Speaking of kardas...

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Jul 2, 2000
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Sarge’s recent post about making a chakma and karda for his Bilton, got me to thinking (dangerous prospect). I decided that some of the kardas I had were not quite up to the same speed as the khuks themselves. They would probably have gotten the job done but I was looking for something else.
I fired the old Grizzly up and here are the results: the first three on the left are all flat grinds, the next is really a convex saber grind though it looks hollow. The horn karda is by Master Bura and is included because I admire his craftsmanship.
karda1n.jpg

Regards,
Greg
 
They sure look good to me. I wish I had the equipment and the knowledge to make some of those.

I may have to convert the small end of the big BBQ into a forge so I can try that this summer. If it don't work what have I lost. I've got more time than money. :) :D
 
Lookin mighty good Greg!!!!:D
Them Ol' Grizzlys ain't bad machines ainnit?;)
 
Thanks guys. I didn't make these from scratch like Sarge did.
I just re-profiled and re-ground the exsisiting kardas. They are pretty fat as you know and have enough metal to support almost any kind of grind. I took the flat grinds down to a pretty fine edge and they are good cutters. I did a saber grind on the other one becuase it fit the profile of that blade or at least I think it does.

Pappy, I've just ground my first knife and I'm looking to heat treat it. I tried the BBQ grill route and it got my test piece hot enough to go non-magnetic. Problem is I'm getting to much spark flying around when I turn my blower on. It's not real powerful and I have a gate to limit the air but the sparks still fly and that's kinda of dangerous where I live. I'm looking at building some type of small gas forge now, maybe like this
one.

Regards,
Greg
 
Them Ol' Grizzlys ain't bad machines ainnit?
Yvsa,
No sir, not at all. My girlfriend bought mine for me a couple years
ago. I guess she was trying to get me started on something constructive. I have just,finally, ground a blade from scratch on it.
I've used it for lots of other things though. It's actually been quite rewarding in itself: I modified it for adjustable speed, just put a pyroceramic platen on it and got all the parts togeather for a new tool rest. Yeah, I like it (and her) a lot.
Regards,
Greg
 
Very nice. I'm a little envious of your skills, as I spent most of my life pushing words around. Seeing something tangible that you've made must be rewarding.
 
Ripper if youre just looking for something for heat treat, an oxy-acetelane torch could get your blade to critical temps. Not the best way, but a friend of mine who had an oxy-propane rig for glass blowing helped me harden a couple of knives with the ol torch method.
 
Nice work Greg, very cleanly and competently done. They sure cut better once you thin them down and true up the bevels don't they? I've often been of the mind that smaller knives should have thinner blades. They aren't big enough to chop anything with, and only a knucklehead would be prying with them. To my thinking small knives should be able to cut, slice, and skin effortlessly, not be used as an emergency tent stake.

Steve was talking about making some kardas out of 0-1, wonder how that turned out. Steve?

Sarge
 
Greg,

That's some fine work you did. I've always felt the same way about the kardas: kind of cute, but not very useful. You've certainly changed that.

That's a nice-looking forge that you found, too.

Question: what is a Grizzly?

Thanks.
 
Believe that it is a grinder or belt square wheel sander ( don't ask me ) that's used in knifemaking. Ask Yvsa and he can probably point you to their website or look in one of the ads in the back of the knife magazines.
 
That little heat tank looks like it would work pretty well. Especially if it is just for tempering. Do the propane tanks last long enough to do the job, I wonder? I reckon they wouldn't sell many if it were not efficient.:)
 
Thanks Keith, that seax with carved handle you posted in the seax thread is awesome. Did the AK bowie etch pics get posted yet?

You too Rusty. I think the written word is pretty important and wish I had more polished skills in that area. I really liked your “ Fell into the looking glass.” thread. “Chainpuri, so light, thin, deadly. It cast ripples of light too.” had me wanting to try (try is the operative word) composing Haiku

Frederico, Thanks . I wish I had the an oxy-acetylene setup, I’d like to try my hand at welding. I have a small MAPP-oxy torch to braze with. It would get it hot enough but I don’t think the flame bud is large enough to be effective heating the whole blade. I don’t know if I have the talent to heat the blade evenly that way, still it’s a thought.

Sarge, thanks. I’m definitely on board with you and Aardvark about small knives. I’d like to see Steve’s kardas in O1 also, he does very nice work. Speaking of which, I really like the stag handled knives you make from files ( the leather too), very nice package.

Aarvardvark, Thanks. I like that little forge too. Rusty, is correct about the Grizzly being a belt grinder.
Their web site is: http://grizzly.com/. It is their model G1015.

Pappy, I don’t have any idea how long they would last, but he says he can get it up to welding heat for small pieces. If it doesn’t work out, there are plans on Ron Reil’s site for a propane burner that you can hook up to larger supply. The burner is made out of plumbing supplies. Plans are also there to make a forge out of a freon tank.

Regards,
Greg
 
Here's a pic of one of my homemade kardas next to the one from my Bura Siru. Mine's made from an old file, ground freehand on a 29 dollar bench grinder from Tractor Supply, and fitted with a handle of French Boxwood. Total cost of the little knife, about a buck and a quarter.;)


Sarge
attachment.php
 
Now that's what I like to see!
Sweet, little karda Sarge. You surely do have the touch and an eye for lines and proportions of a knife.
Nice to see another Bura posted also.
Rgards,
Greg
 
Ripper a good welding supply probably could get you all you need for an oxy-acetalane rig for about $100 not including tanks. Its not a great method for heat treat (not very precise), but itll make something soft harder. Anyways, a good oxy-acetalane torch is handy for alot of other things.
 
Originally posted by Sylvrfalcn

Steve was talking about making some kardas out of 0-1, wonder how that turned out. Steve?

Sarge

My wife found other things for me to do Sunday.:mad:

Steve
 
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