I made a knife.

Ok, actually I made 2 and this is the second. I'll take pics of the first one sometime soon.

I made this knife for a Christmas Exchange over on Bladeforums.com.

It's a carbonsteel blade and has Purpleheart scales. It's my first attempt at creating a slight hollow grind on my crappy stone grinder and although it's a bit rought I'm not completely unsatisfied with the results. (Actually I'm disappointed that the guy likes it otherwise I could've kept it myself :rofl2:

So without further ado:

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...ifepics030.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...ifepics031.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...ifepics032.jpg

Very nice--especially for a first attempt!

I go to blade forums, too--I'm WhiteH2OWoman.

I like it Alex!!!

Nice little skinner!:tu

Second attempt really. Iĺl post the first sometimesoon as well. In some aspects the first attempt was more succesfull and in other ways the second one was better. Next time Iĺl combine the two ;-)

Man, that's awesome. Those scales (are they still called scales on a knife?) are lovely. Can you shave with that guy? :D

I love to see people MAKE things. I wish Ihad more space--I can't really start any projects in my matchbox apartment. SWMBO doesn't take kindly to clutter.

Not quite. Maybe if it'd be worked on a yellow coticule for a little while you could though.

Ik ben geïmponeerd! Het zeer goede werk.

I like the size and shape. Looks like a very handy tool. I bet making knives can get to be habit forming. ;)

It is so far. Thanks for the complements guys.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimR

I love to see people MAKE things. I wish Ihad more space--I can't really start any projects in my matchbox apartment. SWMBO doesn't take kindly to clutter.

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AMEN! That's one of our major problems right now in America--we don't MAKE STUFF nearly as much as we used to, plus individual folks don't have the know-how anymore.

And I made another one. Actually I did a few in the time between but this is my most recent one. It was made for a friend. His wife ordered it for his birthday (which is tomorrow) and he doesn't know about it.

The wood is orotoguaje, the steel is japanese takefu suminagashi steel. Which is basically a number of carbon layers (soft) on the outside with a hard carbon steel layer on the inside.

Enjoy:
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/2013/1013379.th.jpg
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/8978/1013378.th.jpg
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9206/1013377.th.jpg

Nice knife.

about the pics: next time I would not display the name and address so prominently in the pictures, at such high resolution that is is easily readable.

Not the address it's going to...that was an old box. But still point taken.

This sounds like something to have a go at over the winter, they are stunning knives. Where's a good place to start looking?

That's a good skill to have. If you're ever sent to prison, you'll be able to better protect yourself. And barter for cigarettes. Actually, scratch that - you could demand cigarettes from the other inmates!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gregs656

This sounds like something to have a go at over the winter, they are stunning knives. Where's a good place to start looking?

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In making them you mean? Buying some proper steel (doesn't have to be expensive, contact me for a good seller).

Having some decent tools (good set of files or some powerfull belt sanders/grinders) and a LOT of sanding paper.

If you want to give it a try give me a call I have quite a lot of steel left over in different kinds and I'll be happy to send you some at costprice. (Also have things like pins etc.)

Very nice Alex!! Would you consider selling one of your darlings?

I already have!! Jockeys has bought two. I have another on up for sale in the Misc classifieds. That one is the only one that I have ready for sale at the moment though. I'm working on a (very) small folder that should be ready in a few weeks.

Looks fantastic, but I have one question: what is a Woonplaats? Sounds like a dangerous animal you might find in the woods :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Quick Orange

Looks fantastic, but I have one question: what is a Woonplaats? Sounds like a dangerous animal you might find in the woods :D

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You don't find the Woonplaats; the Woonplaats finds you!

Lit: Living Place.
Used to indicate mailing address or area of residence.

Today I finished my most recent one. Carbon steel, ebony handle with Star Saphire inlays.

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/8333/1013775.jpg
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/8003/1013776.jpg
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/4941/1013777.jpg
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/1148/1013778.jpg
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/5565/1013779.jpg
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8130/1013780.jpg

They're getting better each time. I like the work on the serrations. Did you put them in by hand?

Phillip

Yes I did. With a small file. They are sharp too. In fact while I was sharpening it on my Spyderco Sharpmaker I slipped....briefly touched my thumb and made a nice cut on the side.

The whole knife is sharp enough to shave armhair.

I have a deep respect for anyone who can make a good looking and working knife. Where does that pattern on the blade come from? Is that chemical etch or layered steel or something entirely different?

It's a mustard etch. So yeah...chemical.

btw. Here's another one I did a while back:
Dragon's Breath custom laminate (like Micarta but Micarta's a patented product name) with Niolox proffessionally hardened stainless steel.
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/8439/1013866q.jpg
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3753/1013865.jpg
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/5576/1013864.jpg
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4025/1013863.jpg
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1993/1013862.jpg
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/3537/1013861.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/5531/1013859.jpg

That's a very artistic little knife you have there.

Wow Alex your skill level is increasing exponentially with each project. I always tell me students to value most the experience factor. In my opinion your experience factor is more valuable than others. The value one obtains from experience is a prime indicator of that person's intelligence. I wonder Alex if we might be able to work out some sort of trade. I am impressed with your progress and would like very much to obtain some of your work but as I am unemployed and destitute, by the time I can afford to buy one of your knives, I won't be able to afford your work.

Brad

Oh, if my memory serves me correctly, wasn't it Dorian and Harvey, the Woonplaats twins who conspired at seven years old to kill their nanny?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

It's a mustard etch. So yeah...chemical.

btw. Here's another one I did a while back:
Dragon's Breath custom laminate (like Micarta but Micarta's a patented product name) with Niolox proffessionally hardened stainless steel.
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/8439/1013866q.jpg
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3753/1013865.jpg
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/5576/1013864.jpg
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4025/1013863.jpg
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1993/1013862.jpg
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/3537/1013861.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/5531/1013859.jpg

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This one is really to my liking!! Well done!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by icedog

Wow Alex your skill level is increasing exponentially with each project. I always tell me students to value most the experience factor. In my opinion your experience factor is more valuable than others. The value one obtains from experience is a prime indicator of that person's intelligence. I wonder Alex if we might be able to work out some sort of trade. I am impressed with your progress and would like very much to obtain some of your work but as I am unemployed and destitute, by the time I can afford to buy one of your knives, I won't be able to afford your work.

Brad

Oh, if my memory serves me correctly, wasn't it Dorian and Harvey, the Woonplaats twins who conspired at seven years old to kill their nanny?

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Brad, I would be honored to do a trade with you. I have a couple of projects to finish. But once they're done I'll shoot you a message and we'll do some kind of swap.
I'd love to make something for you and I'd also love to own something made by you. I sometimes see the pieces you've turned and they make my jaw drop.

Just to wet your appitite a little more. Here's another on I finished about 2 months ago.

It's 1.2519 carbon steel with Filework all around, Gabon Ebony handle slabs with Brass pins and (kind of crappy but still pretty) Apple Coral inlays.

It's also differentially hardened (the edge is harder than the spine) and you can see the hardening line in the picture I took before I buffed the knife up.

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3739/1013857q.jpg
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/5973/1013666f.jpg
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/5893/1013854.jpg
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/96/1013853.jpg
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/5583/1013852.jpg
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1238/1013858.jpg

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/4066/1013663.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JMS

This one is really to my liking!! Well done!!

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Thanks Mark. I'm quite happy with this one. The grinds could be a little neater still but it's one of my most solid pieces so far. (I love carrying it in my pocket as well. It's quite the handy little knife. I'll be disappointed once I have to give it to the guy I made it for.
Luckily he's supposedly making something for me as well. So I won't leave empty handed.