Newly handled blade and sheath for woods duty

SpookyPistolero

SpookyPistolero

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Messages
6,105
Howdy folks-

Just wanted to share a blade that I finally finished up. The blade itself and the slabs used came from a christmas knife kit I received, as did a bit of the leather. I'm pretty pleased with how it came out, except for a few details. This was my first time adding a handle to a knife. The next will likely be a full tang.

Tools were all hand tools, except for one time when I used a dremel. This was to sand out and perfect the inner cuts, because the hand tools weren't cutting it there.

The slabs are only held on with epoxy (2-ton superglue 30-min set epoxy) since I don't have a drill press and doing pins with a hand drill scares the crap out of me right now. That'll probably happen next time, and with a vise. I believe the handles are oak, can't recall exactly...

The blade itself has some dings and scratches from the factory, and I haven't cleaned it up yet.

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I just finished the sheath this afternoon and have had a chance to wear it around and make up my mind about it. Turned out ok! It carries great. The package is very light and comfortable, it doesn't get in the way at all. The thinner belt loop allows for a more easily self-adjusting fit.

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The main leather is about 1/8", and the mouth was reinforced with a piece of 1/16" leather folded over it. The belt loop is also the thinner stock.

Both the blade and firesteel are held quite well, only a definite pull would remove them.

I got to work with the blade a bit today out in the backyard, and it made quick work of some wood. It is very comfortable for carving and easy to choke up on. A distal grip is also secure and allows that light chopping that's useful for clearing tiny appendages from branches. The spine is very square and sparks the firesteel great, and is awesome and wearing down bark or forming wood. Making a quick trap from some stick was a quick and easy affair.

Thanks for looking! :thumbup:
 
That looks pretty good! Can't wait to see more of your projects. Is this your first one you made? If so, it's a great start! Thanks for sharing.

Where did you get the leather for the sheath? Ive been looking in getting some for some project of my own.
 
Good job :thumbup:. I'm glad to see that your christmas present is being put to good use :). Look forward to seeing more projects cause as I remember your gift had a TON of stuff to use.
 
Thanks, guys! Pretty happy with the results so far. I'm slowly amassing some more appropriate tools, and might get a good workbench in a few weeks.

Hi GEC- that is indeed my first blade, but not my first sheath. Quick learning curve on that one!:D I get most of the leather I use from a leather shop that I'm fortunate enough to have in town. I know there are also some good online ones, just not sure of the names! I will try to look them up though, or someone more knowledgeable may come along before then. (maybe tandy leather?)

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/ Bingo!
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Thanks, guys! Pretty happy with the results so far. I'm slowly amassing some more appropriate tools, and might get a good workbench in a few weeks.

Hi GEC- that is indeed my first blade, but not my first sheath. Quick learning curve on that one!:D I get most of the leather I use from a leather shop that I'm fortunate enough to have in town. I know there are also some good online ones, just not sure of the names! I will try to look them up though, or someone more knowledgeable may come along before then. (maybe tandy leather?)

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/ Bingo!
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Thanks Man! Now I just have to figure out which one I need for making sheaths and maybe a shoulder bag.
Thanks again,
Gil
 
Thats cool Spooky. You know what I like most?? That you did it!! Nice. Isn't it fun to cut stuff with your OWN tool!! Neato feeling.

Now, a few criticisms. Round those handle corners!! Think of a hammer handle. Ever seen one with square edges?? Your files are your friend!!
 
Fiddleback said:
Thats cool Spooky. You know what I like most?? That you did it!! Nice. Isn't it fun to cut stuff with your OWN tool!! Neato feeling.

Now, a few criticisms. Round those handle corners!! Think of a hammer handle. Ever seen one with square edges?? Your files are your friend!!
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Thanks Andy! It really does make the blade better, makes me want to take it over other factory ones. I appreciate the advice!! I was concerned with the 'squareness' of the slabs myself. The project was a little iffy at the beginning because I wasn't sure that the two would be thick enough by themselves, with no full tang separating them. They're still a bit boxy, but surprisingly comfortable. The next handle is going to have all sorts of sexy curves on it! (Honestly, I'll be stealing lots from what I've seen off your stuff!)


GEC- I'm still working on leather nomenclature, too. You'll notice I described it in thickness, but someone who knows what they're talking about would call it 8 oz leather (or something like that). I'm blessed with that shop nearby.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
GEC- I'm still working on leather nomenclature, too. You'll notice I described it in thickness, but someone who knows what they're talking about would call it 8 oz leather (or something like that). I'm blessed with that shop nearby.
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8-9oz veg tanned leather is the standard for sheath making.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
The next handle is going to have all sorts of sexy curves on it! (Honestly, I'll be stealing lots from what I've seen off your stuff!)
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Please do. And also allow others to influence you. When you buy a new knife feel the edge geometry, the grip, etc. Every knife will teach you from now on.
 
Fiddleback said:
Please do. And also allow others to influence you. When you buy a new knife feel the edge geometry, the grip, etc. Every knife will teach you from now on.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking that I will try a puukko style next with a blank from Ragnar. I'm going to try to imitate a lot of what I like about my 510. Using a single block of wood to carve a tang-hole into is a little daunting.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
I'm thinking that I will try a puukko style next with a blank from Ragnar. I'm going to try to imitate a lot of what I like about my 510. Using a single block of wood to carve a tang-hole into is a little daunting.
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Read Oupa's tutorial at Rammy on doing a nessmuk. He does hidden tangs a little differently. Makes a beautiful knife.;):thumbup:
 
Spooky, the leather is weighed by the sq. ft. I believe. 1 oz= @ 1/64" thickness. So 8 oz would be about 1/8". Many people use the 8-9oz for sheaths. Some use heavier. I think all of it is overkill, as I have scandi knives w/ about a 2-3oz sheath, though it is lined. I don't know how many people would agree with me, but I have been using 6-7oz for the last several sheaths I did, and I like it a lot.
As far as the puuko, there is a reason many of them have sectioned handles. Not only can you make them fancy, it is easier to cut the tang hole in them, or so I am told. I have never done a stick tang yet. Have fun on all of it though.
 
Very cool, I am making my first sheath now as well, its pretty heavy and tough leather though, an old suitcase someone had that he cut up to make a pistol holster.
Get yourself a vice, its an indispensible tool for the shop. It's like having a third super robot hand.
Oh yeah, lee valley sells frosts blade blanks, I should pick up a couple and try making a handle.
 
I love it. Its just plain and simple. Clean lines. I really like the handle. Good job.
 
Spooky,

That's a good, serviceable knife you put together! That'll be used by you for years to come, I reckon. There's nothing like making one yourself, and getting to use it!

Ron
 
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