WIP Pocket Muks

[KYenglish]

Hello everyone,

I have been lucky enough to work out a deal with JK knives were I buy knife blanks fairly regular and try to "finish up" the blanks with handles, sheaths, beads etc. Its a nice solution tot he want new knives, don't need new knives dilema

I'm working on some Pocket Muk blanks at the moment and wanted somehow to share the pictures as they move along, so here we are.

The knife blank on the right is a Pooka, the rest are the Pocket Muks. 6" in OA length and 1" high 01 steel with saber grinds. The Pocket Muk was designed by JDS1 and the blanks made to perfection by JK Knives, of course. It's up to me not to screw 'em up hence why he puts a the "H" in the HK makers mark, so no one mistakes them for his work after I'm finished.

I have done some of both before:

I'm actually trying to incorporate a 1" by 30" belt grinder to the process, before I was just using hand sanding and a sanding pad. There is a learning curve to a new tool and I have been practicing with it but still think I have a ways to go to get perfect and figure out all the things I can do using it.

I have two muks with handles on, why two? because sometimes it's nice to take a break and do something else, especially while I think about how best to proceed, and I'll go back and work on a different one (back to drilling holes or cutting material, while I do.) So I normally end up with at least two in this state at the same time.

Hopefully I'll add some in progress pictures but I didn't have my camera in there while I was working this time.

These two are sanded up to 600 grit finishes, untreated, but i'll have to bring that back on down, I want to work on the fit and polish more. I still have a lot more I want to do with them before I get sheaths made.

They have Bocote and Buckeye burl scales with brass pins.

I actually nicked the edge on the bocote version, . I'm going to clean that up next. I also had the bright idea to "polish up" the buckeye burl blank and not just the spines and so now I'm committed to at least a couple more hours on it This wouldn't be so bad accept the scale materials coming out so well I'm eager to finish it (I need to work on my patience)

I'm not sure what I'll do with the other handles but plan on doing at east one in a two tone wood handle.

Anyway, hope you like 'em, stay tuned for more "action-y" type pictures :thumbup:

 

[KYenglish]

doing some more finish work

working on the finish of the buckeye

things got slippery, its a problem with working with very sharp blanks

Handle treatments, first layer

Time to take on that pecan

copper or brass?

brass. Pin time

make 'em fit

I like to draw the scales once the holes are drilled, it helps me later

Rough cut the scales. i Have heard pecan can be difficult (splitting while cutting and sanding) so I'm taking it easy and not trying to get to close to fit just yet. It was a lot harder to cut then I thought it would be.

Make sure base is level, helps clean up the rough cut scales (I think this is where i nicked the bocote, so more care needed)

Came out nice

Ricasso time, make 'em level, then make up a shape, went with simple off the shoulder look again, it's kind of my base shape

"Time for the clamps" (Futurama fans? no, okay then.)

Things get messy here so...gloves! (I still end up with wood dust stick to my fingers for days, figure that out)

Time to wait....

Think I'll put another coat of linseed on those handles.

 

[KYenglish]

Pecan's ready I don't knwo what the smell of this wood reminds me of when you cut and sand it but it's not nuts, and makes me hungry.

Cutting the pins down flat is the first thing:

make the sides flush

then sand scales down to meet the knife

Turn it and remove all the scale material you want :thumbup:

I'm getting more and more confident with the belt and have started to take the shape down further with it

Then I switch it over to hand sanding in the vice which I posted earlier with the bocote knife. Next is finishing.

Clean it off, this one looks like it needs more then a wipe down

found a lump, can't see it, but I can feel it where my fingis

I work it back down the grits (600, 400, 320, 220) I ting scratches and bumps when they show up almost wipe off clean when you get down to the grit where you started making the mistake (missing the area of not rounding it well enough) This one started to disappear around 320, but I went back down to 220 to be safe

Clean up the tube (it feels smoother to me if I "de-burl" the inside of landyard tubes)

time to put some work in on the shoulders and ricasso area

 

[LG&M]

Very nice,
thanks for the look. I really like knives this size.

 

[KYenglish]

 

[daizee]

Those are really cute. Nice work on the handles.
when they're bare they look like throwing muks.

 

[KYenglish]

Thanks :thumbup:

Last picture for the weekend, this one is in black canvas micarta, copper pins

 

[KYenglish]

Pecan all finished

 

[KYenglish]

Buckeye burl scales, brass pins, this one has a desert tan sheath. The sheath's not quite ready yet but wanted to take it's final photo anyway (sheaths have also have been waterproofed. FYI.)

 

[KYenglish]

had some nice light this afternoon

 

[KYenglish]

Last Muk for now, Black canvas micarta and copper pins

 

[KYenglish]

For anyone subscribed the thread that may not have seen it.

The last one is up for sale here.