WIP-weekend

[Hoffmajo89]

Thnx, the middle pin is hidden under the covers.
I love the symmetrical handle shape of a barlow. To me doing it like this does even more justice to the symmetrical shape

Very nice touch to get the details like that.

 

[glennbad]

That would make a FINE carry! Great job!

 

[Hengelo_77]

Thnx for the compliments, it means a lot.

I like to work in small batches and I started a new batch. I made some progress on these three, it'll be a batch of five with two zulu's as well.
Two barlows and a trapper (I have a question on the trapper)

I haven't decided on the sheepfoot, Either a nail pull with cut swedges or pulled swedges with an extra large nail nick. What yo you guys think?
I'm experimenting with the shape of the kick as well. I like to be able to let the shape fit the handle and have one flowing line.
And the third knife, would you call it a trapper or should it be a bit slimmer to be a true trapper?
Anyhow it will get a nail nick, fluted bolsters and there is a good chance the covers will be desert ironwood. If you make a classic, might as well go classic all the way
So is it a trapper of "just" a clippoint?

 

[black mamba]

I would call the bottom knife in the photo with the pen more of a saddlehorn pattern. It makes a very comfortable handle.

 

[Hengelo_77]

And I made two zulu's as well making a total of five knives that are almost ready to send off for HT.

The zulu(spear) is one of my favorite models. I also have two that are almost finished.
They are the same shape, it's the nick or pull and swedge shape that makes all the difference. To me they look very different.
A nick makes it look more elegant and the pull gives it more of an utilitarian look.. I do like them both.

The two zulu's that will be send off for HT will get nail nicks.
I cut nail nicks post HT and pulls before HT.

 

[Hengelo_77]

I've been honored to have been asked to make a zulu to a collector's taste.
This one has a nailnick and integral liners/bolster.
I love it when you can put all parts together and have the knife 'walk&talk'. It is almost as if it comes to life!

I've been asked to use oak as cover material. To me that is an underappreciated material.
(north) European oak is different then American oak.
I've set up my workshop in an old barn and I've saved old oak boards from it. The barn is at least 120 y/o but wood like this got reused a lot. So nobody knows how old this wood is but it does look good imho.
The acorn shield fits the theme I think.
I have to make a template for every shield shape I use. I like this one, I'll be using it more

 

[waynorth]

I've been honored to have been asked to make a zulu to a collector's taste.
This one has a nailnick and integral liners/bolster.
I love it when you can put all parts together and have the knife 'walk&talk'. It is almost as if it comes to life!

I've been asked to use oak as cover material. To me that is an underappreciated material.
(north) European oak is different then American oak.
I've set up my workshop in an old barn and I've saved old oak boards from it. The barn is at least 120 y/o but wood like this got reused a lot. So nobody knows how old this wood is but it does look good imho.
The acorn shield fits the theme I think.
I have to make a template for every shield shape I use. I like this one, I'll be using it more

That knife looks like it's headed for greatness!!

 

[Hengelo_77]

A bit further with the oak handle.
Oak is known for large open pores. If you oil the wood and sand it with the oil still wet, you can fill those pores with an oil/wooddust slurry.
It does take time but imho the result is worth it.
I like the front of the bolster to be shiny and it also has a shiny fluting. Working on details like this is what I enjoy the most.

And what is better then a zulu? Another zulu!
African blackwood with a wharthog tusk shield.

 

[SteveC]

Nice work ! I really like the Oak

 

[glennbad]

Coming along very nicely!

 

[Hengelo_77]

I's easy to only show succes but that wouldn't be real. It's about making more steps forwards then you have to take back.
I had the oak covered handle ready to peen. The peening went well but the point wasn't centered. After trying to fix that, the knife wouldn't walk well anymore, so there was only one solution and that was to start the handles over again.
You either do it right or you don't do it al all.
And I'm happy to say that the second set of liners/bolsters are turning out better then the first set.

 

[Hengelo_77]

After two days of Christmas it's a good thing to be able to make some noise again.
Lets grind!
I'm getting better at grinding bevels I think. Not good enough for a belt finish yet, but I am making progress.

I haven't decided on the cover material on this one yet. Cocobolo, walnut, ebony, blue bone, white bone? I keep changing my mind.
What would you like to see on this one?

And there are also two options for the back pin. The middle pin wil be blind(hidden under the cover). I can either drill a new hole at the back of the handle in the middle and ignore the hole at the top at the end or drill an extra hole at the bottom and have two visuale back pins.
Either way will be symmetrical. What would you prefer?

 

[jfk1110]

I've been honored to have been asked to make a zulu to a collector's taste.
This one has a nailnick and integral liners/bolster.
I love it when you can put all parts together and have the knife 'walk&talk'. It is almost as if it comes to life!

I've been asked to use oak as cover material. To me that is an underappreciated material.
(north) European oak is different then American oak.
I've set up my workshop in an old barn and I've saved old oak boards from it. The barn is at least 120 y/o but wood like this got reused a lot. So nobody knows how old this wood is but it does look good imho.
The acorn shield fits the theme I think.
I have to make a template for every shield shape I use. I like this one, I'll be using it more

A bit further with the oak handle.
Oak is known for large open pores. If you oil the wood and sand it with the oil still wet, you can fill those pores with an oil/wooddust slurry.
It does take time but imho the result is worth it.
I like the front of the bolster to be shiny and it also has a shiny fluting. Working on details like this is what I enjoy the most.

And what is better then a zulu? Another zulu!
African blackwood with a wharthog tusk shield.

Looking great....

 

[Hengelo_77]

Happy new year!
I managed some hand sanding time in the workshop today.
Makassar ebony covers, a blind middle pin and integral liners/bolsters.

The blade is slightly wider towards the tip, does that make it a rams foot?

 

[glennbad]

Looks great from here! And kudos for sharing your mishaps, all to often, all we see is the end result, and don't get to see all of the hiccups that might happen along the way.