Protruding tang, or recessed scale?

B

BusyBiryl

Joined
Feb 11, 2016
Messages
78
Hello everyone. I decided about a month ago to get into making knives. Sharpening is in the family and was a tank grinder at a large stainless shop so I suppose it was inevitable. So let me get to it.

I've decided to make a left and right Kiridashi pair for my first knives (I know, I know.. start easy and get your mistakes out of the way). I'm progressing well, but I seemed to have hit a little rough patch. I'm trying to make a recessed scale on both sides that are near identical. I've made the shape and ground bevels, but I need to heat treat (yikes!) and make the handle scales flat and even.

Here's my design
QPKVyiX.jpg


I thought could maybe mock up a 1/8" steel piece the same size as the scales and use that on my belt grinder to form them and then put them on the actual knife. I know I could just eliminate the recessed scales.. but that's just not in my nature.

Any advice is helpful, I'm in uncharted waters lol! I've seen this done a lot and I'm interested in how it can be done with minimal tools. I do however, have the basics; drill press, 42" belt grinder, bandsaw (that's giving me issues).

If you'd like to check out my progress I'm posting pictures of the madness on Instagram, birylblades. byob

As of yesterday
CQemPHV.jpg


And today
xdtqzo7.jpg


Cheers
 
You can just grind the scales down to the tang on your actual kiridashi, then use calipers or dividers etc. to scratch a line about 1/8" in from the edge of the scales ( or however far in from the spine you want the scales recessed) , then take them off of the knife and pin the scales together and grind them down together at the same time to that line. :)

~Paul
My YT Channel Lsubslimed
... (It's been a few years since my last upload)
 
So simple, I feel silly. thanks man.
I suppose a coat hanger will suffice for temporary pins.

I have plenty of hardening questions about 1095 but I maybe that should wait for a new thread. I seem to feel I harden in charcoal but my research tells me to send out for hardening and tempering in large batches. I'm kind of minimalistic and was interested in doing my own.
 
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Busy, you look like your off to a good start, and coldsteelburns has steered you on the right path for making recessed scales. 1095 is one that is listed as not easy to heat treat yourself unless you have good well controlled ovens and such, so I would send them out for hardening. Texas Knifemakers supply is one that does it as well as many others--check the stickies. I like the look of your blade--good luck to you---Best--Don
 
That does seem to be the concensus on 1095.. I think I'll make a couple more in get in contact with Texas Knifemakers. I'd really hate to over heat and crack my first knives being overconfident. Thanks Don, much appreciated!
-Max
 
Texas knife makers site says they only harden air quenchable steels, from what I read 1095 is strictly water or thin oils. Any suggestions?
 
A pair of bolts and nuts will hold the two scales together while shaping them to match. You can slide the bolt ends through the tang to check the look and spacing for a quick check.
 
BusyBiryl said:
Texas knife makers site says they only harden air quenchable steels, from what I read 1095 is strictly water or thin oils. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Check USA Knifemaker Supply, and Peters heat treat---one of them can probably get you squared away, I actually looked in the local Yellow Pages and found a small machine shop that does hardening, and they have turned out to be pretty reasonable in price--maybe worth a check in your area.
 
Fish30114 said:
Check USA Knifemaker Supply, and Peters heat treat---one of them can probably get you squared away, I actually looked in the local Yellow Pages and found a small machine shop that does hardening, and they have turned out to be pretty reasonable in price--maybe worth a check in your area.
Click to expand...

Hello Fish, I think I may look into that in the future for Stainless Steel blades. I just ordered a small propane forge and got my hands on some 1084. Now I need to get going making blades so I can get hardening once the kiln arrives. Cheers!

Thanks again everyone.


-Max
 
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