[Sam1911]

A friend asked me -- long ago now -- to do a series of Pocket Defenders for him and as gifts for some special folks in his life.

Steel is W2, 1/8" thick. Finish is rust blue over a brushed surface. Scales on the three gift knives are Bubinga, and on the orignial model, walnut -- all stabilized. Fittings are a mosaic pin and a brass lanyard tube.

Enjoy!

http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o588/OwensWeaponsmithing/Pocket%20Defender/PD1/032312058.jpg

http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o588/OwensWeaponsmithing/Pocket%20Defender/PD1/032312051.jpg

[Sam1911]

Close up of the walnut model:

http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o588/OwensWeaponsmithing/Pocket%20Defender/PD1/032312053.jpg

On this one I did a gentle spine grind that tapers into a bit of a false edge. Just something I tried and liked.

(MAN is it hard to take a picture of something shiney...Oh well...it's close to real-life.)

[Sam1911]

One of the bubinga models:

http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o588/OwensWeaponsmithing/Pocket%20Defender/PD1/032312056.jpg

[bluethunder1962]

So cool. You have a gift use it. Do you sell any? I started making knifes but didn't get far. Some of the coolest knives I have seen.

[Brian Williams]

I'm Jealous, they look sweet.

[bikerdoc]

Beautiful, simply beautiful.

Im working on some thing similar but with a more severe point. i hope it comes out half as good.

[Sam1911]

I'm Jealous, they look sweet.


;) Glad you like them!

[Sam1911]

Do you sell any? Yes, I've made a few on commission. I'm working on a new plan now though. Something like a batch plan where I will make 10 of the same thing, put them up for sale and then do a batch of something else. I just can't get enough time to work on knives to have anything like a "reasonable" production rate.

I started making knifes but didn't get far.I've found that it takes a LOT of perseverance, patience, and forbearance of family and friends. :o

Some of the coolest knofes I have seen. Thank you, very much!

[Sam1911]

Im working on some thing similar but with a more severe point. i hope it comes out half as good.

I'd love to see it! These were intended to be a little more acute and larger than the original PDs I made last year.

[Loosedhorse]

Nice work, Sam.

[Wolfebyte]

Oh Sweet! ....

[Tomcat47]

Those are awesome Sam!.....Love the Walnut handles!

I want to do the same, as far as knife making goes! I worked for some very reputable knife makers over the years and learned a lot!

Now, as you mentioned above finding the time, patience and family forbearance to tolerate the hobby!

[hso]

I'll be the critic.

Good work on the grinds.

Clean work on the grips, but the thickness spoils your lines.

Blued just doesn't equate to "gentleman" in knives. Better to bring them to a high polish.

Criticism aside, I'd carry them.

[Sam1911]

Good work on the grinds.Thanks! If I had to pick "the hard part" (for me) it would be establishing the grind lines, getting them where I want(ed) them, and making them straight and clean. It's getting a lot easier, though.

Clean work on the grips, but the thickness spoils your lines.Good enough...but can you be more specific? Thickness is too great? If so, I can't argue the visual aspect, but these are still pretty small (in my hands) and much less handle wouldn't be much to hold onto.

Blued just doesn't equate to "gentleman" in knives. Better to bring them to a high polish. :) Actually polishing is easier (for me) as I can do more of the handle finishing after glue-up if I don't have to worry about nicking a blued or coated blade.

But the specification was for a blued, brushed finish and I was intrigued to see if I could do it. I'm pretty happy with how the finish came out, though it is hard to photograph well.

Criticism aside, I'd carry them. That means quite a lot. Thank you!

[Gordon]

I think they are very nice, please post each batch for sale of whatever here, as I follow this forum. I'll buy one when something lights me up!

[bluethunder1962]

I started making 3 of these. I have the blanks cut heat and cryo treated and started grinding blades and ran out of steam. Would you be interested in finishing them or making me one. I can't afford 10 or need 10. No big deal if you can't.
http://www.scmaritime.org/old/article-9-23-2002.html

[Fred Fuller]

Very nice work. How are they sheathed?

[hso]

They need to be in boned leather either with dangler sheaths or a pancke OWB.

[bluethunder1962]

hso agreen 100%. This is to inform people who don't know. I serves no good to put somebody down because of how they think. We haven't lived their life.

[Sam1911]

Very nice work. How are they sheathed?
At the moment, they are not. Kydex would be just NOT the thing for these, and I don't do leather. A good friend, however does, and is very skilled. I'm going to ask him if he'll take over that part of the job.

They need to be in boned leather either with dangler sheaths or a pancke OWB.
Exactly my thoughts.

[Sam1911]

I have the blanks cut heat and cryo treated and started grinding blades and ran out of steam. Would you be interested in finishing them or making me one. I can't afford 10 or need 10. No big deal if you can't.
I certainly would, but I can't take on more work right now. Let's talk again when I get more ahead of my work load.

[bikerdoc]

Blued just doesn't equate to "gentleman" in knives. Better to bring them to a high polish.

Or change the name to "Good Ole Boy" :) :)

[bluethunder1962]

Thanks Sam.

[Joel]

I certainly would, but I can't take on more work right now. Let's talk again when I get more ahead of my work load.

Doesn't happen. Trust me...

[Walking Dead]

Timeless style and very classy.

[Valkman]

Nice knives, but like hso the handles are strange looking (to me) because they don't appear to be tapered or fitted to the hand. Where the handle starts should be greatly thinned down, then bring the handle out to fit the palm and back in at the rear of the knife.

I hate to criticize! I think you do a wonderful job!

But I like 'em - I'd carry one.

[JShirley]

It looks to me like the wood is beveled a little, so the handles won't feel blocky and uncomfortable. (But then, I've handled most of the knives Sam's made. He makes handles that feel better than most custom makers with years of experience.)

John

[Dr.Rob]

Sam those are great looking knives, esp the walnut one.

[Brian Williams]

I can't wait to see what they look like with the sheaths, Leather right?

[Sam1911]

The knives went to the sheath maker on Thursday. His work is awesome. The blades will look better for being carried in such nice leather.

The handles are smoothly radiused along all edges, the choil is deeply radiused for a comfortable and secure grip with either hand, and then the flats are kept parallel.

Remember, these are fairly small knives. "Pocket" sized, more or less. They aren't large, hand-filling handles, so there isn't a lot of room for sweeps and swells like I cut into the full-sized handles I make.

Here the blades are after heat-treat, but before I finished shaping the tangs. So, they actually became slightly smaller from here.

http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o588/OwensWeaponsmithing/Pocket%20Defender/PD1/012212067.jpg

I do put a lot of care into making sure the handles are comfortable and secure -- for me, at least, and often for my wife, too, who has much smaller hands. Some things I've liked better than others, but with these small knives I think there's a strong possibility of not just diminishing returns, but actually making things less optimal by trying to get too busy with the handle.

As I said, these are all based on my little "Pocket Defender" model. While these are a little bit bigger than the originals of that style, they still are more of a 3-4 finger handle. I'll always have room to improve, and I'm sure that I'll continue to experiment and evolve the form, but I'm quite satisfied with the feel of this set.

The final judge hasn't held them yet, so I'll have to get his feedback before I know if I was truly successful!

[Deltaboy]

Great looking knives Sam1911!

[Brian Williams]

I could not wait til the final pics so,

Well first off, I really ain't elegant, and some might not call me a gentleman, but these knives are just what I ordered, Sam used some wood I had around the house and fit them up nicely to some blades he did custom for me. I love the look and can't wait to see what Joel does with the Sheaths, they will be basic simple leather sheaths. The three in Bubinga will be for my son and 2 son-in-laws and the Walnut one will be mine. I have to wait to get back to the states to see them, THANKS Sam.

[Sam1911]

That makes me happy! Joel's been showing them off, with his sheath prototypes at the range, and they've gotten some pretty rave reviews! It would be hard to overstate how much work and care he puts into what he produces.

[Brian Williams]

Finally got home and "organized" to shoot a few pics
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii24/perfessr/knives/DSC_4484.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii24/perfessr/knives/DSC_4487.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii24/perfessr/knives/DSC_4486.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii24/perfessr/knives/DSC_4485.jpg

[Deltaboy]

Nice Knifes.

[Gordon]

Well I certainly want the mosiac pin option:)! How long is the blade and whats up with the sheath and logo?

[Brian Williams]

Squares are metric, can you work it out?
Sheath by Joel (http://www.thehighroad.org/member.php?u=103245)

[Gordon]

Gol dang copper star !:cool:

[Texan Scott]

I like the brushed finish. and remember, there's the sort of gentlemen who describe oaky old red wine as 'a bit woody', but then there's the sort of gentlemen who would never insult their guests by serving less than 100 proof bourbon. all depends on your frame of reference. some people think gentlemen's knives should fold and involve corkscrews. :rolleyes:

[JShirley]

Gordon, sheath by Joel. Knife logo is an S-O. ;)