Shadow bird's eyes

Matt Browning

Matt Browning

Joined
Oct 7, 2010
Messages
41
Hi all, I'm thinking about giving a bird's eye shadow pattern a try. I've made shadows in the past without the outer washer for the pivot pin to set in, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to set the washer into the scales. For those of you who have made this type of knife, do you make your own washers or buy them? and when you embed the washer into the scale, do you use an endmill so that the hole is flat at the bottom, or do you just use a drill? Thanks.
 
I see Ken Coats has weighed in previously on the subject... he uses a small lathe to make his out of stainless rod. Anyone have an easier solution to the problem? I don't have a lathe...
 
I also like to know how the bushing made. Lots of us don't have a lathe.

I was told an end mill was used for the big hole so the hole was flat. Don't know from experience if that is correct of course, just what I was told.
 
Bore a small hole say 3/32" thru a piece of inch or so thick steel, from the other side
bore a 1/4" hole, 5/16" or whatever you are going to use. Your small hole acts as a center pilot
when drilling. Use the small bit to center drill the larger rod. For me the quest has always been
to get the pin to -not show, In other words to look like just the larger pin. Matt either use a
counter bore for the flat bottomed hole or make one from a drill bit.
Ken.
102_0697.jpg
 
Last edited:
What material are you planning to use? I can punch a bunch of them from scrap, and send you a letter. ;)

tryppyr said:
I don't even know what a shadow bird's eye is.
Click to expand...

This is where you use a "washer" to distribute the peening force of a handle pin/rivet, in an attempt to keep the handle from cracking.
 
Last edited:
Ken C. has a good method for making the washers, however I take a bit of a different approach.

The vast majority of my shadow knives are either G10 or Micarta so I am working with a material that is flat. I start by building my frames(.040 thick 410) with all holes drilled(3/32) then gluing up the scale material. I use 1/4 410 rod for my birdseye's rivets. After the scale is glued and set, I drill my 3/32 holes thur the scale material, using the liner as the drill jig. I then will flip the scale/frame over on the drill press and using the 3/32 hole as a guide, drill in steps up to 1/4 inch. I have a 1/4 inch drill that I ground a very shallow point on. I will leave just a bit of scale material at the bottom of the hole. I want the washer to pinch the scale to the liner when I do my final assembly. I now have a 1/4 inch counter bore centered on my 3/32 pivot pin hole. I simply cut a piece of 1/4 rod, epoxy it in the hole, grind it flush(keeping it cool) and then flip the scale over again on the drill press and drill through with my 3/32 drill. The last step is to taper the hole with a 2 degree taper reamer. You can then contour the scales/birdseye rivet. The beauty of this(imho) method is that it does not require a lathe, counter bore or special tools. Really does take longer to type and read this, then to do both sides! :D

IMGP9326_1143_edited-1.jpg
 
Ken and Ken,

Thanks so much for the thorough and thoughtful replies, both methods make perfect sense. I may try Erickson's method first, as I too will be mainly using flat, synthetic handle materials.

PS Coats: the quality photos you include when you answer people's questions are really something. Thank you. :thumbup:
 
ken erickson said:
Ken C. has a good method for making the washers, however I take a bit of a different approach.

The vast majority of my shadow knives are either G10 or Micarta so I am working with a material that is flat. I start by building my frames(.040 thick 410) with all holes drilled(3/32) then gluing up the scale material. I use 1/4 410 rod for my birdseye's rivets. After the scale is glued and set, I drill my 3/32 holes thur the scale material, using the liner as the drill jig. I then will flip the scale/frame over on the drill press and using the 3/32 hole as a guide, drill in steps up to 1/4 inch. I have a 1/4 inch drill that I ground a very shallow point on. I will leave just a bit of scale material at the bottom of the hole. I want the washer to pinch the scale to the liner when I do my final assembly. I now have a 1/4 inch counter bore centered on my 3/32 pivot pin hole. I simply cut a piece of 1/4 rod, epoxy it in the hole, grind it flush(keeping it cool) and then flip the scale over again on the drill press and drill through with my 3/32 drill. The last step is to taper the hole with a 2 degree taper reamer. You can then contour the scales/birdseye rivet. The beauty of this(imho) method is that it does not require a lathe, counter bore or special tools. Really does take longer to type and read this, then to do both sides! :D

IMGP9326_1143_edited-1.jpg
Click to expand...
That knife is a beauty. It's exactly what I want to build if I can find a pattern.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top