WIP - Kyle Hanson EDC Fighter - Knife Complete!

evanPGH

evanPGH

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Hey all! Hope everyone is doing well on this fine Thursday eveni...err, Friday morning!


I have been wanting a fighter style piece for awhile now. I normally focus on Japanese inspired work but this is an itch that needed to be scratched. But what a beautiful place this is. Full of people that know exactly what that feels like!


I remembered seeing Kyle's work posted here by Don. He's been putting out some great knives and especially in the size that I was looking to do. After a few emails we put a project together. Hammering out the details on this one was a blast! Kyle knew exactly what i was looking for and thoroughly impressed me with his sketch work.


He started working on it earlier this week and I just received the first couple pics. I insisted that I share them here and he happily agreed. The plan is for him to post future updates as he progresses. He doesn't frequent the forums so try not to scare him away ya hooligans.


The idea for this project was to create a classic fighter in a small package. I prefer smaller knives and I always aim to carry the ones i buy. This one comes in at 7.5" overall, 1/8" at its thickest with (of course) a tapered tang and a distal taper to the blade. Steel is random pattern Hanson damascus and the handles will be bog oak. As soon as he told me there was a nice stash of the bog oak at the Hanson compound I was decided. I've seen it used several times and it always puts a smile on my face.


Here's one of the final sketches:




And here are the first couple of in progress pics:


Ground, heat treated and rough shaped.




Kyle was kind enough to hand pick his favorite blocks and let me choose from them. This particular one caught my eye with the contrast and tiger stripe pattern.




Any commentary and discussion are greatly encouraged. I love putting projects together and sharing them with the community. Contributing here is something I take seriously and I thank all of those who have helped me become the knife nut I am today.

Big thanks to Don for putting me in touch with kyle! How does that apple and tree thing go again?...
 
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Congratulations on the knife you are getting made.
I will look forward to seeing how the build progresses.
Looking good so far. Thank You for posting the photos.
 
Looking good so far. I love smaller knives and looking forward to seeing the progression of this one.
 
This one is lookin good. I need to have Kyle get a shot of the tapered tang, it is amazingly thin at the butt end. Might want to post the sketch of this knife, it really impressed me. I don't have the artistic flare for drawing that he does. :thumbup:
 
^^^ Good call Don, just added the sketch. I was impressed by it as well. I draw and paint a good bit and getting those proportions and lines nailed down on paper is VERY hard.

Kyle said that he was able to pull off a very aggressive taper. I'm even more stoked to see it now that you made a point of mentioning it!
 
I'm inching ever closer to finishing this baby, just got it hand sanded down to a 600 grit finish and dipped it in the ferric chloride to get an idea of what it'll look like once it's etched completely.

In the white:
WIP3.png


Dipped once (this isn't the final etch, it'll be much deeper when I'm done with it):
WIP2.png


And a close up:
WIP1.png


Now all that's left to do is fit the Bog Oak scales to the blade, add the little cutout to the blade, finish etching it then shape up the handles.
 
that's a nice combination of materials, and I do believe that damascus is quite off the hook.
I got me a little Kyle Hanson knife, and the fellow has some serious mojo. You can feel it.
 
Lorien said:
that's a nice combination of materials, and I do believe that damascus is quite off the hook.
I got me a little Kyle Hanson knife, and the fellow has some serious mojo. You can feel it.
Click to expand...

I almost went with W2 but I'm so glad that I stuck with my gut and opted for the damascus.

Kyle, glad to see you step in and post. I was really hoping you would! I love it so far man, really digging the lines. You executed that spine curve beautifully!
 
Lot going on with that knife. Just in the front end trying to keep the flats, swedge and grind symmetrical.
 
rickmenefee said:
Lot going on with that knife. Just in the front end trying to keep the flats, swedge and grind symmetrical.
Click to expand...

Completely agree. I originally wanted to omit the harpoon grind but kyle insisted.

I give him serious props for wanting to take on the challenge. He's got a great eye and I think we'll be seeing some killer pieces from him for a long time.

Really appreciate all the comments, guys. I'm so excited to see it come together.
 
I'm pretty ignorant about knife design. But here's something I like. There are not big 'ole holes in the handle. Kind of a "fuller" if you will to balance the knife along with the tapered tang. I see many knives that are said to be full tang and then they drill big ass holes in the tang. I'm sure there is a good reason. I don't like it even if there is.

Heck, maybe he's not done and he's gonna drill some big ass holes? I doubt it.
 
Alright, I'm extremely close to finishing this baby. Here's the latest WIP pictures.

It completely escaped my mind to add the circular cutout to the bottom of the blade, but it's not too late to go back in and add it. Won't take more than a couple minutes of filing then another dip in the ferric chloride.

Rough fitting the scales to the blade:
WIP4.jpg


Shaping the outside of the handle before etching it:
WIP5.jpg


Terrible picture of the tapered tang:
WIP6.jpg


Final etch (I'll have to etch it one more time after adding the cutout, but it won't change too much):
WIP7.jpg

WIP8.jpg


Should have it all finished by tomorrow! Really appreciate all the comments, guys. I think this one is going to come out nice.
 
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Kyle Hanson said:
WIP8.jpg
Click to expand...

o.O WOW!! That's stunning!

Looks great man, that tapered tang is a thing of beauty. Impossibly thin indeed!

Completely agree with the section of the block you chose for the handles. Great figure and it compliments the shape perfectly.

Gonna be amazing once the handles are shaped and finished! Thanks for the update brotha!
 
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