge grind is kind of bad, but it got to the point where I was worried about messing it up more if I kept trying to get it perfect.

Maybe not much to comment on, but I'd appreciate it if you guys smack it around a bit- or a lot; I'm not squeamish.

 

[TekSec]

Okay, first of all, that's the smoothest Micarta I think I've ever seen. Over all it is a great first blade! I'd try to take the plunge / grind line a little higher and maybe to a bit higher grit but over all I think it looks great!

 

[go mike]

TekSec said what I was thinking.

 

[JasonSCarter]

Great job overall:thumbup:... Just have to echo Eric (TekSec) the grind needs to be taken atleast 3/4 up the side, but other than that everything else looks great.

Jason

 

[xrgong]

Roger that. I'll get the grind up higher. I was making some pretty nice curls with it, but I think you're all right- it's too thick. Thanks, gents.

I will admit to being a bit confused about the grind on the flats- I reground the flats w/ 600 after the heat treat, and I can't get it close to what I remember it being with 600 before HT. After the HT, I can see all the striations. I'm assuming this is where hand rubbing comes in?

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Worry about the geometry first before you get too wrapped up in the finish. A common newb mistake is to profile the blade shape, and then sharpen that shape without considering the primary bevels. Also, you may want the blade to taper, or thin, a bit as it approaches the tip. The thickness I mean.

Good looking handle.

 

[jll346]

Nice job.:thumbup:

 

[J.D.]

Very nice first knife, i'll echo what TekSec said, plus I like the red micarta.

 

[TekSec]

I reground the flats w/ 600 after the heat treat, and I can't get it close to what I remember it being with 600 before HT. After the HT, I can see all the striations. I'm assuming this is where hand rubbing comes in?

Grinder 600 vs. hand sanding 600....yup, different. You see a totally different finish.

 

[xrgong]

Here's my regrind on this- I took it all the way up. In the process, I had two really bad touches on the grinder that made me mad, and forced me to make some alterations, especially at the top of the spine, where I had to thin it a bit. Anyway, the knife cuts well, so I can't complain too much. Thanks for the advice, guys.