That warm, fuzzy knife making feeling...

Crayola

Crayola

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
3,831
Hello! My shop tim this time is: Knife making is VERY much worth it! I finished knife number 5 the other day. MAn, what work it was. I had a 1" line on it that I had to hand sand out. The blade was mirror polished, but I had to axe that! I had soem epoxy problems too, but I fixed those with a bit of work. My grinding is getting easier to do, but it is still a struggle. Cosmetic mistakes had to be fixed. Figuring out how to do the wrapped section took a while. I burned my thumb. And so on.

But, I made the best knife I have made to date, and it is my first sale! Knife making is a great expression of my inner artistic yearnings and it feels great to make someoen else ahppy with something you created with your bare hands.

Check out the link to see the knife. And keep grinding away!

The Knife I call Magic...
 
I checked it out, Its a great looking knife. I bet the new owner is very happy. congrats.
 
Looking good. So what are the specs. Come on don't hold back. The handle looks to be G10. That light green stuff is pretty cool looking. Great job on the satin finish.

Isn't knifemaking totally the best? There are some knives that I have made so many times, that I just don't notice anymore. But man, once every few knives it hits you. I made this. I really made this! I started from raw materials, and I MADE THIS!! THIS IS SOOO COOOL!!!

I've never done drugs, but it has to be better!
 
Sorry, I forgot the specs!

440-C blade about 4" long. 1/8" wide. I took it from a mirror to a 320 grit satin. It is going to be used, so I thought 320 was a good compromise.

The handle material is green G-10 from Chuck Bybee. A great guy to deal with, and he has a great sellection. The cord is what I call a Magic Knot. It is Magic because neither I nor my grilfriend, who makes the cord, knows exactly how the cord comes out they way it does! There is a sort of central cord with little knots that spiral around the central cord. Hard to describe. I sent Neil Blackwood a cord once, maybe he can explain how they look better than me! I ground a 1/8" deep (1/8"ish really) and 1" wide channel in the handle and wrapped the cord in there using Running Dog's under wrap technique. Then I coated the cord in super glue to seal it from dirt. It actually adds to the grip quite nicely and the bumps of the cord sit a little abive the surface of the g-10.

The filework on top I did by usind a small round file and filing alternating half circles on the sides. I wanted a vine pattern, but I need more experience yet and I need to try it on thicker steel too! 1/8" doesn't leave much room for messing up.

I hope to do more work with the Magic Knots and inlaying it like I did. I think it looks good. I have ideas to make it look even better. And it adds to the function of the grip.

Oh, the pin is a mosaic pin I made. It looks like crap in the pic but it is better in person. Actually, the knife is quite a bit better in person than the photo shows. The mistakes are there, but I'm not telling where!

I wonder what knife #6 will look like...
 
Nice knife! Your hand finish adds a lot I think, and I really like the handle with the inset Magic Knots. Very nice job, keep em coming!
 
crayola that is a :cool: knife. and i like the magic knot as well. my # 5 knife with the very same green G-10 scales whent with mom to Zambia, africa a few years back. she volentered to help at a medical aid station. she left it when she came home. as far as we know its still being used to cut pills in half for the kids and to cut bandages out of old cloth. and there are people that still don't see how i can have such a happy feeling making knives :)
 
Peter,

I don't have any heat treating gear at all. I send it to The House of Tools, a tool place that sells knife making stuff 2 hours from me. They heat treat and check it with a RC tester.
 
Fantastic Karl! You're bit for sure now! The enthusiasm of your first couple years is awesome.
 
Robert:

I'm a knife maker now! And it isn't a knife unless you sharpen it. Otherwise, I'd just be a fancy metal stick maker! Which I was once upon a time :cool:
 
Awesome,,,,,,,:) :)
I wish I could have made something that looked even close to that on #5...I would hate to let anybody see that one now.
Bruce
 
Congrats on the sale....only #5 huh....wow, think what number 55 is going to be like! :cool:


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
I am at the point of coming close to my first finished knife
It is amazing to see your work come to life.it does fell good
Nice hand finish on your blade,keep it up!!!!!!!!!!:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top