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- Jul 26, 2005
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after reading this thread which has been very popular recently, as well as looking at some of Mr Panchenko's other work, it occured to me how little impact "steampunk" style has had on knifemaking. there are very few examples of the influence. Though I did fin this notable exception from Alain Vallette:
I'm curious as to whether there are any other examples out there of makers using the steampunk style.
I have a friend who is a big fan of the style, but he is always more interested when an item actually functions using its steampunk elements (gears, pistons, wheels, etc...) rather than just having a bunch of gears glued on to it. I was brainstorming how this would be possible with a knife.
What I've come up with (and feel free to steal this, unless somebody's already come up with it.) :
Folder
brass or bronze handle
Handrubbed antiqued finish.
saber or spear grind with fuller
brass allthread thumbstud secured on both sides by brass hex nuts.
copper clip.
opening/locking mechanism: (The Nimick lock perhaps? though I can't imagine it's a new thought)
What I'm visualizing here is a open crank gear (as in you can see the blade through it) in the handle next to the pivot that would engage another gear machined around the pivot hole on the blade. the gear would be turned by a round post that recesses into the gear when not in use, but when the blade is fully extended the pin can be pushed through the gear across a top notch in the blade to the other side of the handle and lock the blade (in the manner of the axis lock). the pin would stick out on one or both sides so it could be retrieved and the knife closed.
I don't know if this would work, but from my limited knowledge of engineering it should. The only challenge I can think of is machining the gear around the pivot. I don't know whether you would need to do that before or after the HT but my guess is that it could be CNC'd.
What do y'all think?
ETA: it occurs to me that the use of a pin may infringe on benchmade's axis lock patents, I don't know.
I'm curious as to whether there are any other examples out there of makers using the steampunk style.
I have a friend who is a big fan of the style, but he is always more interested when an item actually functions using its steampunk elements (gears, pistons, wheels, etc...) rather than just having a bunch of gears glued on to it. I was brainstorming how this would be possible with a knife.
What I've come up with (and feel free to steal this, unless somebody's already come up with it.) :
Folder
brass or bronze handle
Handrubbed antiqued finish.
saber or spear grind with fuller
brass allthread thumbstud secured on both sides by brass hex nuts.
copper clip.
opening/locking mechanism: (The Nimick lock perhaps? though I can't imagine it's a new thought)
What I'm visualizing here is a open crank gear (as in you can see the blade through it) in the handle next to the pivot that would engage another gear machined around the pivot hole on the blade. the gear would be turned by a round post that recesses into the gear when not in use, but when the blade is fully extended the pin can be pushed through the gear across a top notch in the blade to the other side of the handle and lock the blade (in the manner of the axis lock). the pin would stick out on one or both sides so it could be retrieved and the knife closed.
I don't know if this would work, but from my limited knowledge of engineering it should. The only challenge I can think of is machining the gear around the pivot. I don't know whether you would need to do that before or after the HT but my guess is that it could be CNC'd.
What do y'all think?
ETA: it occurs to me that the use of a pin may infringe on benchmade's axis lock patents, I don't know.