Picked up a knife order through a referral.

scottickes

scottickes

Joined
Oct 27, 2005
Messages
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My first referral order...kind of!

I made a knife back at Christmas for one of my "regular" job customers. He designs my companies product into equipment. A customer of his knew that I made knives and I showed him pictures of other knives I've made. He really liked the knife that I made for the gentlemen that makes parts for his company. He ordered a knife for a retirement gift, for one of his coworkers. Still working out the design details, etc.

The guy that just ordered the knife is also a customer of my company and I've been working with him off and on for 5 years.

A referral...kind of....This is soooo cool...I'm tickled to death!

Ickie
 
It's going to be a ladder pattern 1084/15N20 damascus hunter with about a 4-1/4" blade. I've going to handle it with tulipwood.

He's left the guard and buttcap material and design up to my discretion. I have choices of brass, nicklesilver, 52100, mild steel and ladder pattern damascus. I'm not sure if I have enough of the damascus left though. I'm thinking that brass would look great with the tulipwood also.

I'll post pictures of my progress. Kind of an informal tutorial. The knife is already forged. As soon as I post this, I'll be going out and beginning the grinding. I have to have it done by next Thursday. One week to finish it and make a sheath. It's a good thing I'm on vacation between now and then!

The knife he chose is the one on the right in the attached photo.

Ickie
 
The blade is cleaned up and the ricasso is filed for the guard. I did a light etch to see the pattern of the ladder. It's pretty cool.

Ickie
 
It's coming along. I'm going to inlay gold leaf into the file work. I'm pretty darned happy with it so far! It's a real nice ladder pattern.
 
Lookin good Ickie, interesting but not too busy. A real nice balance visually. I think he will be pleased.
 
I deliver the knife tomorrow at a retirement luncheon at Freightliner in Portland. Since they are all customers of my company I'm invited to the luncheon as well. I'll get to see peoples reactions to my work (my favorite part of making knives!).

Here are the finished pictures.

It's my 1084/15N20 ladder pattern damascus.
Blade length is 4-1/2" with an overall length of 8-5/8".
The guard is my 1084/15N20 raindrop damascus.
The handle is tulipwood.
I hand fileworked the spine of the blade and the guard. After that I inlayed the filework with 18 carat gold leaf.
The knife sheath is 9 oz. vegetable tanned leather with sea shell tooling.
I made the presentation box out of simple pine, and lined it with black velvet. The knife and sheath will each be wrapped in a black velvet cloth to protect them.

What do you think?

p.s.
I put together a make shift light box for this. This is my best photography so far. Not great, but much better.
 
I'm amazed at how light in the hand the knife is. The balance point is just in front of the guard. It feels great. I cut through a bunch of rope with it and it held it's edge well. I got tired of cutting rope and was actually glad when it started to lose it's edge just a little bit. I ran it on my fine stone and the edge came right back. It falls through paper like it's not even there!

This knife is wicked sharp. I might just start etching "wicked sharp" on my knives. :D I'll have to research it to make sure no one else is using it first though.

Ickie
 
I'm back from the retirement luncheon. Terry really liked the knife. It's very satisfying to have someone enjoy what you've made. I met his son today also. I fine young man. They both enjoying hunting and Terry stated he "IS" going to use the knife, and not just put it on display.

He's going to take a picture of the first animal he harvests and uses the knife on. I can't wait to see the pictures.

Ickie
 
Ickie, thanks for posting the story of the knife! I know you're proud of what you've done, heck I'm proud of you too. It will really be great to see this guys first use of the knife. Something tells me that there may be another knife in to mill, someday.
Thanks again for taking the time to post the pictures and text, it's been fun to read, and fun to see your enthusiasm with the project.
Did you undercut the edges of the leaves so that the gold would force it's way into it's permanent position?
Good going guy, keep it up.!
 
Very cool. Di you do the damascus on a press/power hammer or by hand?
 
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