Post by: prairie dog on December 02, 2011, 08:52:56 AM
We all know that any journey begins with the first step. I decided to start with baby steps so I bought some blades to make handles for. I figure I will concentrate on handles until I get that down, then try adding bolsters and finger guards before I attempt to make my own blades.
These are the Green River blades I chose.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/knives/DSCF2630.jpg)
Here is my first attempt. I chose walnut for the slabs.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/knives/DSCF2633.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/knives/DSCF2634.jpg)
I also picked up these Old Hickory knives. I think I may be able to re-work them a bit and make them look a little more PC for my buck skinning camp.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/knives/DSCF2627.jpg)
My eldest son is starting to learn blacksmithing and forging. I told him to forge some blades for me to finish out. He is as excited as I am to work together and produce some hand forged tools and knives. This should be fun!
Post by: Gordon H.Kemp on December 02, 2011, 10:16:47 AM
Post by: Bigsmoke on December 02, 2011, 10:20:04 AM
Now, if you were to take all the RGR knives out of my kitchen, there wouldn't be much left.
I do like your treatment of the paring knife. The walnut scales look good. What did you do with the Pacific Pattern Knife? Those make a pretty good patch knife.
John
Post by: lonehunter on December 02, 2011, 01:15:01 PM
Be careful, it is very habit forming!
Post by: prairie dog on December 02, 2011, 06:05:00 PM
Post by: Roaddog on December 03, 2011, 06:02:05 AM
Post by: prairie dog on December 07, 2011, 12:09:11 AM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/knives/DSCF2641.jpg)
Post by: ridjrunr on December 07, 2011, 01:42:00 AM
Post by: prairie dog on December 07, 2011, 07:43:19 AM
Post by: Swamp on December 07, 2011, 07:55:42 AM
Post by: sse on December 07, 2011, 09:20:01 AM
Post by: Riley/MN on December 07, 2011, 11:59:16 AM
Nice job p.d.!
Post by: Uncle Russ on December 09, 2011, 10:51:06 PM
It started out life as a Patch Knife and it worked just fine in that role, but it somehow ended up on my work bench and, for the last several years, my bench is totally naked without that little knife.
That is, without a doubt, my go to blade.
It's uses are unlimited, and it has a size that is just plain hard to beat.
Hardly anybody stops by the shop without asking about that little knife. I have no idea what the composition of the metal is, but it seems to stay sharp as long, maybe even longer, than any knife I've ever had and I cut some pretty bad stuff with it, sometimes....for one thing, I'm terrible about stripping wire with a knife, especially when I know that knife is sharp.
Good job, PD
And, a good thought about saving those Old Hickory knives. They've been around awhile, and they are just as good today as they were years ago.
Uncle Russ...
Post by: rickevans on December 11, 2011, 07:22:00 PM
Post by: Bigsmoke on December 11, 2011, 09:07:57 PM
Jobs well done and time well spent.
John
Post by: prairie dog on January 10, 2012, 06:53:38 AM
I have two more of those Pacific blades and some scraps of wood, got to get busy today and put those together.
Post by: prairie dog on January 25, 2012, 11:29:27 AM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/knives/DSCF2683-1.jpg)
Post by: Roaddog on January 26, 2012, 02:58:32 AM
Post by: prairie dog on February 02, 2012, 12:46:41 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Rendezvous/DSCF2686.jpg)
Post by: sse on February 02, 2012, 12:58:30 PM
Post by: prairie dog on February 05, 2012, 01:17:23 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/knives/DSCF2629-Copy.jpg)
Post by: prairie dog on December 05, 2013, 02:50:27 PM
This is my latest Old Hickory rebuild. Maple slabs, brass pins, and a poured pewter bolster.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/knives/0012.jpg)
I just finished a Mountain Man butcher knife. Green River blade, plain maple slabs, brass pins and of course, a tacky sheath.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/knives/0082.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/knives/006.jpg)
I am feeling comfortable and competent with handle, finish, and pewter work so I have started to make some blades. A visit to the scrap yard produced some old circular saw mill blades. Here's a blank I cut out with a touch and annealed in the forage.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/knives/012.jpg)
This is from the same material. I've just begun to grind and shape the knife. I am attempting to copy an English trade knife pattern.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/knives/f224ad21-e7a0-4c8a-aadf-76c3c104518a.jpg)
When I get it ground down to shape I will harden and temper it. If that works out well I am fairly sure I can finish it out nicely.
Please speak up if you see something I might be missing or could do to improve.
Post by: Uncle Russ on December 05, 2013, 04:07:58 PM
Were you able to 'buff' that high shine on the blade?
The last time I tried buffing a shine on I used red ruge, the RPM on the buffer must have been too high because the blade looked burnt in places to me.
Would you elaborate just a bit on that part?
Uncle Russ...
Post by: prairie dog on December 05, 2013, 05:02:06 PM
My grinder has variable speed, I run it slow to load the cloth wheel with polish but run high to polish the blade. Putting a knife blade to a high speed cloth wheel scares the bejesas out of me. I wear heavy leather gloves and I intentionally took the edge off the knife before buffing it. If that cloth wheel "grabs" an edge, the knife get away from you in a hurry. I sharpened the blade with my Arkansas stones and smooth butchers steel after I finished it. It's shaving sharp now.
Post by: sse on December 09, 2013, 01:38:01 PM
Post by: Spotted Bull on December 09, 2013, 02:33:54 PM