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Tanguay Custom Knives

Tanguay Custom Knives

Joined
Jun 15, 2003
Messages
1,500
Hi Guys,
I just thought I’d introduce myself. My name is Scott Tanguay. I’ve been making knives as a hobby for about the last two years. My background is in power plant operation and maintenance. Over the last 22 years I’ve been a sailor, machinist, millwright, welder, and worked as an electrical/instruments and controls technician. I’ve put it all together and I’m currently a Shift Supervisor at a large power plant in northern Maine. Besides knife making and collecting, I love the outdoors and hunt, fish, camp, kayak, canoe, etc. In other words, I’ve learned what an outdoorsman needs in a knife, and that’s what I try to put into mine.

This year I decided to get serious about knife making. I’m in the process of building a brand new shop devoted solely to knife making. I’m about 85% done. I plan to finish next week. I’ll post some pics when it’s done. In the mean time, I’ve upgraded my membership to knifemaker status and have taken some pictures of some knives and sheathes I’ve made so far. Unfortunately, some of my better knives have been given as gifts to friends and family, and were therefore unavailable for this impromptu photo shoot. The ones you see have seen some real use. Some I would call abused. I believe in testing what I make for its intended purpose, and then some. It shows me what I need to do better next time. Please forgive the less than perfect photos. I’m still trying to figure out this new camera and all its little nuances.

Please let me know what you think. I value the opinions of the more experienced makers here. I’ve learned a lot from you guys over the past few years. Thank you for all the help!

Scott

p.s. The sharktooth pushdagger is a kit I completed a while back. The handles are corian. I bead blasted the whole knife upon completion.
 
Very cool. I hope the best making knives of yours. Maine, very beautiful land I know. It's famous for lobsters, isn't it?
 
Nice looking knives. How do you make your very aggressive serrations? I'm a serration man myself and not many makers do that. What is your secret?

Love Maine. I have a cousin that used to have a cabin up on some remote lake. We went up there one summer back in the 70's. We also visited the coast and had some lobster right off the boat. The owner gave me a HUGE lobster claw I admired because I recognized a painting she did was a cod fish. We went into the restaurant with the small fishing boat up even with the dock. We came out to find the boat...and the water gone. The boat was sitting on the rocks about 20' below the dock. Talk about a tide change.

Welcome aboard and thanks for sharing.

reid allen
 
Thanks for the positive feedback guys. I really appreciate you taking the time to say a few words. All of these knives were made at work in my "free" time.

We have a full machine shop there including a lathe, milling machine, grinders, presses, welders, etc., etc. I won't be quite so lucky in my new shop. I'm currently shopping around now for a new/used lathe and mill. Its all I'm lacking really, and I can get by without it for a while. I just won't be doing any fullers, finger cutouts, or milled saw-teeth without one though.

I do my serrations by hand with different sized chainsaw files. Its pretty easy if you take your time and lay everything out first. I was a machinist in the beginning, so I use alot of those skills in laying out and setting up.

While we're on the subject, do any of you here have any experience with these combo lathe/mills: http://www.grizzly.com/products/g4791. I'm tempted by the price and space useage mostly.

Waredbear, Thats a cool story.
Thanks for posting.
Scott

Thanks again for your comments. Keep them coming. I posted here to learn what I'm doing right, and wrong.
 
Thanks shotgunner.
I made that one a while back from an old file Black Diamond file I had when I was a machinist. I annealed the file, made up the blade, re-heat treated it, and attached the wood scales. They're made from an old hardwood pallet we had laying around the plant (oak I think). The pins are made from 316 stainless tig wire. I still carry that knife to work alot.
 
Your push knife is dead sexy ;) And those serrations are awesome. Very precise work. You must have been crosseyed for a week after staring at that for a couple hours. Good work!
 
That jet pilot knife is awesome.......do you do one w/o the serrations? I realize that detracts somewhat from what it was designed for, but I am curious:cool:

Cerberus
 
I made one with the top edge sharpened instead of sawteeth. No pics though. Sorry. It was before I had my digital camera. My new shop is almost done though. SOON!
 
Good luck with knifemaking Scott. I just started last year and like you I also make some nice ones as gifts and didn't get photos. That's changed now as I photography every one as soon as they are done now !! Good luck and I hope so see s ome more nice work from you.
 
Really like the serrations in front of that sheepsfoot.Never see that combo with the teeth in front.
 
I've been doing a few like that over the last year. I had the unfortunate opportunity to have to slash at an anchor rope that I was getting tangled up in one time. My my canoe flipped over (thanks to an inexperienced partner) on a river fishing trip. Everything turned out ok, but It gave me the idea that the serrations belong on the front of the blade, where the slashing seems to take place.

I'm sure someone else has done it before, but that incident made it occur to me. I really like the way it works. Looks cool too!
 
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