Search results

The micarta is tough, tough stuff - I treat it like I was bandsaw cutting brass. Lubrication helps if you have a metal cutting saw with that provision. The small ~$200 wood only bandsaws really struggle with it and chew up a lot of blades.

The numbers above are the direct dollar costs and profits I've got in play - there are also taxes which are taken out of the profit and inevitable screwups, delays, and other shenanigans. If we can produce a knife for an honest $83 dollars, sell it for a $30 profit or so after everything is...

Here are my figures, and several plans I can put into action if I can find the outlets to reliably purchase the work. Currently, I'm running a typical 3 week to 3 month backlog, depending on how hard i push the product. Right now I've got some limited search engine penetration and an ad up on...

Alright, Dogs - it's been a big couple of years and I've got the basics down. The product sells if I build it, at this point - so now it's time to ramp up for greater volume. I've got 1200 square feet to work in and some work on the bench that likely be getting myself and Black Wolf Armory...

I've been busy and have a lot of work to show off - here are some recently completed knives. The first batch is Alabama Damascus and CPM 3V for the tanto with polished, mitered 304 bolsters and stag jigged black buffalo horn handle scales. Also, a pair of my Rimfire pattern with some...

Very tasty! Again, your stitching is some of the nicest I've seen.

Thanks, everyone! I hoped it would be well received - now I've got a brand new obsession.

I've made at least 250 fixed blades at this point - Having some experience in general really seems to have helped. One thing I specifically like about the folders this size is now I can utilize a lot smaller handle scale material.

This has been a long time coming - I have a real pile of screwed up parts to show for it and a new appreciation for those who are at the top of their game with folding knives. This one is functional and tight with nothing more wrong with it than any off the shelf folder I've ever bought, I am...

The recent thread on some handle materials wanting to "blow out" during drilling got me thinking about the long, long list of expensive mistakes I've made regarding the fairly simple process of either installing scales or a hidden tang block. Here are some of my best ones, this can be read as a...

+1 again on the speed. When I'm drilling mammoth ivory I run my small 5 speed drill press WIDE OPEN, with very very tiny advancements coming all the way back out with each pass, cleaning the bit if necessary, also making sure the epoxy is completely dry so there's no gummy build up.

Clean guard fit! I love the stack + stag assembly, beautiful colors.

I invested in a counterbore in several sizes and start a centered pilot hole using a "from underneath" square tube with a slot jig that lets me clamp the tang up underneath with any taper accounted for with a shim. Once I've got my pilot, typically 1/8" through drilled then I can come back with...

There's some fine points to that knife I really like, Max. The french grind at the plunge and the bolster sweep are subtle but bring it to a new level. CLEAN work - I'm glad to see you're still at it!

We can take this discussion a LONG ways off original topic getting into the Post Office shenanigans, but I'm with you on it, Bubba. My costs this last year, in 2013, were in the 3 thousand dollar range of losses due to USPS. Crazy. I'm still on my feet but I'm a little bitter.

Sure, Bubba. Thank you for your time - I'll await the mail and we'll talk then. 2014 is going to be big and elk antler is huge around here.

Knifedogs - I go through increasingly large quantities of elk antler each year and my local supply is running a little slow. I'm willing to trade either complete knives, blanks I grind and heat treat myself, or other labor for wrist diameter elk drop beams cut to 10-12" sections in fair...

I hear you on the windchill "invention" issue. It was around when I started watching the news but lately it's being pumped up and advertised to help the news get views. They tried saying a certain Montana location was eighty below - it was actually pretty close to -35 with significant wind and...

During the first cold snap 2 weeks ago, it got down to -31 without windchill at my particular location. Out plugged into my diesel pickup, my 100 foot "-60 Below" extension cord was frozen solid and was as stiff as rebar. Then my neighbor ran it over one morning with his snowblower so now I...

Well, just how fine of a sand paper are you using? Typically, before I buff on most materials it's at least 600 grit or 45 micron - and for others like hardened blades, or some fine softer woods where too much buffing will erode them, 1200 to 2000 grit.