A few I have made recently

I am still a complete rookie and nowhere up to the standards of the fine makers I keep seeing on here and elsewhere, but I keep trying to learn and improve bit by bit. Of course with everything going on with an older house that needs some work, kids that have stuff going on and this god awful heat lately I haven't had much time in the shop. Anyway, here are a few I've been working on.

This is #4. It is made from some scrap 1/8" thick O1 from a local machine shop. I squeezed what I could out of the piece I had. I am not a real fan of the design, it looked good on paper, but not sure about it now. Scales are natural canvas micarta.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Fergy35/Knives%20I%20have%20made/84b0b28d.jpg

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Fergy35/Knives%20I%20have%20made/1f966849.jpg

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Fergy35/Knives%20I%20have%20made/d28e36ac.jpg

This is #5. I had looked at a picture of a TDI, but have not handled one yet. I figured what the heck, that looks like it would fit on that next piece of scrap. So I sketched my version of it on the steel and this is what I got. Again it is O1. This time it is 3/16" thick. The scales are a home brew denim laminate.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Fergy35/Knives%20I%20have%20made/35bd6e79.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Fergy35/Knives%20I%20have%20made/e2e1f0a8.jpg

This is #7 (haven't got pictures of #6 yet). It is still in process and is currently waiting for heat treat. This one is 1/8" O1 that Cubby was kind enough to give me when I visited him. Not 100% certain what I will be doing for scales yet. I have some home brew black and tan linen laminate that may end up on this one.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Fergy35/Knives%20I%20have%20made/db97b865.jpg

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh76/Fergy35/Knives%20I%20have%20made/4ce166f2.jpg

Anyway, thanks for looking.

Not sure what I'd do with #5, but your work looks really good and I think that first one would be extremely useful...

They look fantastic to me. I like O1 for knives. 1095, too. Easy to work with, takes a heat treat well, is forgiving, and when done, holds an edge very well. A lot of the newer alloys may do better, but O1 is "as much steel" as most anyone will ever need in a working knife.

I really like the blade geometry on the #4. It would make a great squirrel/rabbit skinner.

I am not a real fan of the design, it looked good on paper, but not sure about it now.
I think if you had more separation of the blade and the ricasso you might would like it more from an aesthetic standpoint. In other words, make the ricasso more of a finger guard, and less of a ricasso. That would allow you to get more sharpenings out of the blade without running into the ricasso with your stones, too.

Something like this maybe:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e15/itsthewhitmans/jason/Untitled-1copy.jpg

All in all, though, if I needed another small skinner, I would buy a knife like yours. I think it would work just fine.

I really like the way the denim micarta turned out on #5. I've been saving up old blue jeans to make some myself, and was wondering how it would look. I think it looks great.

I'm looking forward to some completed pics of #'s 6 and 7.

Jason

I really like the denim laminate, as well as the bottom blade.

John

Thank you for the comments. I appreciate it. Jason - you might be on to something there. That is the area that has been bugging me.

I think when I make my next batch of the denim laminate I will turn every 3rd layer to expose the inside of the denim. I think that would give better contrast. Either that or use denim from different pairs of jeans so the colors vary.

Dont discount your talent my friend. That is top notch work, that shows imagination and craftmanship.

Keep em coming.

I'm working on my very first blade, and if it turns out anything like what you posted, I'll be happy as a pig in... well a place that makes pigs very happy.

I really like the design for #5. Looks like it would make a great deer skinner.

You knocked the kabar out of the park with your version! I have a TDI, and it has nothing vs. your's. The design is beautiful!

Wow, no.7 is a GREAT knife.

Very pretty, very clean work. Nicely done!

Pretty nice work!

Don't sell yourself short, all of those look great!

Some first rate cutters!

Your very skilled from what I have see on this thread.

wow, that is truly some Fantastic work

i especially love #5.....

i have a TDI and i love it, its become one of my favorite designs.......but after seeing your version......kinda puts the TDI to shame.

That denim laminate is pretty sweet.

Thanks for the compliments guys. I am glad you like them.

It's a messy job, but I enjoyed doing the denim scales. I will probably make more or them in the future. I have some old jeans sitting there just waiting for their next life.

I've been buying and selling custom knives for over 30 years.From your pictures Your knives look as good as any i've seen. I cann't tell about the center of the grinds but would bet they are good. Remember that a quality knife needs an equal quality scabbard

Good luck in your endeavors,

ts

How do you do the denim laminates anyhow?

How do you do the denim laminates anyhow?

im no expert.....but i believe the procedure is as follows

1) cut denim into squares.
2) coat a square in epoxy.
3) coat 2nd square with epoxy and layer on top of the first.
4) repeat step 3 until desired thickness.
5) clamp epoxied squares and squeeze to remove excess epoxy.
6) allow to cure and cut into shape.

Those look fabulous. Makes me want to try my hand at it. But I have too many hobbies already. :)