Project #5: Leaf Knife

[tryppyr]

Meet the inspiration for project #5:

The blade will be formed from a piece of 1084/15N20 damascus with an all-thread tang.

- Greg

 

[Fletch Helical]

That's an awful skinny looking tang . Look forward to seeing it develop :thumbup:

 

[Patrickknives]

I hope your mind is not working like mine looking at the leaf and picturing a blade!! nasty nasty, do it.

 

[tryppyr]

That is EXACTLY what's happening. And the preliminary results are actually quite interesting. I used the portaband to rough out the shape and now I'm using hand files to do the stock removal. It's going to have something akin to vein patterns too, as those lines determine the direction of the grinding.

I'm having fun with it.

I've already got some ideas for the handle too. As usual, I'm slower to develop solid ideas for the bolster. Bear in mind I want everything to follow the "natural" theme here.

- Greg

 

[tryppyr]

First Work In Progress shots...

 

[KHall]

Cool, I look forward to seeing the finished knife.

Ken

 

[go mike]

Greg, At first when I saw the leaf, I was thinking that it would look bad. So far, I've been proven wrong! Keep up the great work!

 

[Sparljo]

pretty cool actually

 

[tryppyr]

Thanks for the comments so far.

Today I'm finishing up the coarse "hogging", except for the ricasso. I decided to sharpen the points at the edge interruptions... it looks a bit more wicked as a result. I managed to cut myself with it while working, so the points really do have an edge and a purpose.

Here are a couple more progress shots. I'm also trying to rough in the center line, but it won't get perfectly straightened until I switch to the finer files.

 

[fishface5]

cool! You're doing it all with a file? Man, that's dedication!

 

[hppyevraftr]

Love what you're doing with the leaves. Very creative.

 

[Hengelo_77]

Now that will be something!
Interesting project!

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

Greg, very unique idea. I look forward to seeing it finished.

 

[Sean Cochran]

Very cool, now thats thinking outside the box.

 

[Fletch Helical]

Looking very cool. To me sanding that just screams "nightmare" but more power to ya man. Can't wait to see it finished. :thumbup:

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

On the contrary, I would think that over-sanding may be an issue. Leave it rough with lots of veins. Imperfections make it more realistic.

 

[p moore]

Okay, I'm tuned in. Good looking project, keep the pics coming.

Paul

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The stem looks like it is welded on. To be blunt - Is the weld as bad as it looks? If so, this is going to be a sure fire failure spot. Welding a tang on directly at the ricasso is a really bad idea. The weld should be at least 1" up the tang from the ricasso.

Another question/advise - You say you made it sharp. You should not take it down to an edge prior to HT.

 

[tryppyr]

Stacy,

Direct answers to direct questions. If you're asking is the weld sound, I believe it is. If you're asking is it ugly, the answer is yes. When you say it is a sure file failure point, do you mean during heat treat or during usage?

As for the sharpness, the blade has not been taken to a real edge yet, but the tips of the points are sharp enough to remove skin. That's what bit my finger during the hogging.

 

[Josh K]

Stacy,

Direct answers to direct questions. If you're asking is the weld sound, I believe it is. If you're asking is it ugly, the answer is yes. When you say it is a sure file failure point, do you mean during heat treat or during usage?

As for the sharpness, the blade has not been taken to a real edge yet, bit the tips of the points are sharp enough to remove skin. That's what bit my finger during the hogging.

The weld looks like it has a lot of porosity, which could indicate even more problems going on underneath. What did you use to weld it on?

What is the intended use of the knife? If it's light duty the weld might not matter.