Take-Down Knife Design and Demonstration

Karl B. Andersen

Karl B. Andersen

Joined
Jul 27, 2003
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I thought this an appropriate place to give this information.
I have at least two collectors coming to see how their knives were designed, (and one of them taking me to dinner! :D ) as well as a huge number of makers.
I will be demoing "Take-Down Knife Design" at the 10th annual Mid-America Blade Smithing Symposium in Troy, Ohio next week.
I did a similar demo in Topeka, Kansas last year at the ABS Heartland Symposium.
I will show how these two knives were designed and will do a real-time pinning and assembly of the hunter.
Three days of fun in Ohio.
Stop by if you can.

The frame handled Fighter is built like a tank. San Mai blade and will get a hot blued steel guard and frame. Handle material not yet determined.










Hunter is Cru-Forge V, stainless steel guard and stabilized end-grain spalted Pecan.




 
Wow, I really like that.

Now does this method give you close to the same strength as a full tang in your opinion?
 
I'll say this - simple logic might suggest that nothing is as strong as a single one-piece of ANYTHING.
As soon as it becomes multiple parts there must be an increase of failure percentage.

That said, hidden tang knives/swords/etc have been being built for centuries - and still are.
I will say that my frame handle construction will survive anything I have been able to throw at it. And I have - in fact - seen frame handle construction where the handle scales were used to give the knife integrity!! That would give me nightmares. To depend upon the scales to hold the knife together, I feel, is poor knife design and a lack of responsibility of the maker.

For either of the knife assemblies you see above to fail - the knife would have to be destroyed.
 
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I must add that the purpose of this demo is to show makers how they can accomplish these construction methods with readily available materials and the simplest of hand tools.
With nothing more than a drill press, band saw and a file guide - a maker can build these:




 
Wish I could go to Ohio to see this. I just started building knives and I hope to make it to the KS show this year. I love the design, elegant and beautiful.
 
Thanks Karl. I'm a big fan of your work and learning take down construction is on my short list. I'd love to see a step-by-step WIP or video for the stickies. ;)


PS. I know the NJ show is tactical and folder heavy but any chance we might see you there in November or March?
 
Karl, I think I have dropped your name more than any other makers I mention in conversation. We may have very different styles and methods but your overall approach, presentation and just plain pleasant nature are something for folks to aspire to. You are a fine maker, good teacher and great guy.

You can stay up front in the ABS section at Blade but consider lining up in the O-row again... we miss you, bud.
 
Spoken like the true gentleman you are, Rick. There is a small handful of guys just like you that make this adventure so enjoyable.
I still have my "O-Row Dude" hat that talks to me often about the good ol' days........:thumbup:
I'm only two rows from true Nirvana.
I'm going to give away all my secrets in Ohio, just like I did in Kansas last year.
The biggest secret of all - the method in question here is the lazy man's easy way to build a knife.
It removes all the stress and error-factor. ;)

Rick Marchand said:
Karl, I think I have dropped your name more than any other makers I mention in conversation. We may have very different styles and methods but your overall approach, presentation and just plain pleasant nature are something for folks to aspire to. You are a fine maker, good teacher and great guy.

You can stay up front in the ABS section at Blade but consider lining up in the O-row again... we miss you, bud.
Click to expand...
 
Karl B. Andersen said:
The biggest secret of all - the method in question here is the lazy man's easy way to build a knife.
It removes all the stress and error-factor. ;)
Click to expand...
THAT is the number one reason you come up in my conversations, Karl. You have a gift, sir.
 
Karl B. Andersen said:
Are you in the O-Row, Bing?
I moved to the Q - so I'm a bit of a traitor.
Click to expand...
Bruce is in the O-row... though he hasn't paid his dues yet.

(Just go with it, Karl... he'll never suspect a thing. Unless he's figured out how to read between brackets in a post... then we might have trouble bleeding him dry.)

Bruce, I'll be around next year with the collection basket, bud.

(Good one hey Karl?... Sucker.)
 
Rick Marchand said:
Bruce is in the O-row... though he hasn't paid his dues yet.

(Just go with it, Karl... he'll never suspect a thing. Unless he's figured out how to read between brackets in a post... then we might have trouble bleeding him dry.)

Bruce, I'll be around next year with the collection basket, bud.

(Good one hey Karl?... Sucker.)
Click to expand...

You two are to damn funny. :D
 
Those are nice looking knives for sure.

But I am curious, what exactly is the point of these? They don't seem that much smaller taken down so I doubt it is just for ease of transportation. Were you just curious from an engineering standpoint, or am I missing something perhaps?
 
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