Second knife finished!

Wesleyh403

Wesleyh403

Joined
Aug 25, 2013
Messages
113
Well I've been on here for about the past 6 months trying to learn as much as I can since I decided to go down this wonderful road of knife making. Ive been very fortunate to have a very experienced maker Dan Graves that has been such an amazing guy that has been to willing to help me and share his knowledge with me. I made this one as a gift for my dad. I know Im a very long way for many of the great makers that are on here but I do appreciate all of you and the wealth of information that you all put on here for those of us who are just starting on in this amazing road of knife making.
This is the second knife I've finished.
Its Aldo's 1095 3/16 thick.
Total length is 8 3/4. Blade length 4 1/4, handle is 4 1/2
Scales are cocobolo.
Please any let me know what you think and any improvements I could make. Thanks very much!

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I am new to but i have the same problem i loose my straitness on the edge right where the choil is.. Nice knife though looks good for are skill level i think
 
The blade has a rise in the edge near the plunge line. This is because you have a non-sharpened area past that spot. By adding a choil you eliminate this problem as well as the problem that the blade will not cut well in that area because the "lump" of unsharpened metal gets in the way.

Most folks just put a semi-circle in the blade edge at the plunge. That helps a bit in sharpening, but does nothing to make the blade cut better. Here is how to make a good choil:
Draw a semi-circle at the end of that blade with the very end corner as the center point of the arc. The radius of the arc is the distance from the corner ( called the heel) to the plunge line. This metal is what you remove. What you will end up with is a curved unsharpened heel that is higher than the blade edge. This makes sharpening easy and there will be no metal in the way of a flat cut.

All that drawing sounds hard, but the simple method of marking the choil is to use a dime and set it so it makes an arc from plunge to above the heel. Draw the line and grind/file that area away. Try it on a paper drawing and find what curve and amount look good to you before starting the blade bevels on the knife blade. Grind/file the bevels and plunge first. Once the bevels and plunge are established, then you know where to place the choil.

I am sure one of the photo/drawing tools adept guys will draw what I am saying on your knife photo.
 
Yes i know but if you get to big of gap there its a pain to me when cleaning a deer if you are in a rush the hide hangs up.learned that cleaning 130 deer a year were i worked
 
Well that is very nice for a second knife and you seem to have a good eye and even better attitude so you are well on your way. Looking forward to your next knives. :thumbup:
 
Its better than my second thats for sure. I am still trying to keep a strait plunge cut
 
Thanks very much for the comments and the great advice I'll be sure to fix that problem on the next ones i make! I can probably fix that on the grinder as long as I'm careful to ruin the heat treat. And littleone I don't know what kind of equipment you have but a file guide is a lifesaver for me its help me get the plunge cuts straight on both sides.
I'll be sure to post up anything new i finish. Once again thanks!
 
Thanks veto get the finish on the blade i just used melted wax to splatter on the blade and then etched with feric cloride for about an hour. It was pretty easy and there are a few good videos on you tube about it
 
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Wesleyh403 said:
Thanks veto get the finish on the blade i just used melted wax to splatter on the blade and then etched with feric cloride for about an hour. It was pretty easy and there are a few good videos on you tube about it
Click to expand...

That’s good info!! Great knife also. I think that finish on the blade would also look good with less of a contrast. I’m not saying what you have doesn’t look good but you might try, darkening it with some vinegar and then do the wax thing. That could give a really nice patina finish.
 
My sentiments echo Patrice's. Good looking knife, consistent design elements (curves and such), neat finish, and overall good looking knife. Most importantly it looks like it would be comfortable to use (I rank that #1 for my personal criterion). Nice job.

-Eric
 
As a new maker I had the same problem with the blade near the plunge line. My grinding did get a little better, but a choil really has helped prior to heat treat,. Nice work by the way Neat finish.
 
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