My First Project For 2018

[DanF]

When I joined you folks earlier in 2017 I had been away from knifemaking for at least 6 or seven years. Recently retired, new equipment and a desire to regain whatever meager skills I used to have found me learning everything all over. On one knife I would concentrate on learning different types of grinds; convex, concave and ffg's. The next knife, I would concentrate on pins and handles, liners, etc. On the side, I starting making new inlay tools since my old tools are long gone, and once I had everything in hand, I started practicing again.

The lower knife above was my first knife coming in this year. I knew I could do better, so, I set it aside until I was "ready" to continue with it. The drawing above the knife will be my first project for 2018. I still have some work to do finishing up the inlay pattern (particularly the leaves), but I think I have drawn a fairly balanced knife design. If you see something I could maybe do better, let me know. Handles are now off the old knife, will be reshaping everything as soon as the weather cooperates.
Thanks,

 

[Okie405]

Are you using the knife in the bottom to make the drawn out knife in the top? Or are you starting from scratch?

I'm about to try my hand at that same style you have drawn out, as a present for my oldest son, just as soon as I get done with this set of kitchen knives for the wife I'm working on now.

I am a noobie and just finished my first last week, Please share pictures.

 

[DanF]

Yes, I will use the knife on the bottom since it was a "practice" piece to get me back into this.
The remade knife will be a hidden through-tang vs the old full tang.
I'll post pics as I go along, but this will be a slow process as winter seems to have a grip on us right now (currently six degrees F). Good luck with your build, we all love pictures!

 

[DanF]

Haven't made much progress on anything this winter with the ongoing shop remodel but finally got around to reprofiling the old knife. I'm going to cut the end of the tang off a bit and use a clevis for this one. The handle block is not the one I'll use for this project but is very similar. The actual handle is out for stabilizing right now.

 

[JTknives]

What's up with that notch in the tang right next to the pin hole. Looks like a week point.

 

[Augus7us]

I think the tang is fine and I'm guessing that was already in the steel or he notched it so epoxy will settle in there. I've seen guys cut small notches all up and down a hidden tang for a better glue hold.

I'd be more concerned with the angle of the tang. The way you have the finial holding the butt cap on, makes me think this may need to be a hinged two piece tang to keep the angles right.

The other thing I was thinking is whether or not I would like it better with a clip, it looks a bit like a fighter to me.

Aside from that I really like it. Definitely reminds me of Bill Moran's work with the wire inlay. Looking forward to the progress updates.

-Clint

 

[DanF]

That is the remnant of a bolt hole from the spring's prior life.
And yes, it would be a weak point for sure. But, the tang is huge on this knife. From the top of that hole to the top edge of the tang is over 3/8" and the tang's thickness is a heavy 1/4" in that area. I suspect a handle will give out before the tang.
With the amount silver inlay going into the handle I doubt anyone would ever use this as a chopper or fighter, and "fighters" aren't really fighters anymore. Also, this one will be permanently mounted in a display case, never to be sold, or used.
Definitely couldn't use that in a knife to be sold.

A Augus7us , the clevis will be the hing point, at least that's the plan.

 

[DanF]

Shop is still blown apart from the remodel, about all I can do right now is piddle with the new work stations. I used the mini mill to inlet both scales for the tang ( just practice pieces to get used to the mill). Can't believe how easy this process was with the mill, and how tight fitting everything went together on the first try. I rubber banded the two scales together and there is just no wiggle room anywhere.
Wonder if maybe there is such a thing as too snug?

 

[DanF]

The tang was cut about an inch, and a clevis formed for a hinge point. Handle will not be shaped further until the guard is installed and the spacer is in place with reference pins installed. Have started carving a reverse mold for the forming of the butt cap. The open area near the file guard is for the guard and spacer.

 

[DanF]

Had a few minutes just after lunch to work on my personal project. This was the first time I had used my guard jack, I'm very pleased with the press fit. The first handle developed a crack so I've replaced it with a new one.

 

[Hengelo_77]

I'd love to see some wip photo's from the inlay

 

[DanF]

A few more minutes on this today and a few more baby steps in progress.
I will try to post a couple pics when I draw out the inlay design and then chase the inlay in, but there are two downloadable PDF's (free), by two MS's that are much more educational than anything I could do.

 

[DanF]

This is pretty much (basically ), everything needed to do inlay.
This knife's design was changed 3 days ago due to a visit to my shop.
A potential customer saw the small and medium knives I had previously made and posted with this similar inlay design and ordered a three knife set in this style. He was made aware of the "issue" regarding the tang and insisted on this knife.
So, for the inlay, finish the handle to at least 400 grit, decide on a design, practice that design on paper until you are comfortable with it, draw it on the handle and go to work.
You can find two handle shapes for the cutters (pear and mushroom shaped), decide which is comfortable for you and cut off a couple of exacto knives and glue them into the handles. Grind your exacto blades to the desired shape and have at it.
Once I have the silver ribbon hammered in, I will run a fine bead of super glue down the track and let dry. I usually stain before the inlay, but have tried a glue before stain that I like the looks of. Once all inlay is in place, sand it down and apply whatever finish you want.
MS Joe Keeslar has a great book on handles, guards and inlay, and MS Jay Hendrickson did a DVD on silver inlay. Both are great tutorials.