My first two knives

[jay71]

Hey im new and this is my first post here. My name is Jason im 22 and live in Winnipeg i just started getting into knife making and black smithing. These are some pics of the first two knives I've made. Tell me what you think (good and bad).

This is my first knife it was made from an old file, forged to shape and filed by hand. It has walnut scales and Cu/Brass mokume bolster. Everything was made by my hands and except a few thing i thought it turned out ok.

This is my second knife and gift to my little brother. It was made from a crusher coil spring and differentially heat treated. The handle is Macassar Ebony and fittings are brass with SS spacers. Its has about a 12" blade and 6" handle. This was a difficult knife for me because of the length, and it was my first time using my new 4x36 belt sander(hurt my fingers pretty good a few times). Getting nice bevels was very difficult. It turned out ok but there are some things on it that bug me. *(O and it wasn't fully polished when i took these pics sorry.)

On a side note is there any way to post these pics as thumbnails that enlarge when you click on them?

 

[mqqn]

Hi Jason -

I think you have a promising future!

Your work is clean and very nice.

I like the subtle recurve of the smaller blade.

Both are very well done - I would never have guessed they were the first knives of a budding young artist.

I had the pleasure of riding my motorcycle through Winnipeg this year - a lovely city.

As for your question regarding pictures - if you are a paying member here I think you can attach pictures to your post that would be hosted here, and they are shown as small thumbnails and expand when you roll over them.

Otherwise you would have to get an image host or host your own and write the html to do a "thumbnail / click for larger" presentation.

Thanks for the pictures -

best regards -

mqqn

 

[thompsonblades]

Very nice. Those are definately in the $150 (US) price range, at least. How many hours did you put into each knife?

I do recomend you wear a pair of tight fitting work gloves next time you use your grinder. My fingers have been saved countless injuries, cut and burns because I ALWAYS wear gloves, esspecially when working with knives. I almost lost the last segment of my finger to a table saw but was saved by my heavy leather gloves. All I got was a deep gash on the tip. In fact, buy two sets, one for light work, like a grinder, and some heavier sets for grunt work and forging.

 

[jay71]

thank you guys. For the small knife a put about 25-30 hours into it (this doesn't count making the mokume gane for the bolster otherwise it would be about 30-35 hours of work). Also it took forever to file it by hand.

The big knife probably took 30-35 but the stock i used was a coil spring 1" in diameter and took a while to break down to the proper size and thickness. It would have been faster otherwise.

Is this a lot of time to put into a knife? i really have know idea, i don't know any blade smiths

o and the glove thing i figured out after i took a rather large chunk out from under my finger nail.

 

[cp2u]

Qw!
If a man be judged by his scars it may be better to give than to receive. Take good care of your hands. You'll be needing them if you're going to make more nice knives.
And those are very nice first knives.
You're off to a great start.
That sythe-like blade you gave your brother should become an instant heirloom.
It has the power and presence of a persian on steroids.
Keep 'em coming.

CP

 

[Sparljo]

Very nice first efforts. Good call on the moosehead.

Did you make your mokume? Thats very impressive.

Im not sure about the notches just forward of the ricasso on the larger blade.... they look like a bad idea on a chopper like that.

On gloves.... Yes it can be painful at times, but thats part of the game. Eventually your fingers learn to keep out of the way most of the time.

I would rather lose a finger then lose a whole hand due to wearing gloves....and I cant feel the grind as well while wearing them. To each his own though.

 

[jay71]

Yes i made the mokume myself. I know what you mean about the file work i wish i would have left it out but its too late now.

 

[hppyevraftr]

Jason,

Very beautiful. My favorite is the first/smaller knife. Clearly, you are a natural. I'm very impressed! Great job polishing the steel too.

Looks like you're ready to start taking order already!

Very impressed

 

[jay71]

thank you very much.

I actually do have a few friends who noticed my knives at home and now want to buy one. I'm very happy about that, it would be nice to subsidize my hobby a bit.