Some First Blades

Adam Eklofe

Adam Eklofe

Joined
Jun 20, 2011
Messages
259
Stacy, will you please move this post to the correct forum if I posted this in the wrong section?

The knife addiction finally got the best of me, so I decided to build some to the best of my abilities. We purchased an Esteem grinder from a wonderful fella named Brett Mathews, ordered an Evenheat KF 22.5, and several pieces of 1084, 80CRV2, and 52100 from Aldo.

I have been taking so many notes of information to help pursue this interest, I am truly thankful for how much information and knowledge you wonderful fellas share. You truly are an incredible group.

I built some jigs out out delrin, but pitched them into a toolbox after using them once. I just felt disconnected from the steel and grinder, it was awkward, so I am learning to grind free-hand. It's definitely not easy, but learning where to apply and adjust pressure has definitely helped.

Here are a few pictures, we are only on our fourth glue-up, but have ground ten blades total now. These are all 1084, heat treated at 1500F with two 400F tempering cycles. They are coming out at 58-59 RC, tested on a Clark hardness tester.


2ii8u20.jpg

2mwrnn4.jpg

6f38m9.jpg

15ojkb5.jpg
 
Last edited:
Good start.

The issues I see quickly are:
The choil should be centered under the plunge, not in front of it.

The front of the handle should be shaped a bit more. It is rather blunt on the skinner. The other isn't clear how it is shaped, but looks like it needs some shaping, too. A little curve and rounding make a big difference.

I'm not nuts about the stiff look of the "sharpfinger" but it is probably a matter of taste.

The two new knives are OK, but again lack some curvature. Just a 1/16"to an 1/8" of curvature in the spine line can change a knife's look. Drop the point a bit to get rid of the spear point and drop the butt and shape it a tad more. In the future, this is be best done by ordering your steel 1/4" wider and shaping the knife, not making it fit the steel bar.
 
Thank you for the compliments fellas, and Stacy that is exactly what I was wanting to hear. It's funny how easy it is for me to see those issues once they are pointed out.

The choil will probably be left out altogether in future knives, and I will definitely work on the guard area along with curving things up a bit.
 
Chiol is best left off until al work is done, and added only as the last step ... if at all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top