Small Batch run of MagnaCut Frame Locks

JRB Blades

JRB Blades

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jul 22, 2013
Messages
266
Starting a thread to show the progress on my small batch run of frame locks. Making 7 knives total. They will all have .125" MagnaCut blades finished to about 63-64 Rockwell. I'll have 4 of the Gator model with .135" titanium scales and 3 of the Fighter model with .140" scales. I'm gonna try to include pictures and details of what/why I'm doing certain things.

Nothing too exciting yet... First step was to glue up my blade templates and cut them out on the band saw and then rough grind them to shape with an 80 grit belt. I left some meat around the template so that once I get the scales to their final shape, I can install the blade and make sure that my lines are flush between the blade and the scales in certain areas. It'll make more sense once I get to that point in the build. Tonight I'll refine the shape with a 120 grit belt and try to get the pivot holes drilled and reamed.

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Here's a previously completed Fighter. This one was finished with an O1 blade that was acid etched and stonewashed. The ones from this batch will look just like this except the blade will be MagnaCut. Debating anodizing the scales and/or the titanium hardware...

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Zulu - please refrain from buying offers in Shop Talk.

JBR - you handled that offer well.

Readers - if you see something you want to buy send a private message, go to their website, or wait until it is in The Exchange. Don't make offers to buy and sell in Shop Talk.
 
Ooh, I'm looking forward to following this! I have huge gaps in my knowledge for making folders. I've only made one liner lock but I'd like to try a frame lock next, so I'm hoping to learn some good tips here.
 
Michael Black said:
Ooh, I'm looking forward to following this! I have huge gaps in my knowledge for making folders. I've only made one liner lock but I'd like to try a frame lock next, so I'm hoping to learn some good tips here.
Click to expand...

Thanks for following along. I don't claim to be an expert on making framelocks, but am happy to share my process with everyone. I know there are so awesome makers on this forum and look forward to them chiming in and making suggestions so we can all hopefully learn from their experience!
 
These are looking quite nice. What's the overall size? Gator looks like maybe a 3" blade based on the grid table but it's hard to tell.
 
So last night I was able to grind the profiles of the blades up to 120 grit. I used my small wheel attachment with the 1/4" small wheel to get into the small spaces around the flipper tab.

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After that I used the optical center punch to mark the center of the pivot so that my pivot holes was as close to the template as possible.

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Then I used a 1/8" spot drill to start my hole since my other bits tend to wander even with the optical center punch mark.

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After using the spot drill I opened up the pivot hole with a #15 drill bit and reamed to size with a 3/16" chucking reamer since normal drill bits don't make a perfectly concentric hole.

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Finally I got the handle scales templates glued up on the titanium sheets.

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