Soldier's Knife

S

shane justice

Joined
May 12, 2003
Messages
1,606
Ok Fellas!

I pushed hard to get this dude near completion on Independence Day!

This knife is going to a soldier who is a forumite and just got reactivated...

Before I tell you about it...I'd like to thank some folks for helping me with all the things it took to put this one together...

Ray Richard donated some natural micarta...this is what I use on all my field grade knives....I decided to go with G10....as the color for the desert was better...Ray, you should be getting a box in the mail any day...hope what I sent you...shows how much it meant to have you help out!

Chuck Bybee...Alpha Knife Supply and their crew...sent a piece of G10...they call it light green...but it finishes to a sort of beeswax color...Chuck said it was "BUTT UGLY"...maybe it is...compared to some of the stuff you fancy guys use...but I don't mind it for a field grade knife. THANK YOU ALPHA!

Bill Burke...helped out with a couple of HT questions...thanks Bill!

OK...so this knife is 52100...

Fittings are 416 stainless...

Tan G10 handle....

It is in about 80% finished state....

It isn't a masterwork....most of you guys will call it butt ugly...I grade the fit and finish at this point somewhere around good to very good...

The astetic part...well...I give it a C.

But in the hand...it moves. The tip drops to just slightly above center line...

Thickness at the guard/ricasso is right at 1/4" and at the beginning of the chisel is 3/16"...the width at the guard is 15/16".....the distance from the guard to the beginning of the cutting edge is 3/4"...the blade measures 5 1/2"...the cutting edge measures...4 3/4"

There it is...have at it...

Shane
 
Looking good, like the blade shape and should be secure in the hand and a great cutter.
 
looks like a good soldiers knife. seems like the blade shap would be great for combat, and it looks like it would function better than a ka-bar. good work. i like it alot! is it very heavy? i founf one of the biggest things when making knifes for a soldier is the weight, cause if its too heavy he wont wear it and wont have it when he needs it. thats what my friend scott told me atleast when i offreded him a short combat bowie to replace his bayonet. now im thinking something along the lines of a fairbrain sykes with a leather washer handle for him.
 
Shane,

The knife looks great. I love 52100. You took the butt ugly G10 and made it look good!

You did a great job.
 
It's a beauty Shane !!!!!......

You're a good guy for making it, giving it "soul" and passing it along ! :)
 
Shane, That looks like an excellent knife for a soldier. I did find out something with the old canvis micarta, its just like a woman. It accepts color (dye) very well. There was no need to be sending me anything in return but I do like surprizes. Thanks!
 
Don't let anyone criticize your knives. They are great. The handle is big enough and the guard will keep a real user from accidentally damaging himself when gutting, skinning, quartering, etc. I like the slight drop in the handle. With a good sheath this would be a winner on any hunting trip. I hope you put a mark on it and a little history to go with it so he appreciates it more as time goes by.


My son just returned from Baghdad after 16 months. He headed up a recon battalion of the 1st Armored Div. and when I asked him what they used over there he said their M-9 bayonet/knife was what most carried. It is military issued and very useful for opening up car doors he said. It is not your basic soft steel bayonet but a combo with a rockwell 58 hardness.


I've attached a pic of mine fixed blade which is similar to the one that you made.
 
Once again I am humbled by the kindness y'all are willing to show, and proud to be a member here.

Shane, I'm not quite certain how I hit your "good guy" list, but I'm glad I'm on it. I've enjoyed our weekly talks immensely, and this...I can't tell you how happy I'll be to have this knife.

Best Regards,

John Shirley
 
Shane,

I didn't do anything but tell you stuff you already knew. :) The knife looks good too.
 
Guys,
I appreciate all the kind words.

I have learned a lot on this forum about knives...but I have learned a lot more about people. There are friends...and then there are frineds. I found a bunch of them I never knew I had.

This knife doesn't compare to some of the work you guys post. It is just a plain and simple knife. Solidly built...no frills, and possibly a bit over built.
(It weighs slightly more than a can of soda...prolly way heavy compared to most of the blades you guys build.) John said in an emergency he may have to cut the metal bands off an ammo crate..which as I understand it...takes some leverage...so I wanted to be sure it would "go".

Thanks again for the help that these good men have given me.

Bill, You helped more than you can know.

John, thanks for posting. I enjoy talking with you also...and swapping hunting yarns...AND...I look forward to many more such conversations...when you get back.

I gotta get into the shop now...I have finish work to do...and I gotta make a sheath for this knife...

Shane
 
I have the knife in hand now, as I wait for an update on my status ( I was originally to report in 10 July, but requested a delay to finish school).

This is an incredible knife, well balanced and strong. And it's beautiful. It feels right. I'd be pleased and proud to be able to present such a knife to a good friend, and I'm awed and honored to receive it.

Thanks again,

SPC4 John Shirley
 
Shane, there ain't nothing ugly about that knife. It looks like its just waiting to cut something just lying there..... Beautiful work! Congrats John. May it serve you well, and may you never need to use it as anything more than a tool..... Good luck and God Bless!
Ed
 
One thing about my knives...they're pretty humble...compared to some of the gorgeous stuff you guys are posting.

But this one...Well it was different...

It helped me to remember why I loved to make knives in the first place.

This knife is the best I have ever made. Sure there are some things not quite perfect about it. I have not reached the machine like exactness in my fit and finish that is expected from top name guys...

But none of that matters...

I can tell you the one moment that made being a knife maker special for me...

It was when the phone rang...and John Shirley's voice was buzzing with excitement...he had just left the post office...and had opened the box...and before he had gone anywhere he called me...his knife was in his hand...and he was happy!

That is why I made knives...it was that moment when I was able to put a good tool into a good man's hand...and have him feel his heart swell as he found a part of himself...

It was never about money...or about fame...

That is why I loved to make knives...

God Bless You John Shirley...and thank you for giving me that one special moment that made it all worth while.

Shane

P.S. I am posting pics of the completed knife...with sheath.
 
This is a good, strong knife. I was using it tonight, on a fire mission, to PRY 120mm mortar "tootsie rolls" out of their crate.

This is just one reminder of the many kindnesses I have been shown by the members here. Thanks.
 

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