What's happening in the David Mary Custom shop?

Doing a bunch of knives in a run is like my bike ride to work. Grinding blades is kind of like a level plane, but a long one.. Then prepping scales and assembly is like a series of steep hills and inclines due to the start and stop of it, and handle shaping is like an easy coast downhill since I can just pick up a knife, and rub it around on the belt until I'm happy. 😅 But then tomorrow starts the finicky work with cutting away the dried glue, then dremel and hand sanding, taking the time to hunt down and destroy hot spots. This is maybe a little less like my bike ride, and more like a technical trail ride with lots of craggy roots, rocks and ruts to negotiate. It also just might be my favorite part of the build.
 
Took a little extra recovery time and put a short one in the shop today. How do you want your hawkbill handle done? If you can message me by tomorrow noontime, I'll get it done for you.

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I like tubes for knife handles better than solid pins because they are lighter, don't hold heat when cutting and shaping, and of course because they offer lanyard and fob options. I have tried a few different ways to try and make the inside rim less sharp on these, and the solution I came up with today was perfect. A bit more time consuming than the countersink bit I was using before, but does a nicer job. Why I didn't think of this before is beyond me. I just used the dremel with a sanding drum on a 45° angle inside the tube hole. Now the tubes are nicely recessed. They are already feeling great in the hand, and cutting like champs even without their final edge. Tomorrow I get to make them look nice, and with any luck, start the sheaths as well.

Here is the current state of the WIP for New River Knife Works New River Knife Works

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David Mary said:
I like tubes for knife handles better than solid pins because they are lighter, don't hold heat when cutting and shaping, and of course because they offer lanyard and fob options. I have tried a few different ways to try and make the inside rim less sharp on these, and the solution I came up with today was perfect. A bit more time consuming than the countersink bit I was using before, but does a nicer job. Why I didn't think of this before is beyond me. I just used the dremel with a sanding drum on a 45° angle inside the tube hole. Now the tubes are nicely recessed. They are already feeling great in the hand, and cutting like champs even without their final edge. Tomorrow I get to make them look nice, and with any luck, start the sheaths as well.

Here is the current state of the WIP for New River Knife Works New River Knife Works

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Click to expand...
I usually just gently bump them against a CT'SK tool in the drill press.
You can go as little, or as much as you'd like.
Sometimes I flare them as well.
I like the look of tubes too. And they are practically free compared to other fittings. :)

Only thing that bugs me is the blood and goop that can get into them
 
Thank you so much Jason!
 
Crag the Brewer said:
I usually just gently bump them against a CT'SK tool in the drill press.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. Can you show mw what this looks like? The internet search led to what look like electronics...
 
Ok. I'm in the
Process of a glue up. I "should" be doing it now..... But I'm kinda tired.
I'll do it tomorrow afternoon, after I get home from work.

I'm experimenting with some new, larger diameter tubing. It's at least 1/4" I.D.
I like it so far Alot.
I'll take pics
 
Those are shaping up quite well David! Are those all going to NRKW? Or do you have a pile that’s for sale also?
 
Thanks Josh! They are all going to NRKW before they are distributed to their forever homes. Today, I got the handles finished. Got chatting and forgot to take a pic.

Early next week I should be able to get all 22 suretouch units sheathed, etched and sharpened. I'm hoping this batch will be ready to ship to NRKW by Thursday. This model will only ever be available through NRKW. I think we're calling it the River Hawk.
 
Thank you gentlemen. Here is how things looked when I trekked to the shop Tuesday:

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I was fortunate enough to have a young helper for part of the afternoon. And I stayed to 1 am and finished all 22 Suretouch River Hawks.

woodysone said:
the only thing missing is a sheath
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Did them for all 22. Here's what they looked like most recently. ;)

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Next there are 8 more River Hawks remaining, and they have special materials chosen for them.
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If you're wondering why they're mummified in painter's tape: It's a new part of my process of transporting finished knives from the shop back home by bicycle. I have to put them in my backpack, and there no guaranteed way to ensure the backpack is perfectly dust free, so if the sheaths are sealed, dust cannot get in after the fact.
 
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