[Hutton]

PERFECT
i am actually loving this knife

[C.Anderson]

Hutton, on 01 August 2010 - 05:43 PM, said:

PERFECT
i am actually loving this knife

Thanks =D.

Well...now that I have an actual blade...would you guys mind looking it over from multiple angles and tell me what you might change? I took a number of pictures from various angles for that purpose:



















So...comments? Critique? Suggested changes? Keep in mind the only power tool used on this was a belt sander to break down the hardened edge to sharp. That is in no way an excuse...as I feel 'hand made' should in no way mean 'full of mistakes' lol. Just something to remember I guess, and something to give you a direction for your commentary. One thing I was originally concerned about was that there might be some discomfort from the pointy butt...but it fits very nicely in my hand. My Dad's hands are much larger than mine, and it's a complete non issue for him. Additionally once the handle is wrapped, and the lanyard built...it should be even less so. In one of the pictures you'll likely notice the dull edge near the choil. The blade has in no way been sharpened...but this will be addressed as well.

Other than these things though...any advice?

Cris

[Noah M Legel]

That looks AWESOME!

[Kenon Rain]

How'd ya get that cool even dust finish? I like it alot

[C.Anderson]

Noah M Legel, on 02 August 2010 - 07:13 AM, said:

That looks AWESOME!

Thanks Noah =D. Starting to get a bit more of a picture what I meant now? Now picture dark, distressed leather braid or lacing for the wrap/lanyard, and a copper/steel mokume palm swell and lanyard beads.

Kenon Rain, on 02 August 2010 - 09:37 AM, said:

How'd ya get that cool even dust finish? I like it alot

Probably much like one would etch a damascus blade I guess (never done pattern welding). I just tried to get all the scratches very even since it's such a low grit, cleaned the blade with alcohol...then dunked it in dilute ferric chloride. Then I took it out of the etch, sprayed it with windex, and rubbed it out with my fingers (which are pretty rough I suppose). I then rinsed it, dried it thoroughly...blew it off to get any loose lint off it...then into the etchant it went again. It only took a couple cycles like this to get this color. When I was done, I went over it with a bit of home made choji, and that was that.

When I do it on the final polish, I'll probably keep doing it until it doesn't take an etch anymore. Hopefully that will make it more durable. This seems like it would wear off kind of easily, though I haven't tested it and it hasn't so far. I'll probably cut some rope up today and see if it scratches easily.

Here's a kinda cool picture lol. My wife unpacked my first knife today (note the tip she bent back when I made it by dropping it point first on a tile floor lol). I thought it would be cool to look at a comparison...so I unwrapped the handle and placed them side by side:



You can't really see it in the picture...and it's sort of an unfair comparison because the handle wrap REALLY balances the first blade out appearance wise...but it just looks/feels sort of clunky and unbalanced compared to the little one. Amazing how our skills can progress in just a few blades!

Cris

[C.Anderson]

Hey Noah!

I'm desperately in need of your help!!





Ok...more seriously...lol. The thing's sharp now...and I needed a way to carry it throughout the day, every day...so I ran down to Michaels and picked up the most appropriate leather they had (2oz suede...I know, not good...but it was the best they had). 20 minutes after I got home I had this 'thing' made up lol. They didn't sell belt clips...so I had to buy a 'build your own cell phone case' leather kit they had and pirate it.

Can you tell it's my first ever leatherwork?? And a rush job at that lol...I call it...Frankensheath =D.

Cris

[Noah M Legel]

Not bad for your first, Cris--my first was done with pigskin glove leather for lack of anything more suitable

I may not have the time to do the leatherwork for you at the moment, but I just can't let that beautiful knife sit in a suede sheath! Send me a tracing and I'll send you some leather

C.Anderson, on 03 August 2010 - 12:09 AM, said:

Hey Noah!

I'm desperately in need of your help!!





Ok...more seriously...lol. The thing's sharp now...and I needed a way to carry it throughout the day, every day...so I ran down to Michaels and picked up the most appropriate leather they had (2oz suede...I know, not good...but it was the best they had). 20 minutes after I got home I had this 'thing' made up lol. They didn't sell belt clips...so I had to buy a 'build your own cell phone case' leather kit they had and pirate it.

Can you tell it's my first ever leatherwork?? And a rush job at that lol...I call it...Frankensheath =D.

Cris

[C.Anderson]

Noah M Legel, on 03 August 2010 - 12:19 AM, said:

Not bad for your first, Cris--my first was done with pigskin glove leather for lack of anything more suitable

I may not have the time to do the leatherwork for you at the moment, but I just can't let that beautiful knife sit in a suede sheath! Send me a tracing and I'll send you some leather

LOL thanks Noah...this really was a rush job too though. If I'd taken the time to measure things out better, layout my stitch lines...and just been more attentive in general, I'm sure it would have been reflected in the final outcome lol.

As for the leather...I'll definately take you up on that. I'll send you a PM to verify what it is exactly that you need, as well as get a few ideas from you for what kind of sheath would better match my needs lol.

Thanks man =D.

Cris

[C.Anderson]

So I spent some time over the last couple days trying to figure out a wrap style. The picture I had in my head turned out to be only semi feasible lol. The style I settled on LOOKS much like it...but ended up a spiral wrap instead of a crossed or Japanese style wrap. I kind of like it better...but I have a problem.

How to tie it off...as well as how to absolutely positively ensure it doesn't come loose on the front.

When looking at the pictures below...keep in mind I skipped a round on the front which will be included in the finished wrap, still need to file a few more indents on the underside of the palm swell (also into the spine and lower grip so the wrap is fixed) so it'll sit flatter...and still have to figure out how to tie it all at the rear...but overall I'm pretty pleased with the look. The palm swell is antique wagon wheel wrought, and will be rounded, polished...and heavily etched to show the grain. With the blade etched grey/black, and the leather nicely oiled to darken it...I think it'll turn out looking decent.

Sort of 1800's tactical lol =D.















What do you guys think??

Cris

[Hutton]

not bad at all,but i prefered it when it didnt have a paracord.
but its up too you mate,you have my support

[C.Anderson]

Hutton, on 07 August 2010 - 03:02 PM, said:

not bad at all,but i prefered it when it didnt have a paracord.
but its up too you mate,you have my support

Ahh, you mean the braided leather? Paracord is a nylon composite. None on this blade at this point =D.

I'm redoing the wrap either way...the palm swell was too long, necessitating too many rounds on the wrap...which completely took away the grace of the bottom curve. With one fewer wrap on each side...it will make the lower curve begin on each side in metal...then switch to leather...then back to metal again. Additionally, I need to inset the leather on the spine and bottom of the grip...something else that was taking away from the lines of the blade.

I think with those two corrections will make a big difference. Right now it looks like two chunks of metal wrapped with leather. With those changes...maybe it can go back to a well shaped knife...with a leather grip =D.

Cris

~Edit -
Just realized there were no pictures lol:





Now you can see what I meant.

C

This post has been edited by C.Anderson: 07 August 2010 - 04:19 PM

[C.Anderson]

Well, I was intending to heat treat this evening...but other things got in the way (weather for one)...so I ended up messing with my knife some more.

Basically...the leather is partially inset into the spine and grip, the palm swell was shortened down, and thinned height wise, allowing me to narrow one spiral of leather off each end...which did HUGE things for the lines of the blade. What I did not do was change the leather color...though I wanted to. I didn't have any dye handy.

I also added my touchmark via salt water etching =D.



So this one qualifies as my second finished knife lol...with the only other one that was finished being my first. 2 of 5...not so good an average eh? I still have my tanto I intend to go back and finish though...as well as my katana.

Anyhow...that's that =D. I will see about getting some better pictures tomorrow...and update the thread then.

If there is interest...I'll also make another thread when I get the first order for another one in the series.

Cris

[Noah M Legel]

Beautiful work, Cris, and that touchmark is great! As far as dying the leather--do you have any vinegar handy? Mix in some steel shavings/nails/wool with vinegar and let it set in the sun for a week or two and you'll have black leather (and wood) dye...if you call a chemical blackening agent a "dye" anyway

[C.Anderson]

Noah M Legel, on 07 August 2010 - 08:29 PM, said:

Beautiful work, Cris, and that touchmark is great! As far as dying the leather--do you have any vinegar handy? Mix in some steel shavings/nails/wool with vinegar and let it set in the sun for a week or two and you'll have black leather (and wood) dye...if you call a chemical blackening agent a "dye" anyway

Awesome Noah...does the amount of time affect the darkness of it? I'm looking for a very dark brown...not quite black.

It won't hurt to brush it on and leave it right?

Cris

[Noah M Legel]

C.Anderson, on 07 August 2010 - 08:33 PM, said:

Awesome Noah...does the amount of time affect the darkness of it? I'm looking for a very dark brown...not quite black.

It won't hurt to brush it on and leave it right?

Cris

Ah, if you want that color then you are better off using walnut husks instead of iron/steel in the vinegar. Brushing it on doesn't hurt, but you do need to add water to neutralize the effect or it will keep getting darker until it neutralizes itself

[C.Anderson]

Noah M Legel, on 08 August 2010 - 10:19 AM, said:

Ah, if you want that color then you are better off using walnut husks instead of iron/steel in the vinegar. Brushing it on doesn't hurt, but you do need to add water to neutralize the effect or it will keep getting darker until it neutralizes itself

Thanks Noah =D.

It's darkening the more I handle it. I think I'll see where that takes it first...then give it a bump if it stops at the wrong color =D.

Cris