My first custom build Straight Razor

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05-20-2011, 07:08 AM
KristianSestoft

1 Attachment(s)

My first custom build Straight Razor

Dear SRP's

This is a little project I've been working on. The knife is going to the annual knife competition in the Danish Knifemakers Guild. The Theme this year is folding knives... and a SR folds :D

I've now finished my first razor. I made everything from scratch. Forged the damascus, ground the blade, hardened it, cut the handle material, made those little washers (what a time consuming job! and not too nice) and finally pinned it. The CD was a great help.

The materials are thuja burl, copper for the washers and pins, 15N20 and UBH20C (for the blade)... and a drop of CA

And no cuts, yet ;)

Please tell me what you think. All my knowledge comes from SRP.

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/t...g/IMG_4798.jpg

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/t...g/IMG_4797.jpg

A peek without the scales:
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/t...g/IMG_4792.jpg

And a closeup
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/t...g/IMG_4793.jpg

Best regards
Kristian
05-20-2011, 07:30 AM
Birnando

Very nice!
Looks like you did a wonderful job.
Lovely steel pattern, great scales and good, classic lines to the razor.

The best of luck in the competition!!
05-20-2011, 07:55 AM
onimaru55

Congrats especially on forging your own steel ! As for the washers you can buy them easily here Micro Fasteners - Hobbyists Source - Locknuts - Washers - Machine Screws - Fasteners - Rivets - Wood Screws
05-20-2011, 09:15 AM
HLS

Very nice indeed. Any blade face photos?
05-20-2011, 09:26 AM
cudarunner

It looks GREAT! I wish you well in the Competition! Please let us know how your forged the steel! The only knowledge of forging that I've seen is industrial in Huge Amounts!

Again Good Luck!
05-20-2011, 11:28 AM
Maxi

A wonderful looking "folding knife". Good luck in your competition!
05-20-2011, 02:25 PM
Maximilian

Diving straight in forging your own damascus and being your first, I would say, you've got a bright future ahead of you. Good luck with the annual knife competition.
05-20-2011, 02:36 PM
WBK

Wow, thanks for sharing! :dropjaw:

Amazing work, good luck in the competition!
05-20-2011, 03:59 PM
thehekler

Love the scales and the pattern on the Damascus great job!
05-22-2011, 03:43 PM
KristianSestoft

To all of you. I'm so happy with your comments :) It really warms! :o

@onimaru55 Thanx. I know Micro Fasteners, but unfortunately, I didn't have time to wait for the shipping. I just finished the scales 2 days before the deadline, so I had to make the washers myself. It was hard to get them even. they were cut from a 0.8 mm copper plate, a 2 mm hole drilled and then shaped into a washer... and then beaten until it was 0.3 mm thick. NOT a thing I'll do again (unless someone pay me A LOT!)

@HSL You mean, photo taken from the tip? As if someone was trying to punch you with a dagger? (haven't tried that, btw) No. Sorry. The knife is already shipped, but I'll see if I can take some pics when the competition is done

@cudarunner. Oh! Yeah, basically I just took 8 pieces of steel. two different types; one with nickel to make the contrast and one without nichel, just plain steel. These will etch differently when eched in ferric cloride.
I stacked the pieces, nickelsteel, plain steel, nickel steel, plain steel and tap welded the bar together.
Now I went to my forge. It looks quite like this one. I got it from a bladesmith I know
Gas forge - Habanero two burner forge - chileforge.com
It runs on propane.
when the billet was warm enough (approx. 12-1300 degrees Celsius) (sorry, I dont do inch and farenheit) I forgewelded it together by hammering it ... Forged out the bar on the horn of the anvil, using my 2 kg hammer. That's hard to the wrist. I ended up with a bit of synovitis (for you who dont know what it is... It hurts in the wrist) and spend the rest of the week wearing a wristband.

This isn't me, is a mastersmith (but young as me) showing how patternwelding is done. I dont use any hydraulic press. Only hand hammer. Video «
It's some very nice videos, very interresting and shows you how patternwelding is done. Else, britishblades.com is a good place to look for forging (blades especially :) )

And thanks againg for all your replies.

Best regards
Kristian
05-22-2011, 03:53 PM
spazola

I really like your lines. The shape of the blade and scales are very nice. Great job.

Charlie
05-22-2011, 11:43 PM
mjhammer

OMG, forged it yourself?? The talent here never ceases to amaze and stupify!!!

What a beauty!!
05-22-2011, 11:49 PM
cudarunner

I couldn't get the link to forging work exactly, but I think this is what was intended to view.
Video «

Great Videos!
05-23-2011, 01:11 AM
onimaru55

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristianSestoft

@onimaru55 Thanx. I know Micro Fasteners, but unfortunately, I didn't have time to wait for the shipping. I just finished the scales 2 days before the deadline, so I had to make the washers myself. It was hard to get them even. they were cut from a 0.8 mm copper plate, a 2 mm hole drilled and then shaped into a washer... and then beaten until it was 0.3 mm thick. NOT a thing I'll do again (unless someone pay me A LOT!)

I would pre order washers for next time :D
05-23-2011, 02:06 AM
bharner

That blade is darn pretty. Let us know how it fares in the competition!
05-23-2011, 08:03 AM
Bruno

Overall a very pretty design. I have one question though. From the picture, it almost looks as if the blade is wider near the heel than near the toe. Is this correct or is it an optical illusion?
05-23-2011, 03:37 PM
KristianSestoft

Thanks guys :)

Yes, I promise that I'll tell you about the comp. It's held in Roskilde (near Copenhagen in Denmark, Europe ;) ) the 18th and 19th of June :)

@bruno I guess you are right :/ When I hardened it, it "potato chipped" by the toe. The only thing I could do was to grind the blade down until I got past the crooked part. This almostly destroyed the blade, but I had to use it or not compete at all :( but I probably took a bit more off, at the toe, than on the heel. I've seen the same thing on old, really used blades, worn down by decades of use -.-'
You can also see the crooked part on the blade without scales.
when I sharpened it, the edge goes a really long way up on the blade. It's because the blade is so thick after grinding away the crooked part.

HSL asked if he could see a pic of the face. This will show you what i mean. first, i ground it on the belt grinder to grit 80 and hand sanded it to 600. I dont have any finer grit belts. aproximately half a cm up on the blade, it was 0.1 mm on the thickest part. then you can guess how thin the edge was.
I learned not to heat treat / harden such a thin blade. It needs to be thicker. RULE OF PHYSICS!!! learned that the hard way. You can see more pics on my photobucket:
Straight Razors - Making and restoring pictures by poelsemads - Photobucket

Best regards
Kristian
05-23-2011, 03:38 PM
KristianSestoft

And next time... I'll definately not make my own washers!!!!! I wont!
05-24-2011, 04:57 AM
rannalf

Hey, great razor! And it is good you made those washers, microfasteners doesn't sell them in copper! :)
05-24-2011, 01:35 PM
KristianSestoft

*grin* I just made the washers in copper because I had a plate laying around :p I'd rather like to use some thin washers and I dont have to spend 10 minutes on making each ;) But as it turned out, copper looks really pretty:)

I think, copper for the pin is too soft. It tends to bend inside the razor when pinned, and i'm pretty sure I did'nt hammer too hard! I barely lifted the hammer from the pin :rolleyes:

-Kristian
06-20-2011, 09:49 AM
cudarunner

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristianSestoft

Thanks guys :)

Yes, I promise that I'll tell you about the comp. It's held in Roskilde (near Copenhagen in Denmark, Europe ;) ) the 18th and 19th of June :)

Best regards
Kristian

Kristian!
We are all dying to know how you did!!!!! It's the 20th of June here in the states! Let us know!!! :):):)
06-20-2011, 12:17 PM
ScottGoodman

Quote:

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Kristian!
We are all dying to know how you did!!!!! It's the 20th of June here in the states! Let us know!!! :):):)

I was thinking the same thing...the grind work on that blade was spot on.
06-20-2011, 12:20 PM
ShaveShack

Exceptional craftsmanship, well done and good luck in the comp!
Sam
06-20-2011, 02:56 PM
KristianSestoft

2 Attachment(s)

Hi again :D

I spent the weekend in Roskilde on the knife fair (I think it is called a fair?) and got to speak with a lot of nice knifemakers. There were not as many knives as last year sent to the competition, but far more in the section for "finer users" and that means like this one. Attachment 71804 Made by Gert Strømsted (Stroemsted). I'm getting bored by this kind of knife. It seems like that's the only type, Danes can make.

But... As it turned out, there were only sent two folders to the folder competition. As you might guess, I was really disapointed. A usual folder:Attachment 71807 Made by Jørgen Dobel

Now to the competition.
The slip joint made by Jørgen Dobel won first price, but mine got nothing. I would have thought that it would have been a 2nd place... but I got no price at all! :shrug:

What I really came for, was the feedback from the judges. Now I'll translate, what I got back.

" Knife nr. 27 (number given in the order the knives arrived with the mail)

The knife fulfills the criterias for the specific class, but we doubt if it is safe (to use) in a long term, here having the closing function in mind.

Good idea, we haven't seen that before - Nice thought of.

The blade is of high quality (or sterling or genuine, says the dictionary) and completely fulfills its purpose.

The house (the handle) is simple but seems slight build - could maybe have been made in the same material as the blade ???

The pins are too rough, compared to the finish of the rest. The scales are unequal in thickness.

Praise for the idea and the thought, the knife will be met with enthusiasm on knife shows but we strongly doubt the durability of the house in use.

On the point scale invented for this competition where you max can get 15, the knife gets 12"

Okay, that's what the judges said about it. I dont know, who exactely judged it, but I see clear signs of NO experience with SR's. I dont even think that they ever held one.

Please, what do you think about "but we doubt if it is safe (to use) in a long term, here having the closing function in mind." because I dont know what to make of it.

Also, what does "but we strongly doubt the durability of the house in use." mean? It's quite chubby, compared to most of the razors, I've held in my hands. The scales are much thinner on traditional celloloid handles.

"The scales are unequal in thickness." Point taken. They should of cause have been the same thickness. And thats what the judge are for! To tell me if it straight or not! They have to find mistakes, that I dont even know about!
I accidently broke off a part of the scale on the inside when I was trying to scrape away some CA. The judges said nothing about this obvious flaw! I'm rather dissapointed.

Honestly, I didn't go there for the price. I came to show all the old guys that I'm here. And I made a SR because it would spice up the "boring" competition. But Im also dissapointed because there was no real "fight"! only two knives? Seriously, Denmark! Can't you do that better?!?!

Okay, I think that was it.
Best regards, Kristian

oh, by the way. I cut open a plastic bag with "kammerjunkere", a special kind of danish cookie used in desserts. The edge was quite damaged by just doing that. I need to improve my hardening skills. (and yes, I know. SR's are only for cutting hair and throats :p)
06-20-2011, 03:13 PM
Str8Shooter

:dropjaw:And here I was happy with just cleaning up an old blade!!! That is beautiful work. It has a bit of a rustic, vintage look with a ton of style!!! Fantastic job!
What kind of steel did you use?

Paul
06-20-2011, 03:18 PM
Caydel

Kristian:

From reading the judge's comments, I suspect that perhaps he didn't even recognize it as a straight razor, and was evaluating it in terms of it being used as a regular knife...
06-20-2011, 04:37 PM
PDobson

It's too bad the judges didn't appreciate your entry for what it was. That surprised me; I have found that most people I meet have no trouble recognizing a razor for what it is, even my non-folding ones.

I too get bored with traditional Scandinavian knives. The only thing I like about them is how easy they are to grind. I think that style is too popular here in the States, so I can really feel your frustration. You'll have to come out to Montana some time, we have some very creative craftsmen.

Phillip
06-20-2011, 08:44 PM
KristianSestoft

@Str8Shooter

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristianSestoft

The materials are thuja burl, copper for the washers and pins, 15N20 and UBH20C (for the blade)... and a drop of CA

@ Caydel and PDobson. I agree! I even almostly knew how to strop before I started reading about SR's :p I'm going to ask if I can get to talk to the judges, and hear what they actually thought about it. (And find out if they ever knew what they were holding in their hands :) )
06-20-2011, 08:47 PM
Caydel

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristianSestoft

@ Caydel and PDobson. I agree! I even almostly knew how to strop before I started reading about SR's :p I'm going to ask if I can get to talk to the judges, and hear what they actually thought about it. (And find out if they ever knew what they were holding in their hands :) )

That would be interesting to follow up - evaluated in terms of a razor, I am sure it would come out much different than if evaluated as a knife used to chop vegetables / cut branches / cut rope.
06-22-2011, 12:24 AM
mjhammer

I think you got a bum deal because those guys didn't know a str8 from a hole in the ground.... Too bad. Still, you have tons to be proud of!!! You'll get them next year!

M
06-22-2011, 06:52 PM
KristianSestoft

Yeah, you are right! Maybe I should print out everything from the entire SRP homepage, give it to them and say "read this... and then judge" :whipped: