Orbis 10 in the making

[Toni Oostendorp]

I started on an Orbis 10 and thought it would be nice to take pictures of the whole process. The Orbis 10 is an integral bowie styled user knife. This one will get a double guard, only the upper guard will be just high enough to place a lanyard hole in it. It will get a brown micarta handle and an orange spacer. the handle will be closed by a pommel that will be secured by a peened over tang.

Here are the first pictures:

The block of steel I start with, 1.2510 (O1), 2.5 cm (1") Thick, 6 cm (21/2") wide and 15 to 20cm (6" to 8") long.

The first forgings under the press to lengthen the blade part

Using the rolling mill and the press I form the first part of the tang.

Here you can see the start of the different thicknesses


The next step will be the folding out of the "Wings" that will form the guard and forming the bevels and tip.

 

[Redsnake1997]

Looking forward to seeing this one come together. I really love the look of your knives and would like to get my hands on one someday. :thumbup:

 

[Toni Oostendorp]

And a bit more action...

Drawing the rough lines on the blank. Important for the positioning of the wings and the point.

Here I used the angle grinder to cut of the point in reverse. So the angled part will become the back and the straight part the edge. Than I made two cuts which I will fold out.

Using the chicle, I push the wings to the outside....

a bit more....

...and not any further. Later on I will position them at the exact location.

Next I forged the point and tapered the whole blade and started forging on lower and lower temperatures. After this I will start on drawing the final dimensions on the blade and grind some of the parts, forge the guard some more and draw out the tang.

 

[Bruce Bump]

Interesting project. Good hammer control.

 

[Todd Miller]

I am looking forward to seeing the rest of this project. It makes me want to work on my forging techniques. Keep it up. Todd

 

[Toni Oostendorp]

This evening I hamered the guard in the right place and angle.

Next I've drawn out the tang:

 

[rwn2000]

Am I the only one who can't see the pictures?

randy

 

[SBranson]

I like how you're making that guard. I look forward to more.

ps.. I see the pics fine.

 

[Burl Source]

I am looking forward to seeing this knife as it progresses.
I like the integral wings/guard feature.

 

[Toni Oostendorp]

Thanks guys...


And we go on....

Positioning of the grind guide...

first grinding

Opening up the choil further by using a wider diameter contact wheel...

Choil opened up and steel removed from the tang...

check if the grip is all right. The forward grip is the reason why the guard is angled. With a double guard I like to angel it just to make sure nothing is poking in your hand.

My incredible high tech and pricy measuring instrument. I sell this exceptional piece of must have gear for only 857.00 euro's.....you can't live without it!...

Measuring the guard on the left....

and the right side....I will do this also on the opposite side, just to make sure the guard is the same on both sides.

 

[Toni Oostendorp]

So it took awhile but here are the rest of the pictures:

Here the blade is placed in the oven to be softened and stress relieved. The oven is programmed to do both treatments in one long program.

When the knife is ready to be hardened it will be stress relieved for a second time and then hardened.

 

[Toni Oostendorp]

Here are two pictures of the finished knife with the Kydex/Leather sheath made by Martin Swinkels

 

[Skimo]

That turned out great.

 

[amcardon]

Fantastic! Thanks for posting the progress shots, that was fantastic to watch the creation of the knife; and paired with a Swinkel's sheath? Who could ask for anything more?!?

 

[stabber]

awesome knife!Love the guard work. great WIP.

 

[Calvin Richardson]

That is an incredible knife. Really really like it.

 

[Matt Brook]

Awesome work. Thanks for sharing!

 

[broe]

Wow, very nice. After all that work I am surprised you went with a rat tail tang with all the beefiness of the rest of it. Nice work.

 

[Hengelo_77]

That's a beauty of a beast.
Is the butt plate hardened also?

 

[Toni Oostendorp]

Wow, very nice. After all that work I am surprised you went with a rat tail tang with all the beefiness of the rest of it. Nice work.

He Broe,

The reason for the rat tail is that I only want lots of steel in places were it counts. Having a very thick tang only ads weight. Btw the rat tail part is still 3/8 thick ad the end. This way the knife is still nicely balanced at the choil without excessive weight.

Hengelo: Yes the buttplate is hardened. It can be used for hammering etc.