Well let's start! Hand Tool Knife WIP Thingy

[anti-torsion]

Will, do you think you could post a couple more pictures of the fixtures you use? I am going to follow along "at home" and would like to build something similar.

Thanks

Dan

 

[Wade Jones]

Thanks Will, I see what you mean now.

 

[Fletch Helical]

Since I don't have one Will, I have to ask.... What it the marble tile for? My guess is for sanding scales flat but do you use it for anything else?

 

[Will Leavitt]

I guess I need to post a bio also

40 years old, hopefully married for the last time. Got kids but they aren’t too interested in smithing. I’ve been a soldier, a cabinet maker, quality control test track driver for Hyundai and currently Quality Control Team Leader in Hyundai’s Paint plant. We make the Santa Fe’s and Sonatas here in Montgomery, Alabama.

I’ve been making knives since 1997 or so. My first shop was a garbage barbeque grill converted into a forge. My anvil was a 8# sledgehammer in a bucket of concrete, piles of sandpaper, some files and buckets of elbow grease blood and sweat. I slowly earned the money for a Burr King and other goodies. Lately I felt that the tools were having too heavy and influence on me and making me lazy at the anvil. I’ve returned files and sandpaper to complete my blades after they’re forged. I feel more in tune with my work. I’m not saying this is the approach for everyone, It’s mine.

My knife-making influences are Wayne Goddard through his books, Don Fogg, Dale Baxter, Tim Lively, Tai Goo, Bruce Bump, Ray Richards and a local maker named Faye Brown. There’s countless makers that have influenced me through the internet or magazines but these men are who I draw a lot of inspiration from.

I try to bring an old world approach towards the craft, you should pay your dues, your work and actions should honor your teacher, you should give the customer more than they expect.

My design philosophy is to provide an attractive using knife that works hard, looks good and my customer is proud to show it to their friends and to use one of my blades to “prove” how much better a custom can be. I like curves, hate straight lines and believe that the handle is the interface between the work and the user.

 

[Will Leavitt]

Since I don't have one Will, I have to ask.... What it the marble tile for? My guess is for sanding scales flat but do you use it for anything else?

I use it as the basis for everything on my blades. I use it to set my ricasso. The way I was taught, the ricasso is what the rest of the knife is judged off of, it has to be flat and symmetrical. Then I use it to flatten guards, handle material, flats to a certain extent.... anything flat or need a flat reference goes on the tile.


Edited to add:

Dan, no problem, I'll get more detailed pictures when I get home from work and I'll explain changes I'd make to the drill press vise filing/sanding fixture.

 

[Will Leavitt]

Double post to add different pictures of the sanding/filing fixtures I use:

End and Side view of the drill press vise. Nothing complicated, remove the fixed jaw, drill the angle iron to fit the bolt patterns and bolt it up. I add leather to pad the face to help hold a blade better and to help prevent scratching.

Top and side view of the square tubing filing/sanding fixture.... simple again, 2" square tubing with a piece of mild welded to the top as a face and a piece of mild that's drilled and tapped for 4-40 allen bolts. Fpr the clamping face there's a piece that is welded like the "top of the tee" butted up against the working face, there's some extra pieces of mild welded on the bottom of the fixed hold down that are tapped to give extra holding power.

 

[bigern26]

BIO:
Well I am A 28 year old kid, I have a wonderful, understanding girlfriend whom I love very much, we have been together for almost 3 years now, we Have a wonderful 2 year old little girl. I also have a 7 year old daughter, She is growing up to be just like ME!!!
I live in a small town in NW Wisconsin. I was just called back to work after being laid off since Sept., I am a Welder/Fabricator. I work for a company that makes high end store and restaurant fixtures. I love my job.
Things I like to do for fun, Hunt. I love hunting I hunt for everything I can in WI and every year My brother, a friend of ours and I go Prairie dog hunting in ND.
I also like to fish, hike in the woods, an 4 wheel.
Usually on my free time you can find me hunting, fishing, or spending time with my girlfriend and Kids.
I live for my family, I do anything I can to make my family happy, even though with being laid off it seemed kinda hard we still came together and made the kids happy.


On to the tools:
I have a couple files, some different sheets of sandpaper, a screw clamp,
a 4 1/2'' grinder, hammer, tape. That's about it.

As far as my budget for tools go, I can afford a few cheap things like adhesives and sandpaper.

I would like to build the EDC that you provided a link for. I love that style knife.

I am still in the process of building my first knife, I have it ready to be sent out for heat treat.

I would like thanks you again for including me in this.

 

[anti-torsion]

Hey Will, Thank you , those pictures explain a lot.

 

[Mr. Bad Example]

OK, here is are a couple of designs to be picked apart. My main design points on this first one (no pun intended) are an in-line point and the blade/handle to be semi-symetrical. Handle will be fairly thin and all edges soft for a pocket carry. I will appreciate all constructive criticisms.

Here is sort of a "pocket Bowie". Clip may or may not be sharpened. I envision the handle being a rounded coffin-type affair.

 

[g33kfu]

My name is Dustin and I'm 31. I live in Central Minnesota and work in the IT trade (server and network administration). Knife making is a new hobby to me. I have my first blade profiled and the plunge cuts made and I'm just starting to file the bevels. My other hobbies are hunting and shooting sports with a little fishing thrown in. I'm married with two beautiful girls (1 and 6).

Supplies:
I have a couple bars of 1/8 X 1 1/2 X 36" 1080 steel
-Files (mill, chainsaw, other assorted)
-4" angle grinder (didn't use on first knife at this point)
-vise
-hardened 0-1 jig for keeping plunge cuts straight on each side
-hacksaw
-sandpaper
-assorted wood scales and danish oil and wood wax
-gorilla glue
-dykem
-thickness gauge

I think that's most of the stuff. Other than heat treat I have pretty much all the hand tools needed to make a blade. I have a little cash to buy some small stuff if needed.

I like your EDC. It's an aggressive look. I'll work on some sketches as well.

 

[g33kfu]

Here are a couple designs I did this morning for an EDC.

Commence beating.

 

[Will Leavitt]

Dustin.... what's to keep your hand and all those soft bleeding parts from sliding up onto the blade if you jab with it?

Michael, same question about your first design? Also depending the angle of viewed there seems to be a hump in the blade on the spine in front of the plunge cut. Could just be the way I viewed it but I picked my CRT monitor and held it at various angles

I really like the vest bowie, with a little tweaking on the handle it'll be a knock out design. Go to the custom and handmade forum and look at the BF Bowies of 2009 thread for ideas about handles in relation to that blade shape.

We all seem to have similar tools, a diverse backgrounds and designs.

Next homework, 2 choices, make changes to your designs or defend your design concepts because one day you WILL have to explain something to a customer or your own student.

 

[Mr. Bad Example]

Michael, same question about your first design? Also depending the angle of viewed there seems to be a hump in the blade on the spine in front of the plunge cut. Could just be the way I viewed it but I picked my CRT monitor and held it at various angles

I really like the vest bowie, with a little tweaking on the handle it'll be a knock out design. Go to the custom and handmade forum and look at the BF Bowies of 2009 thread for ideas about handles in relation to that blade shape.

Yes, I suppose a deeper finger groove on the first design would be better. I'll do some work on the drawing. I do think, though, that if something did need a hard poke that a modified sabre grip with palm reinforcement would keep one's digits safe. As to the hump, I did not mean for it to be present--just a nice curve from handle to blade tip.

I really like Bowies-- Bill Bagwell's design in particular. I've read the entire Bowie thread--some super knives there! Not many small ones, though. I do wonder if it can really be called a Bowie w/o a guard. I know for this project we are doing a more simple design. I'll work on the handle shape some more. Also, most Bowies have a much longer blade--it is difficult to maintain the same ratio with only a ~3" blade.

Thanks for the feedback!

Michael

 

[Will Leavitt]

Yes, I suppose a deeper finger groove on the first design would be better. I'll do some work on the drawing. I do think, though, that if something did need a hard poke that a modified sabre grip with palm reinforcement would keep one's digits safe. As to the hump, I did not mean for it to be present--just a nice curve from handle to blade tip.

I really like Bowies-- Bill Bagwell's design in particular. I've read the entire Bowie thread--some super knives there! Not many small ones, though. I do wonder if it can really be called a Bowie w/o a guard. I know for this project we are doing a more simple design. I'll work on the handle shape some more.

Thanks for the feedback!

Michael

Michael, it can be called anything you want Vest pocket bowie, gambler's friend whatever. I really like it though and if that's what you want to make, heck, MAKE IT!!! There's nothing complicated in that design, it's still a "3 piece" or slab knife. There's going to be some differences in how you're going to shape the handle but as far as executing the work it's going to be the same. If you want to add a guard we'll work through fitting up a "U" shaped guard. You'll need to find some mild, stainless, copper or brass barstock, there are suppliers that sell U shaped guard material, I find that kind of lazy for a maker but those things are aimed for the kit knife finishers.

 

[Wade Jones]

I'm going with my #1 sketch with your suggested modifications, Will.
I did a cardboard mock up that I've been playing with all weekend and I like the way it feels.

 

[Will Leavitt]

Glad you liked the changes Wade.... I don't make a fancy looking knife but I try to make a comfortable one.

I like to get clay and put it on the handle of cardboard mockups of knive and play with ergo handle designs. No finger grooves, I despise them for most of my designs.... just want a design that works in a variety of grips.

Well.... lessee Dustin and Ernie's drawings so we can talk about design.

Just curious, what was your idea behind the rounded off area at the back of the blade?

 

[ChasePhase]

Keep the posts coming guys...I am hooked on this thread being a newb and looking to start a knife soon. I must have 20 knife sketches between my desk at work and home so far.

I am thinking of trying to find my fire pit under the 2ft of snow and get some wood and charcoal going and throw a Nicholson file in over night. Last night was below 0.

I look forward to following this thread.

 

[g33kfu]

Ok I revised the drawings a bit to try to make the knives a little more finger friendly. I'm leaning more towards #2 at this point.

 

[Will Leavitt]

I like #2, try this when you sketch a knife, draw it vertially.. when you draw, rotate your pad 90 degrees so that the butt and tip are the vertical plane.

Try rotating your drawings and take a look at them. You'll notice that #2 looks almost like a khurki or something because of the curve in the handle, it'll put the point below your knuckles. I like the curvy, maybe reduce some of it?

#1 would be good if you leave the bottom of the butt where it's at and raise the top of it closer to the top of the spine/ricasso joint.

I feel that a swoop going from tip to butt really has to a be a slender knife design, really lends itself to a wharnie shape. Look at Wolfgang Loerchner's designs for what I'm talking about.

Keep em coming guys!

 

[g33kfu]

I changed the ergonomics of the handle on #1 a little. It still looks like it needs a little tweaking but my eyes are getting tired. I raised the point up a bit on #2 so we'll see what you think. I still like #2 better at this point.