Some of my multiblades

Tiaan Burger

Tiaan Burger

Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Messages
41
My first 2-blade: own damascus blades, sterling silver bolsters, budstone covers, titanium liners, 5160 spring.
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Either the first or second trapper I made: 12c27 stainless blades, titanium liners, 5160 springs, bronze bolsters and giraffe bone handle
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My first 3-blade.
12c27 blades, 5160 springs, bronze bolsters, warthog tusk covers, titanium liners. A copy of a Carl Schlieper folder.
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Then, eventually I learned a few things and got some more tools. This one is a copy of a Puma "Junior" with a sheepsfoot added. 1070 blades and springs, brass liners, bronze bolsters and pinning, I used stag instead of wood covers. (No more stainless, titanium and bad pulls.)
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The first and only five-blade I have made to date: Damascus blades and bolsters, brass liners, 308 stainless pinning, mammoth covers.
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Comments, questions and suggestions are welcome!
 
Thanks! Yes, getting a beltgrinder made a huge difference (the first three on the photos above were all made using a homemade disc grinder.)

I forgot, I have one more, which I finished yesterday:
Same design as the five-blade, minus two blades and a liner. 1070 blades and springs, 1500grit hand rubbed finish throughout, brass liners, dovetailed bronze bolsters, stabilised burl covers:
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I must now just remember to cut the choils as well...
 
I like the first pattern a lot, single-spring?

Could you explain what budstone is and what's it like to work with?

Your work shows a lot of depth, sometimes custom knives can look very artificial, sterile, not yours!

Greetings, Will
 
Nice work! Aside from the Puma, are the other knives your own patterns? I think the joint between the bolsters and the handle material is interesting... I don't know the correct knife making term... in woodworking it might be described as a miter joint. Also, how do you cut the nail nicks on your last few knives?
 
willgoy said:
I like the first pattern a lot, single-spring?

Could you explain what budstone is and what's it like to work with?

Your work shows a lot of depth, sometimes custom knives can look very artificial, sterile, not yours!


Greetings, Will
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Yes, it is a single spring, 5160 if I remember correctly. Budstone is a type of soapstone (talc) or verdite, but found in the lower layers where they quarry these rocks, so it is harder due to being exposed to more heat and pressure. It can be worked with normal abrasives, but it must be kept wet, else it flakes off due to the heat.

Thanks for the compliment. I think that might be due to my training as cabinet maker and furniture designer, where balance and line is of great importance, also, I share studio space with two sculptors who works in bronze, and they have taught me the importance of form, surface and texture, and how to balance all these elements.

supratentorial said:
Nice work! Aside from the Puma, are the other knives your own patterns? I think the joint between the bolsters and the handle material is interesting... I don't know the correct knife making term... in woodworking it might be described as a miter joint. Also, how do you cut the nail nicks on your last few knives?
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Thank you! The third one from the top is a copy of a little Carl Schlieper.
The bolster / handle junction is called a dovetail. I like using them, as it gives a bit of extra hold for the covers, and it looks good. The angle is 60 degrees.
Nail nicks: A friend send me an aluminum wheel, about 3 1/2" in diameter, with a 1/8" layer of abrasive on top, and the angle cut at 60 degrees. It is called a "Borazon" wheel, which might be the name of the company or the abrasive.
 
Thank you for info. I've started thinking about trying my own hand at making a knife to use. As someone who collects knives, I think I will learn a lot in the process... of course, I've also got a lot to learn before I get started. I thought about using an old knife as a pattern. I find it impressive to come up with one's own patterns... so many things to consider in the design and the springs! ...especially on a five blade!
 
Jake, start with a single blade and work your way up through the ranks.
A single blade will show you the basic slipljoint geometry.
A trapper will teach you about adding a liner, and how to work with two blades and two springs. (Cyano acrylate adhesive will become your best friend!)
Two blades on one spring will teach grinding blades them to fit in a confined space.
Then you are ready for a three-blade or even a four blade. I have a website, www.knifeknowhow.com , with a load of info on designing and making folders, and I am sure there is a lot more and better available on this forum.
Some of the USA based knifemaking supply shops stock multiblade kits, which might also help with getting the basics in line.
 
Great looking knives, Tiann! Thanks for sharing them with us. That 5 blade damascus really rings my bell!
 
Wow Tiaan, very nice knife's. The damascus bulster, heck that 5 blade is amazing. Really like the dovetail joint at the bolster. Keep up the good work. I have been wanting to try my hand at making for awhile now. Your website should be of great use to me.

Thanks
Jeff
 
Tiaan, as someone who has his first slipjoint off at heat treat right now, I really appreciate seeing yours. I love that Damascus five blade.

How do you flatten your non-precision ground stock? Do you have a surface grinder?

Supraten, if you want to make a slipjoint, go buy Don Robinson's book; "Slipjoints My Way." It's like a bible for making your first slippie. Seriously, it will give you everything you need to know in one place and even comes with a CAD drawn pattern to use. It is worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY it costs.
 
medicevans said:
go buy Don Robinson's book; "Slipjoints My Way." It's like a bible for making your first slippie. Seriously, it will give you everything you need to know in one place and even comes with a CAD drawn pattern to use. It is worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY it costs.
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Thanks for the tip. I need to search for some good reading/reference material in regards to slipjoint making and patterns
 
Don's book is more than just a good read. It's a step by step, illustrated guide to making a slipjoint. It's great stuff.

Tiaan, your tutorial on how to lay out a three blade knife is really great. I'm going to play with that design info tomorrow. I will say that getting tracing paper has been instrumental in advancing my designs. It really helps.
 
black mamba said:
I love the 5-blade mammoth, but why the proud pivots?
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I noticed that too. I think it looks really good and is an interesting design element that adds, rather than detracts, from the overall beauty of the knife.

I would hazard a guess that the pins are mono-steel, and the bolsters damascus. I am guessing, only guessing, that Tiaan left the pins raised to make it a design feature rather than looking goofy flat.

Tiaan, would you care to explain how you taper the holes in the bolsters in order to blend the pins? I'd like to know how as many makers do this as possible.
 
That first knife really looks sweet. The others do as well, but I like two blade knives like that a lot. - Ed J
 
Tiaan, those are some beautiful knives. I have to say, I think that first folder is just the perfect design. Seriously,when I think of my perfect knife, that will be what I think of.


I love that last stockman as well. What are the blade lengths on those?
 
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