My Third Knife

C

CMJ

Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
14
Hi Guys, it's been almost a year since completing my first two knives. I gave them out to family members for Christmas, it went over really well, and the guys loved them.
First knife http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1132412-My-First-knife

Well I have a lot of different projects, going on at the same time, so this one took quite a while. I actually went out to the garage this morning to work on something else, but somehow ended up with this. It's not finished, but close. I didn't make a sheath yet, but I decided to post it anyway. The handle is a touch small, and there are some errors where I tried to start the edge on a the belt sander, instead of just using my Sharpmaker. The blade is made from Aldo's 1084. Go easy on me.





 
I think the blade looks pretty good. Take the scales off and finish them. In my opinion they are underdone. Ease the edges to make them hand freindly as they will not be comfortable to use as is. Jess
 
Looks like a fine effort. Just finish the handle and make a sheath. You're getting there!
 
Workmanship is really good. I like the shape. The handles are canvas Micarta, so they won't get much better looking, but a tad more sanding up to 400 grit may help. People rub/soak them down with baby oil to darken the white look, but I am not a fan of putting anything oily on them.

If you have some scrap, check this out and if you like it, do it to the scales:
Sand to 400 grit and get everything rounded and such as desired. Assemble the handle on the knife and tape up the blade if sharp ( not needed on a test piece). Work in some hard car wax, woodworking wax, or carnuba wax. Rub it in with a cloth by working it hard. Let sit for a day and hand buff off all the excess. Rub with clean cloths or paper towels until you don't rub off any more wax residue. This can leave a pretty nice looking handle. If it still seems a bit slicker than you like, gently sand with 400 grit to remove the surface wax. The darkened fibers should stay dark.
 
Ok Guys, I gave a little more contour to the scales. I really don't want to thin it out any further, since the handle is a little short. Thanks for the pointers everyone.

Stacey, the scales are at 220, I'll take them up to 400 and try out your recommendations. A buddy of mine just received a Busse, and brought it over this morning. It has canvas Micarta scales too, but it seems like there is some type of coating on it, to make it tacky.

I was going to drill a hole in the tang for a lanyard, but I'm not sure now, what do you guys think?




 
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Can't see how much space you have at the back of the tang - don't drill in there unless you're sure that a lanyard hole won't be cramped and looking like an afterthought. The knife has a very open, spacious look and lanyard hole squeezed into a tight space would be odd.

More importantly though. .. If you're planning on drilling a lanyard hole into already hardened steel, you're in for a heartbreaking drilling session....
 
I see everything from gun stock varnish to polyurethane put on canvas Micarta scales. I don't like anything 'on" the Micarta. Every knife coated with a varnish or similar finish felt sticky to me. I suppose one of the hard natural varnishes, like Tung oil, would work. Maybe someone who has used that will chime in on how it looks and holds up as well as how it feels.

The reason canvas micarta looks so white/gray is that the canvas fibers "fluff" up when sanded through them. This will diminish in time somewhat by absorbing the oils, dirt, sweat, etc. with rubbing by your hand in use.

The baby oil treatment is instantaneous in taking away the unfinished look. My opinion is that it will weep out and always feel slick.


Heck, I'll start a Micarta Tricks thread.
 
CMJ said:
Ok Guys, I gave a little more contour to the scales. I really don't want to thin it out any further, since the handle is a little short. Thanks for the pointers everyone.

Stacey, the scales are at 220, I'll take them up to 400 and try out your recommendations. A buddy of mine just received a Busse, and brought it over this morning. It has canvas Micarta scales too, but it seems like there is some type of coating on it, to make it tacky.

I was going to drill a hole in the tang for a lanyard, but I'm not sure now, what do you guys think?




Click to expand...

Both the front end and ass end of the scales look too square. If that's the look you want then great. It's looks unfinished and harsh in my eyes. Great looking blade.
 
Better shaping on the contour but I agree especially the front looks unfinished. Personally I like the scales to taper down towards the tang they look blocky. The blade itself is excellent very good detail on that. I can see it looks like you were going for a lanyard hole but drilling hardened steel is going to be a nightmare. It looks like it either needed the lanyard hole or you were going for a "skull crusher" kind of look but they're usually more of a point out the back of the scales. But I don't think there is enough meat there to make a lanyard hole look right. You can go up to a very fine grit with micarta and get a nicer looking finish. This was my first knife I did with micarta scales. I took it up to about 1200 grit then took it through a series of 3M polishing cloths to get this look.

 
I'll round and tapper the front and back a bit. I'm just a little gun shy about removing too much. I cut off the back for a lanyard hole, and now I don't think I want it. I also used the yellow liner because I thought it would pop when I blued the blade, but I decided not to blue. I just don't want to do anything else that I'm unsure of. You guy have a lot more experience than I do, that's why I'm here.

As far as drilling hardened steel goes, I've got that covered. I use carbide spade bits and a mill:)

Fletch, that's a real nice knife, those scales look great. The finish I'm going for is less refined, the white doesn't bother me, but I will knock it down to 400 grit.
 
Heh. I was going to share my masonry drill trick, but I see you have that covered. :cool:

I like the lines of your blade. Reminds me slightly of a SOG Team Leader.\

@ Fletch - nice looking Micara.
 
Squirt that handle down with WD40 and you will be much happier.
 
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