Seems like there's a rash of "first knives" being posted lately. Well, here's another one.
Started this over a year ago. It takes a looooong time to grind a blade this big on a HF 1x30. I started it when the knifemaking bug finally bit. I've been working on it off and on ever since. Finally got around to finishing it.
From my perspective with it being my first try I'll be honest, I'm ecstatic with how it turned out. That being said there are plenty of flaws. Being excited about finishing though I just didn't have it in me to go back and fix them. After having it in the sunlight I can see scratches I didn't notice before. My scales weren't exactly flat so some thicker epoxy is visible between tang and scale. Same with the lanyard tube. There is some asymmetry in the handle. etc.
Blade and handle is finished to 400 grit. My idea for the handle was to have a generous part toward the front to fill the hand for finer work and to have it slimmer with a "knob" at the end to hold onto when chopping. I think it worked well but is maybe a little large for my hand. You'd think that wouldn't happen making your own knife. Mycarta was made from Bondo fiberglass resin and a pair or white jeans I bought at a thrift store.
I've got some other smaller general outdoor use blades ground and ready for heat treat that I'm also excited about. I think I'll use them as gifts to some of my friends.
Specs:
3/16" 1095
17" OAL
11 1/4" blade
Heat treat by Peters @ 57 RC
Brass pins and lanyard hole
White denim Mycarta w/ red liners
Compared with Ontario Ranger RD-9 for scale.
Started this over a year ago. It takes a looooong time to grind a blade this big on a HF 1x30. I started it when the knifemaking bug finally bit. I've been working on it off and on ever since. Finally got around to finishing it.
From my perspective with it being my first try I'll be honest, I'm ecstatic with how it turned out. That being said there are plenty of flaws. Being excited about finishing though I just didn't have it in me to go back and fix them. After having it in the sunlight I can see scratches I didn't notice before. My scales weren't exactly flat so some thicker epoxy is visible between tang and scale. Same with the lanyard tube. There is some asymmetry in the handle. etc.
Blade and handle is finished to 400 grit. My idea for the handle was to have a generous part toward the front to fill the hand for finer work and to have it slimmer with a "knob" at the end to hold onto when chopping. I think it worked well but is maybe a little large for my hand. You'd think that wouldn't happen making your own knife. Mycarta was made from Bondo fiberglass resin and a pair or white jeans I bought at a thrift store.
I've got some other smaller general outdoor use blades ground and ready for heat treat that I'm also excited about. I think I'll use them as gifts to some of my friends.
Specs:
3/16" 1095
17" OAL
11 1/4" blade
Heat treat by Peters @ 57 RC
Brass pins and lanyard hole
White denim Mycarta w/ red liners
Compared with Ontario Ranger RD-9 for scale.
