My First Kwaiken....

AVigil

AVigil

Adam Vigil working the grind
Platinum Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
7,310
I decided to make a Kwaiken from some 1/8" 1084 stock. Profiling the blade was easy enough, I gave it a bit of an upswept tip and a distal taper. I took it to Tru Grit to have them heat treat it for me along with a Bowie I have in the works.

I got it back and it sat for awhile as other projects got in the way. I finally was able to take the profiled blank and get it ground with a full flat grind and radiused spine. Going from 50 grit to 120, 220 and then 400 cork belt to ease in the plunge to where I thought I was done. Everything look good until I sat in a semi dark room and was able to see a slight problem in the grind....so back to 220 J-flex and then back to the 400 cork belt...whew, I hate when that happens.

For the handle I decided on an under layer of black sting ray skin with an over wrap of blue ito cord and a black Turkshead knot. Using system 3 clear coat epoxy it took a full 24 hours to fully cure. The handle is very tuff, does not chip, flack, crack and is water proof 100%. To get it off you would have to take it to the grinder to remove it.

It came out to 5.5 oz and is very light in the hand.

Thanks for looking :)

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Adam, that is so gorgeous. I love everything about it. That blue ito cord is sharp. Where did you locate that?

You gonna sheath it in kydex?
 
Thanks Josh,

I got the cord on ebay it came all the way from Hong Kong :)

I am going to make a kydex sheath for it. I am just being lazy today...lol
 
Here is a pict from another angle. One knifemaker told me he thought it was a 60 grit finish :eek:

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chavez556 said:
What was wrong with the grind?
Click to expand...

A knifemaker contacted me offering advice on how to help. He thought the picture looked like I stopped at 60 grit. I explained to him it was actually taken to a 400 grit and then to a scotchbrite belt.

He was still kinda thought it was a 60 grit finish, so I took another pict at a different angle.

The picture was taken in the morning light outside and one day I will get a setup just for picts :)
 
Very nice. Crisp and clean!

I used the same Scotch-brite finish. I like the look, and it holds up well in use.
 
chavez556 said:
Wow that one is a beast! You did a great job. What was wrong with the grind?
Click to expand...

Oops... I misunderstood what you were asking the first time I responded to your question.

I checked the blade in sun light and it looked fine. Later that night sitting in a dim room with a light on in the hallway I could see a slight unevenness in the flat grind that I did not see in the sunlight.
 
Some night when you're watching TV, lay the knife sideways and aim it at the TV screen.
All will be revealed. :eek:

AVigil said:
Later that night sitting in a dim room with a light on in the hallway I could see a slight unevenness in the flat grind that I did not see in the sunlight.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks everyone...

I finished this one up and made a Kydex sheath for it.

It is always a bit scary putting a new scratch free blade into a new kydex sheath...lol

8XoeHtD.jpg


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