What's going on in your shop? Show us whats going on, and talk a bit about your work!

Hi all, just started taking knife making more seriously, here's my setup.
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A few blanks I have cut out.
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zaph1 said:
I visited a mastersmith yesterday, Howard Clark, MS, and I'm psyched that I finally got my forge and burner reviewed by one. I'm even more psyched by the quote he gave me about it: "It's brilliant in it's simplicity and output!" He's also planning to come and visit my shop some time, which will certainly be disappointing for him. He's got a 428# power hammer, I've only got a 3# Sam Salvati manual hammer. He traded me one of his knives for the forge and is planning heavy use of it in his shop. I think I got the better end of the deal so I need to reimburse Karma a little. Strigamort, do you need two half bricks or two whole bricks? Cover the shipping costs and I'll send you what you need.
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Trading/Cooperating with other makers is one of the reasons I think I'm here to stay (knifemaking). I'm still pretty new, and although everyone isn't Mr. or Mrs. Social, I've found that almost everyone is generous, and helpful.

In some ways I guess knifemakers could be considered a band of misfits, but this is the most normal group of folks I've met in a long time, to me at least.



On topic, just finished my first dagger. Here's a few pics from my WIP thread (Hammer&Tongs), there are more including some "final" photos.

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Wow Ian! That is sweet! The people are very generous here :) Definitely positive karma zaph1!

I had another first today, I turned my first "bead" -

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I'm pretty happy how it turned out, I also made a ring out of the same box elder for my daughter :)
 
I've been trying to get this big batch done. It seems every piece of equipment along the way has decided that it has chosen this batch to act up on. Or just maybe the move across town did a number on things.

 
Man, I'm stoked you guys are keeping this thread going so strong! :)

Ian- love the work and the photos! :)

Erik- I sure hope you post more photos of that integral! :cool:

Jimmy- Two words--- Holy crap! :eek: Man that's a lot-O work sitting there! Love it. :thumbup: :cool:

I finally got the two combat bowies done. Well, the knives have been done for a little while, but then I had to come up with sheaths, photos, and video... Here's everything all together. :)



5160 blades with machined finishes, OD Green canvas Micarta on one, Black canvas micarta on the other (both handles were hand sanded to 500X to leave a "nice, but not too nice", grippy finish), both with ss Corby bolts, and both have a concealed lanyard mount.

Sheaths are behind the back, right hand carry--- hand saddle stitched, veg tanned leather.

Thanks for look'n guys. :)

[video=youtube;MkYdB4yhal0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkYdB4yhal0[/video]

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NickWheeler said:
Man, I'm stoked you guys are keeping this thread going so strong! :)

Ian- love the work and the photos! :)

Erik- I sure hope you post more photos of that integral! :cool:

Jimmy- Two words--- Holy crap! :eek: Man that's a lot-O work sitting there! Love it. :thumbup: :cool:

I finally got the two combat bowies done. Well, the knives have been done for a little while, but then I had to come up with sheaths, photos, and video... Here's everything all together. :)



5160 blades with machined finishes, OD Green canvas Micarta on one, Black canvas micarta on the other (both handles were hand sanded to 500X to leave a "nice, but not too nice", grippy finish), both with ss Corby bolts, and both have a concealed lanyard mount.

Sheaths are behind the back, right hand carry--- hand saddle stitched, veg tanned leather.

Thanks for look'n guys. :)
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Figured you were about due for a post in this thread. :D

No kidding, this is one of my favorite threads here.

That mini bowie is one of my favorite patterns at the moment. Homerun IMO.

I love the frenched lanyard hole, definitely getting stolen when I decide to do some more full tangs.


edit: lol, I just noticed that I captured some of my knifemaker's mange in the last photo I posted. :D
 
zaph1 said:
Strigamort, do you need two half bricks or two whole bricks? Cover the shipping costs and I'll send you what you need.
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Thanks man! I wouldn't feel right unless I payed for them though.

I had a total idiot moment the other day at Tractor Supply. I bought two hard bricks even though I knew they wouldn't work. Stupid. :(

Oh well, I guess they'll make a good base for proper bricks at least. :)
 
My latest project: piles of HiTS knives. This is the knife I've collaborated on with Darryl Bolke of Hardwired Tactical Shooting.

Initially I knew this would be awesome or terrible. Darryl comes from law enforcement and knifewise, is primarily trained by Steve Tarani. I come from the military and knifewise, am primarily Sayoc Kali trained. Oddly enough, merging both of our flavors turned out well and this knife was easy to spec out and adjust for the community they are being made for. It is an "all around" blade that isn't as strong as a sharpened prybar, but is more reliable than a folder. It has the geometry to cut well but not be too frail for duty use. The tip though is quite stout and is always a main concern for people who aren't nice to their knives.

Being that Darryl has collaborated with the likes of Strider and Kiku Matsuda, I was and am extremely humbled he thought enough of my work to do a colab with a small timer like me.

Here's my pile in progress:


Here is the first prototype. Some changes have been made but this is the general idea:
 
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Josh Mason said:
I hope to never have to go through anything like that again. In making these knives, my whole attitude on life has changed. It's definitely filled a void in my life. I never want to lose this again. I have had some amazing support here on Bladeforums in the past week, and I'd like to send out a thanks to everyone.
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You have a future in it, dude. You make some sweet pieces at a steal.

I've had to stop blademaking around a dozen times now for up to 18 months each time. From reasons ranging from job changes, deployments, bad decisions to house fires. In the end I'm always back at it sooner or later. After a few days on the grinder and some overzealous burnt fingers I'm back where I was when I left. I suspect you will be as well.

Keep pushing.
 
In my last post I mentioned building a disc grinder. Here a few pictures of the progress. I had the leg stand and added a turn table to the top. Then built a motor mount which allows the disc to be verticle or horizontial. The turn table allows the disc to be turned to the front in whichever position you use. The 1 1/2 hp 3ph motor had a 7/8" shaft which I had turned to 5/8" to fit Nathan's disc. Now wire for the VFD. Jess
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Here are three that I'm currently working on that are in varying stages of completion. I've only been at knife making for 6 months now, so try not to giggle too hard. I'm still experimenting with design, scale, proportions, and materials in an attempt to find my own style. These are all 52100. All handles are stabilized burl. Top is Brown Mallee, middle is Oak, bottom is dyed Maple.

*EDIT- I tried to get better pics, but my photography skills are seriously lacking*

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Working on this S35/silky oak hunter today. Haven't done liners in a while and had a few scraps left, decided to throw some in.
 
This thread just keeps gaining momentum.

You guys do some insane batch sizes!

Ian- Great grinds, super crisp, and I love the belt finish.

Nick- I like the way you've rounded the ends of the guards on those bowies, a small detail, but it seems to add another dimension to the knives.

Here's one that I finished recently.
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And one that I'm working on.
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