Phillip Patton knife, progression thread

[Bastid]

Keith,

Watching the progression of Phillip making your knife is a treat. My thanks goes out to both or you. I have learned quite a bit.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

He sure nailed those plunge grinds, didn't he? :thumbup:

Yea he did. Over the years I have seen a lot of uneven plunge grinds. It seems to be an area of difficulty.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

A couple shots showing the hollow grinds before hand sanding.

After sanding with 400 grit paper.

 

[muddy672]

Keith, great thread. Look forward to more updates!

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Here we have the face of the guard polished. The remainder of the guard will be polished at the same time as the handle.

Phillip has traced the shape of the handle onto the material.

Here they are cut out.

 

[jaislandboy]

thanks for this awesome thread :thumbup:

 

[Joss]

What's the handle material?

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Well, since I checked with Canada Customs and was told that it is okay to import ancient whale bone (the same as ancient walrus, mammoth ivory, oosic and Stellar's sea cow bone), I guess I can let folks know now, that is what it is.

 

[blad5]

Can't wait to see how that ancient whale bone comes out. Never seen this material on a knife before.

Paul

 

[Keith Montgomery]

The blade coated with JB Weld.

The guard has been slid on over the tip of the knife until it butts up against the shoulders.

Here it is in the vise, with rubber bands used to keep it from moving around.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

The scales flattened on one side.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

First, Phillip covered the blade with tape to protect the finish. Then he drilled out the pin holes to clean them out, cut the pins to length and chamfered the ends.

Here the pins have been peened. Since the guard is hardened 440c, the pin material conforms to the countersunk hole easily with no fear of deforming the guard at all. The JB Weld is enough by itself to hold the guard on, but Phillip still feels better having a mechanical fastener also.

The pins have been ground flush, and one of the scales have been clamped on in preparation for drilling the bolt and lanyard holes.

The first hole has been drilled, and the bolt inserted to keep it from shifting around.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

All three holes drilled, and the same thing done to the other scale.

Here the bolt holes are countersunk to accept the blind bolts that will be holding the scales on.

Phillip sandlasted the tang so the epoxy will bond better.

Here's all the pieces just before assembling.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Have enjoyed watching this thread.
Interested in seeing the whale bone with final polish.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

The tang is coated with epoxy (Phillip uses slow set epoxy, because he doesn't like to feel rushed, and because it's stronger than 5 minute epoxy...

...and the scales bolted on.

Left to set up.

 

[peterinct]

This has been a great and interesting thread.

The last couple of steps bring a couple of questions to my mind:

1) I was surprised the guard is "hardened 440c". I would think that may prevent engraving if the owner was so inclined?

2) The whale bone is being epoxied to the tang. Would that prevent or perhaps allow checking in the future due to molecular differences in the materials subject to climate changes?

Thanks,
Peter

 

[blgoode]

man what a thread!!!!:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Peter, I can't provide answers to your questions, but I will see if Phillip can.

 

[Phillip Patton]

This has been a great and interesting thread.

The last couple of steps bring a couple of questions to my mind:

1) I was surprised the guard is "hardened 440c". I would think that may prevent engraving if the owner was so inclined?

2) The whale bone is being epoxied to the tang. Would that prevent or perhaps allow checking in the future due to molecular differences in the materials subject to climate changes?

Thanks,
Peter

Hi Peter,
Good questions!
Honestly, I never thought about the possibility of engraving, and Keith and I never discussed it.
I don't know if he ever intends to sell it either, so Keith would probably be the better one to answer this question.


The whale bone has been stabilized, so I wouldn't expect any size changes because of climate. Hopefully there wont be. :foot: Also, the epoxy is slightly flexible.

 

[PMLKnives]

Good thread! I always enjoy the WIP pics. Thanks for thaking the time, to show us how the pros do it!
Paul