WIP - 1st knife looking for feedback

Here's a couple things that are barely worth my $0.02

First thing I do is drill the holes for the scales. THEN all work is based off those scales fitting up to where they need to be.

You can super-glue the liner to the scale, then drill your epoxy holes through the spacer, and into the scale at the same time.

Part of the problem when you were cutting the scale in that first pic, is you have the area you're trying to cut way up above the vise. That allows it to flex all over the place. Think of the end of your car/truck antenna while you're driving down the freeway. The end of it can flex and dance all around. The base of it is rigid. ALWAYS keep that in mind while mounting something whether it's in a mill vise, drill press, or hand-work in the vise.

:)

Keep up the good work! :) :thumbup:
 
Forgot to take pics, but I drilled my pin holes through the tang/scale. They were already in the tang, so it was just an exercise of lining up the holes.

I drilled through the opposite scale, and then attached the 2nd scale. I made sure I had enough expoxy to cover my file work.

I let it sit for 24hrs.
image283g.jpg
 
Here you can see the holes that came through the first scale that was epoxied to the tang.
image284g.jpg


Other side, after I took the clamp off.
image285r.jpg

Note:I'm not worried about clamp impressions *this time*, only because I know I have a lot to sand off. Next time, I will put some wood between the clamps and the scales.
 
Here I'm drilling through scales for the pin holes.

1st hole
image286g.jpg


2nd hole
image287.jpg


Now you can see all the way through. ;-)
image288gk.jpg


Note:Next time I'm going to put tape on the scale the drill will come through. This will prevent any chipping. I know I have a lot to take off, so I wasn't too worried.
 
time to break the profile down.

Hitting it with the wood rasp
image289cc.jpg


5min later
image290t.jpg


getting really close where I'm exposing the tang.
image291s.jpg
 
So the next question I have, is about profiling the handle.

Here's what I'm kinda thinking
image293i.jpg


Are there any tricks out there for you do? Or, do you just start sanding until you get something you like?
 
Looks good.

How about making "knife" out of wood with the handles the same size as the ones on the knife. Then you can sand them down similar to what you are thinking about with your red lines. Then put it in your hand to see how it feels?
 
Started to shape the handle. I had a brillian idea (famous last words, I know. ;-) ). What I did was cut a piece of paper into a square, that I could lay over the top of the handle.

I then folded it in half. I then cut the curves that I wanted for the handle.
image300x.jpg


Then, when I unfolded it, I had the same curve on both sides.
image302.jpg


I sanded off the previous blue lines I had on the handle, and outlined the new paper cutout.
image303j.jpg
 
Time to start breaking the handle down.
image304.jpg


Little more profiling
image305w.jpg


pretty close to being roughed in.
image306d.jpg


I can see I'm going to need to take more off.
 
Looking good, never held a knife with a handle profile like that (although I see it used fairly often). Are there advantages to that particular style?
 
Thanks!

I don't know how much more there will be. I hope to finish shaping the handle today, and epoxy in the pins.

After that is till be clean up work.

I haven't made up my mind about doing the WIP sheath. I don't have any leather, don't know where to order it, don't have any tools, and haven't read that much on it. The only reason I did this WIP, is that
a)I felt I could do this, after reading posts for 3mo
and
b)everyone on here is so great about tips/techniques building knives.

Thanks!
 
I tried to send you a PM about the sheath, but it doesn't work. Email me at tboezaart at gmail dot com. I can make you a sheath if you're willing to pay for shipping...
 
Last edited:
I looked at your location and couldn't find a Tandy Leather closer than 2.5 hours to you. Would be a trip, but you could get a few tools to get you started (or order them online). Do you have a local hobby lobby?
 
Looking Good, I started the same way but I only had a hand hack saw and hand drill MANY years ago. Beware of the addiction that follows the first build for many folks:)

Jim
 
Kept shaping more of the knife.
Top
img1011tl.jpg


Bottom (sorry for the pic being so fuzzy)
img1012n.jpg


Had to take a pic of all the shavings and dust under the knife.
img1013z.jpg
 
Handle is feeling kinda blocky at this point. More so, that I would have liked. I'm having 2nd thoughts about the shape.

I think my next one will be more square, rather than curved.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top