I wanted to post this awhile back but I've been pretty busy with work. So, I took another knifemaking course at a nearby technical/community college. This time I got to make a folding knife. This one was a lot of fun to create and the best part is that with the exception of heat treating, all of the operations needed to produce this knife can be done in my own shop - no special equipment needed. I suppose that the first one I made and posted here is like that too but at the time I was still building up my tools, equipment, etc for my shop.
This is my second completed knife - a custom liner lock folder with a hidden pivot. Anyways as one can see from the photos (I hope) that the overall length (unfolded) is approx. 6.5 inches. The blade length is just shy of 2-5/8 inches. Steel is ATS-34 3/32 inches thick. The liners are titanium and the spacer and bolsters are 440C. Scales are linen micarta.
There's no space cut out for access to the liner lock. I was unable to finish that part of the blade because I ran out of time. I nearly screwed up the grind (hollow) by almost taking too much from the blade. I did the file work on the short straight section of the spine (I think it was called a vine pattern). But the lock up works really well and there's no blade play. In fact, it took a few disassembles, adjustments and reassembles to get the blade to open up freely with no resistance. This also has a fairly stout detent where it will close.
I'm very pleased with the result even though it has some noticeable mistakes. But, most of the mistakes I made were on the processes that I was unfamiliar with. The only thing I'm a little frustrated with is the grind. But I think that I'll improve with more practice. I've already got some materials and a basic design for my next project. I may go to the effort of making several of those just for practice. We'll see.
Comments and constructive criticisms welcome.
http://s1174.beta.photobucket.com/user/bear5177/library/2nd Completed Knife_Custom Folder
This is my second completed knife - a custom liner lock folder with a hidden pivot. Anyways as one can see from the photos (I hope) that the overall length (unfolded) is approx. 6.5 inches. The blade length is just shy of 2-5/8 inches. Steel is ATS-34 3/32 inches thick. The liners are titanium and the spacer and bolsters are 440C. Scales are linen micarta.
There's no space cut out for access to the liner lock. I was unable to finish that part of the blade because I ran out of time. I nearly screwed up the grind (hollow) by almost taking too much from the blade. I did the file work on the short straight section of the spine (I think it was called a vine pattern). But the lock up works really well and there's no blade play. In fact, it took a few disassembles, adjustments and reassembles to get the blade to open up freely with no resistance. This also has a fairly stout detent where it will close.
I'm very pleased with the result even though it has some noticeable mistakes. But, most of the mistakes I made were on the processes that I was unfamiliar with. The only thing I'm a little frustrated with is the grind. But I think that I'll improve with more practice. I've already got some materials and a basic design for my next project. I may go to the effort of making several of those just for practice. We'll see.
Comments and constructive criticisms welcome.
http://s1174.beta.photobucket.com/user/bear5177/library/2nd Completed Knife_Custom Folder