My new fighter...

J

Jebadiah_Smith

Joined
Jul 28, 2004
Messages
878
Hello everyone,

I recently was inspired into making this knife by one posted by spiraltwista. Sorry about the link to "the other forum" but I wanted to show pics. I guess I wanted to show you all because I know and like you guys the best. This is turning out to be one mean fighter...

http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthrea...63500&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31&fpart=1

Thanks to Khukuri Monster for the use of his grinder and forge, and clay, and steel, and dymondwood (eww...dymondwood), and propane, and belts, and pins, and time.

I just realized that I dont have anything to knife fight with... oh well.
 
That's cool! L6 should make a very good blade. Nice work. The Dymondwood looks fine.

Steve
 
Very nice! It kinda has the scalpel tip blade style I like...

Nice job!

L6 huh? Impressive, also what was so miserable about the Dymondwood?
 
John Trout said:
Impressive, also what was so miserable about the Dymondwood?
Click to expand...

It stunk up the workshop for a day (due to the chemicals used in its manufacture, it gives off nasty fumes when worked), and left nasty bright orange dust everywhere. I used to have a chunk, but now I'm glad I unloaded it on some poor chap who wanted to use it to make a fighting knife :D

What grit did you finish the handle to?
 
re: dust everywhere...

The reddish corian I used on somebody's knife (can't remember who) left pink dust all over my shop.....I mean everywhere! Looked like a dang "girlie-man" shop.....:eek: :( :footinmou......with a fuzzy pink-sweater-blanket layin on it.....yikes!

Had to get rid of that dust....and pronto! Didn't want the missus to get any funny ideas....:D
 
And Jeb - you've done some fine work there!
 
Thanks for the compliments everyone.

I have taken to calling it the "BAR Fighter" because B.A.R are my initials, as well as an alcohol selling establishment where bikers and such are prone to fighting :) .

The tip was designed to be upturned so that a stab would cut with the curved edge rather than wedge with the tip. It was also made pointy to target joints/pressure points like a kerambit.

The dymondwood smelled strongly of chemicals and brought back memories of junior high frog dissections. Im actually starting to like the dymondwood more but I dont think KM will allow it within 100 ft. of the shop.
 
I've seen worse first attempts. Much worse, as a matter of fact. Keep at it, and keep us posted. :D

I won't work with the Dymondwood stuff, myself. If it smells toxic, it probably is.
Look into dust control for your shop, it's a worthwhile investment, since dust from many species of tropical exotic woods are allergenic or even toxic to varying degrees. None are good for you. :eek: The centerpiece of my "new" shop is a Jet dust collector, with an upgraded filter bag, and a Highland Hardware first stage "cyclone" 40 Gal drum addition.
 
I got a nasty sore throat one time after making some pistol grips out of cocobolo, from inhaling all the sanding dust. Next time I'll wear a resperator.

I'm curious, is there a reason that these woods are so bad for you?
 
There are medical professionals here who can address this issue better than I, but having been warned for years about breathing dust from tropical woods, I'm cautious. About any wood dust, for that matter. When you're in your 20's, you think you'll live forever - when you're in your 60's you know that isn't true. ;)
Choose your toxins well!
 
Okay, I removed the patina and put a satin finish on. I made a sharpener out of a 2x4 on my bandsaw. It has a "bow" cut out of it, a base and a rubber tie down strap to hold a piece of sandpaper. The rubber strap is only 3/4" so i need to find another one to set next to it. I got it pretty sharp with it, as is. KM, I want to buff the dymondwood, so ill look at the jantz catalog just in case they have info. I think ill also buff the satin finish just to even it up. I want this to be heirloom quality. I can imagine in the future:

"Whats this grandpa?"
"Its a knife your great-great-great-great grandfather made."
"Whats a knife?"
"Well, they were metal thingies that people used to cut stuff with, but everyone who made them died of tropical dust poisoning. And without the knifemakers buying barstock and dymondwood, our economy crashed and we were taken over by Canada."
"Oh."

:)
 
You did very well, J_S.

In fact I held off til now to comment because my first reaction was " That knife needs something, but I don't know what it is, to be a masterpiece*! "

( * Literally a be a piece made to show the mastery of one's skills sufficiently to be moved from Journeyman status to Master when examined by others of the Guild. )

I still can't put my finger on what it needs to burst into a new dimension. But I think you are pushing the envelope much like Chuck Yeager did. Don't slow down now!

Of course I could be full of it too - but saying so might not be prudent...
 
Very nice, pleased my knife helped provide insperation! Good work!

You could call it "Spirals Buffalo horn" :D :footinmou

Spiral
 
Wow, thanks Rusty. Do you have any idea what it is that needs to change? The blade? The handle? The overall lines? Dont blades need to be forged to get into the guild? I dont know if I should keep going with this model or start fresh again.

Oh well, I guess my lungs can hold out until I make a masterpiece. Im only 16 and the old air sacks probally have quite a few decades of metal dust to inhale yet.

I can always just tell people that i smoke crack when I start coughing, sheeple approve of smoking crack more than making knives :) .
 
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