My First!

jprice76 · Dec 29, 2008

Okay...here it is. This is what I could call my first completed blade!

I've been working a lot on my Proto Keychain tool I designed, (I included an in progress shot of those as well, these 3/16" ATS34) getting some grinding in and getting familiar w/ the new Delta 1 x 42" grinder I recently got. This is probably the first thing I've done that I would call a knife though that has a blade length of more than an inch!.

The blade steel is 1084 and its pretty small over all, probably close to a 2.5" blade and 3" handle. This one is a small necker or utility blade.

Not really finished w/ it yet, but I think its close. I think it just needs some spit and polish.

Man, I can already tell I'm saving my pennies for a real 2 x 72" machine! That and a freakin checkering file...really wish I had one for doing the jimping on pieces like this!

I'm also adding probably two more holes to the handle in line with the first one near the blade. After HT, I'll flatten it out and bring back some of the flats so that the edge bevel doesnt go clear to the spine.

Sorry if the pics are huge, but hey..better to see and tell me what I'm doing wrong right!

Feedback welcome!

Thanks for looking

Keychain Tools in various stages of progress:

Keith_H · Dec 30, 2008

looks great!

lamontjb · Dec 30, 2008

Awesome first... You going to make a 550 cord handle wrap?

jprice76 · Dec 30, 2008

lamontjb said:
Awesome first... You going to make a 550 cord handle wrap?

Thanks for the compliments guys...

not sure? I'm was going to put a couple more holes in the handle, then I figure I'll carry it without a cord wrap or possibly with one. Probably try both ways and see what I like. The cord wrap would fill out the handle more, but it feels pretty good in hand as is.

Thanks again

Allen Newberry · Dec 30, 2008

Probably try both ways and see what I like.

Sounds like a good plan. I generally prefer the holes, at least in the looks department. Nice looking knives.

Allen

Teknition · Dec 30, 2008

Cool little tool :thumbup: The profile kinda looks like a schnauzer jumping through the air..lol.

I have a few suggestions for you to make them easier to fabricate if the steel you are cutting them from is wide enough to get 2 of them side by side.

If you straighten the spine out and lay them out back to back, then you could drill holes in a line and accomplish what you are now doing with a file, then just clean the drilled holes up with a few licks of the file.

Sticking with the schnauzer theme, I would grind both sides of the front legs to a flat screwdriver profile and have it slightly longer than the belly of the blade so if you tighten a screw with it, the blade doesn't drag on anything.

You could save a little more time after heat treating if you sandblast the scale off and then just go over them with the belt again. After that i would give them a quick etch in ferric chloride or blue them to add a bit of rust resistance.

Nice project, post some pics up when they are all done.

Brad
www.AndersonKnives.ca

jprice76 · Dec 30, 2008

Teknition said:
Cool little tool :thumbup: The profile kinda looks like a schnauzer jumping through the air..lol.

I have a few suggestions for you to make them easier to fabricate if the steel you are cutting them from is wide enough to get 2 of them side by side.

If you straighten the spine out and lay them out back to back, then you could drill holes in a line and accomplish what you are now doing with a file, then just clean the drilled holes up with a few licks of the file.

Sticking with the schnauzer theme, I would grind both sides of the front legs to a flat screwdriver profile and have it slightly longer than the belly of the blade so if you tighten a screw with it, the blade doesn't drag on anything.

You could save a little more time after heat treating if you sandblast the scale off and then just go over them with the belt again. After that i would give them a quick etch in ferric chloride or blue them to add a bit of rust resistance.

Nice project, post some pics up when they are all done.

Brad
www.AndersonKnives.ca

Thanks Guys,

Hey Brad,
not a bad idea on flatening out the top to get more use of the material, especially like the idea of drilling the holes for the thumbnotches, that would definitely save time.

RE: the screwdrive tip, actually, it is longer than the belly of the blade to address that issue. It may not look it in the photo, but the flathead screwdrive sticks out a bit longer so that you can use it and the belly of the blade doesnt hang up.

These are made of ATS34, so I think they should do pretty good in the rust resistance dept., the necker is made in 1084 and I will do some preventative work to keep it from rusting.

Thanks again guys!

Teknition · Dec 30, 2008

For some reason I missed that they were ats34 and thought they were both 1084. They should do very well in the rust resistance department :thumbup:

Brad

JasonSCarter · Dec 30, 2008

Dude those are awesome! Are you related to Peter Atwood? He has something similar to those he makes called a "mini prything" check em out!

John M Cohea · Dec 30, 2008

The little keychain tools are pretty slick.

jprice76 · Dec 30, 2008

Thanks Guys...

LOL..nope, not related to Peter, this is just my design that is heavily influenced by makers like Peter Atwood and Joshua Rice. I've owned many, many of Peters tools and have a great respect for his designs and just how cool his tools are. Honestly, I really dont think theres anyone out there that could create a keychain tool these days without it resembling something of Peters..he pretty much set the bar in that arena IMO.

While my tool is obviously heavily influenced by Peter, I do think its a different approach to the keychainable multi-tool idea.

I appreciate the compliments. These are the first batch of this design. I am also beginning making some chisel type and wharncliffe blade models that will be on the work bench soon.

Thought I would share with you the additional photos I have posted on other forums for the prototype of this tool which have been in the works for a few months. This one is a Carbon steel and 1/8" thick. I have used and abused this one and it looks quite a bit more used in these pics. It has become very useful and held up great!

This will give you a better idea of how the tool is used:

Cutting Edge:

Prytool:

Screwdrive:

Bottleopener

In the sheath on a keychain(allows access to the prytool and bottle opener)

Will Leavitt · Dec 30, 2008

Very nice and useful, have fun making a bazillion of them.

Kinda like that keychain knife I think it was Winston used to make. He got to the point where he was begging people not to order them.