Ready for some Grins????????

[Robert Dark]

Let me start by qualifying a few things:

1st time using O-1 (Usually stick with 440C or ATS34)
1st time really trying a flat grind (Usually prefer hollow grinds)
1st time trying a Ferric Chloride etch (Usually mirrow polish)
1st time (and probably my last) trying "Ima-stag" (cowbone is best left to making dogfood or something)
1st time trying a "basket-weave" sheath

Now for the rest of the story:

First.........Never..........did you hear me?.........Never - ever have your handled knife close to a bottle of leather dye. When you least expect it, the bottle will turn over and splash all over your knife. Did you know that leather dye, regardless of the color of dye, will turn bone a putrid shade of "Green"?

Second.............Instead of explaining to someone how you have differentially heat treated the spine and now you are about to etch the blade in ferric chloride...........Pay attention to the fact that you have not removed the carbon scale from the part of the blade that was under water...........Pay attention !!!!!

Other than a few "stoooooopid" mistakes like this, I think the sheath looks pretty good. Whatcha Tink????????

Robert

 

[Dawkind]

Looks like it'd cut to me............damn nice sheath, too.

 

[TOB9595]

Robert, I think it looks damn fine. I prefer a flat grind to hollow as that's the cutting I do most times. A good slicer that doesn't bind at the spine

I can just hear you bellowin as the dye spilled over....
OOOOOOOH!!!

Real nice work
Tom

 

[Andrew Lynch]

You don't need to make excuses for making a damn fine knife

 

[misque]

Okay, maybe I'm missin' sumthin', but what seems to be the problem here? :footinmou

So, it looks a little different than your standard fare. Looks to be a fine cutting tool to me.

Let's see some more pics of it. I'd like to get a closer look at the effect you got on the blade.

 

[Chris Crawford]

Nice job Robert! I noticed that you said the blade was O-1 and you etched it. Is that how you got that interesting pattern on it? I would assume that it's not damascus, but it looks like it. Good job! -chris

__________________
Chris Crawford Knives

 

[Robert Dark]

I'd like to get a closer look at the effect you got on the blade.

Misque: I tried to get a little better photo (at least a better one that shows the effect on the blade) I exchanged the original photo with this new one (above).

Robert

 

[Robert Dark]

I noticed that you said the blade was O-1 and you etched it. Is that how you got that interesting pattern on it? I would assume that it's not damascus, but it looks like it.

Chris:
No its not damascus. It was ground from 1/8 flat stock. I heat treated the entire blade, then did a differential temper with water and an oxy-acetylene torch.

I did the torch treatment prior to removing the heat treat carbon scale. The torch burned the carbon right off on the top of the blade, but the carbon remained on the cutting side of the blade.(that part was under water)

I then tempered the entire blade at 375 in an oven. (remember, I still have not removed the carbon scale from the lower portion of the blade)

At this point, I should have sanded the carbon (I know...I should have done it immediately after removing it from the initial oil quench)

Then, still without removing the carbon scale, I etched in ferric chloride mixed 3:1 with water for 15 minutes. (did that twice) Pulled it out, THEN decided to clean the carbon.

The carbon acted as a resist or stencil, and the rest is history.

In a way, its kinda neat. It almost has a forged look to it, only in reverse. Most forged blades that are not completely ground have a textured upper portion and a smooth edge side. (like those of Gib at Cactus Forge)

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Robert

 

[mschwoeb]

Hey, looks good to me, do it again!

 

[Robert Dark]

I had a couple of emails wanting to see a better shot of the sheath.

There is a better pic here: http://www.knifenetwork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25319

Robert

 

[lizardman_u]

That is a blade I would be proud to carry it fits my specs for a knife. A knife I carry, other than my swiss army knife, must be decorative yet functional. Thank you for the eye candy, and can you recommend a good cleaner to get drool off a keyboard?

 

[Robert Dark]

Thank you for the eye candy, and can you recommend a good cleaner to get drool off a keyboard?

Lightly moisten a handfull of 20 dollar bills. They should be sufficient in removing keyboard drool. When keyboard cleaning is complete, place them in an envelope and mail to me for proper disposal.

Seriously........thanks for the comments

Robert