A brother's First custom knife...

Ironwolf

Ironwolf

The Knife Poet
So,my best friend is coming to Vancouver to play a show
(Shawn Carle: he's a fantastic musician,who spent some time kicking around Dallas a few years back;anyone know him?).
I haven't seen him in years...
We lost touch for a long time when he moved,and only re-connected
last year.
He's never had a hand-made knife,so last week I decided to build him
a lil' edc from a blade I got from Mike Morris/Morris Knives.
It's made from an old file,and I know Shawn would be tickled to have a knife
that's made from a recycled tool!
I'm real happy with how this turned out;the brass bolsters are recycled material too.
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WOW! Need another brother?!?!

I really like the way the knife came out, but I LOVE the way the file teeth can be seen behind the bolsters!

Great looking file work as well. That's something I haven't even attempted yet, but plan to practice a bit on some el cheapo steel I bought just for that purpose!

Looking forward to hearing how he liked it!

Question if you don't mind, how did you fill in the pins with epoxy? I've tried twice and made a mess both times...

Charlie
 
lol,thanks Charlie!
I was a little apprehensive about the bond between bolster and steel,
so I sanded the flats on a dead-flat sheet of thick safety glass,to which I glue sheets of wet-dry 3M sand paper.
And I sanded...and sanded,and sanded some more...
Even though Mike draws the temper down a good bit (to Rc 58 or so)
it's still a file :D
I got the teeth down til you can hardly feel them,then used my dremel and a diamond burr to 'scarify' the inside surface of the bolsters and the steel:
I've done this before with good results.
As for the pins,I re-used an empty 2-part epoxy syringe with a tube on it:
the tube has an insert that mixes the epoxy and dispenses it ready to go
(it's a PC brand fast-set epoxy which I use for leather welts).
I mix up my dyed 2-Ton epoxy,suck it up into the tube,slip the tube over the ends of the pins and flood the pins.
Fairly neat and easy...
 
Thank you Stabber,
I'm pretty happy how my knife "building" skills have come along,
I can't wait until I can start making my own blades!!!
 
Looks GREAT , I love the homemade pins , I've been apprehensive to try that. You did great on the filework too. The whole package looks really nice.
Keep up the good work.
 
Coming from you guys,I feel like a 3rd Grader who did a finger-painting being given the "attaboy" by Robert Bateman! :D

The pins are easy Dwane,it's just playin' with the inner pins to get a good fit.
I usually make one long enough to make all the pins for the knife,
but I was running out of the smaller rods and had to use remnants from other projects.
Add a little black dye to your epoxy and it really sets off the pins.
I'll do a step-by-step WIP next time I make some.
 
Lookin good Wolf.I like the whole package.
I really like filework,I've just not been able
to make it look right on any I've tried.
Keep it up brother.

God bless,Keith
 
Thanks brother!
The trick I use for mine is to measure and transfer (I use a tiny,3' pocket measuring tape) 1/16" increments onto a strip of green painter's tape ,then cut a very thin strip from that and lay it along the spine and tang.It's a little time consuming,but really helps keep the filing matched up.
 
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Well Done. Really nice.
Greenpeace has some vids on youtube that I'm sure would enable you to make your own blade from an old file. I think your skill set is higher than you give yourself credit for.
Dozier
 
zemknives said:
Nice job. Are you sure its your 1st.
JZ
Click to expand...

lol,no,not my first knife;
it'll be my bro's 1st hand-made knife.
However,that's the first time I've done a fitted bolster like that.
I just did my first dove-tailed bolster recently,and decided to try this kind
of a shaped/fitted bolster for this knife.
 
Keith Willis said:
Sounds good Wolf,I've got one I'll give it a try on.
Let ya know how it turns out.

God bless,Keith
Click to expand...

Here's my set-up for file-work Keith:
I lay the painter's tape out on the edge of my cutting mat,tape the small measuring tape in place,lay out my increments.Then,cut a 1/16" strip from the tape,carefully lift it,(you gotta lift it a certain way:it has tendency to curl up if you just pull from the end...you'll see ;)) apply to the knife starting at the heel of the blade/ricasso area.Stick the tape to the belly of the tang and up onto the spine.I always start this way,so I can end my pattern anywhere on the spine of the knife.

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You did a great job. I know I would be tickled pink to receive that!!
 
Thanks!
I was thinkin' about what I'm gonna transport it in...
he's playin' a gig in Vancouver (I'm in North Van,and have to cross the Fraser River to get to Van.),and I'm takin' transit to go see him,'cause I don't drink-n-drive.
So,I figured I better put it in sumthin' better than a cardboard box....

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