A Fighter I made 5-7 years ago comes back to me

[Valkman]

Our own Ugaarguy recently put this up for sale, and I remarked that I'd love to have it but didn't have the money. So in stepped rcmodel and paid for the knife and had it sent to me.

Now I didn't keep any of the knives I made, they all got sold, so I knew it would be neat to get one back. But when I did get it back it was a lot more feeling than I thought just handling it - I loved it!

This is a Fighter with a 6" blade, green/black micarta scales and made from D2 or CPM D2. It is 1/4" thick and about 13" long (I like a lot of handle!). I also sandblasted and coated this knife with Brownell's Alumahyde II and I only did a few of those. Apparently I used 2 different colors trying for a camo look but it didn't really work. You can see the 2 colors on the blade if you look close.

I put it on the Wicked Edge for some edge tuning and got it straightened out after about 30 minutes with the 100 grit stones. I sharpened it way back when on the 2x72" grinder so there were different angles everywhere but now it's all good. I took the edge to 600 grit and quit there except for stropping.

Pics!

New edge:



Left side:



Right side:



Thanks to Ugaarguy for selling it and a big thanks to RC for buying it for me - it really means a lot. Don

 

[SuperNaut]

You know I love your knives Don, I'm glad you finally have one of your own creations!

 

[rcmodel]

Beautiful knife Don!

I was Glad to help out a THR friend get one of his own back in the fold were it belongs!!

Now, you sell it again, I'm coming after you 1,500 miles south-west on I-70/I-15 on my Hovearound scooter!!!!

Hope you show it to your grandkids and tell tall tails of the knife maker you were, and still are!!


rc

 

[Valkman]

I can see you on your scooter RC, probably with a 50 year-old lever action .32-20 or something like that. Heehee.

Thanks Supernaut!

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

That is a great looking knife. Way to go rc, that is a heck of a fine thing you did Sir.
Oh, and rc's hover scooter mounts a 45/70 carbine not some dinky 32-20...

 

[rcmodel]

45/70?

If I have to go to Nevada on my Hoveround scooter after Valkman?

I'm taking a scoped 30-06, an AR-15, a 1911 or two, and a few S&W's in various calibers!!!

All the armament my Hoveround can carry 1,500 miles on the interstate in fact!!!

Valkman could be a very dangerous adversary for all I know??

But if he doesn't sell the knife again?
All that would be unnecessary.

I hope he is a reasonable man, and just keeps the knife this time!

rc

 

[50 Shooter]

So how much would it be if a THR member wanted to buy it?

Or trade for another knife?

That knife is a work of art and I would like to own it, PM me if interested. And if I ever feel the need to sell it, I'll contact you or RC first!

 

[Valkman]

I'm not going to sell this one. I quit making knives about 5 years ago after tangling with a table saw, but they come up for sale every now and then. I'm just really glad to have it back.

I did a THR Group Buy and got a lot of orders so they're out there.

Normally they did not have a coating and looked like these:

 

[50 Shooter]

Where can I get one like the one on top in that pic?

You make some very nice knives, sorry to hear you got hurt. Did it take you out of the game totally? If so that's sad to hear, very nice pieces and I would like to have one.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Good for you VALK...

... and "cheers" to RC as well. Heaps of karma there.

That knife deserves a sheath now and not some poohtastic, Übertactifool kydex either but a sweet leather/horsehide bit with a respectable lanyard to boot.

After all, look at the money you already saved.

Todd.

 

[hso]

You don't want a sheath for a knife that is going in a display. The sheath covers the work of the knifemaker and risks causing rust. Don't store your knives in leather.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I disagree.

You don't want a sheath for a knife that is going in a display. The sheath covers the work of the knifemaker and risks causing rust. Don't store your knives in leather.

But of course it's a matter of taste. I think displaying a user's knife with a quality sheath whether sheathed or simply accompanying it in display heightens the practical nature of a knife.

A user's knife without a sheath is like the old days of custom cars being displayed with no engine internals - smacks of disingenuity (for lack of a better word) as to the purpose of a knife otherwise designed to be carried.

As said though, it's a matter of taste as my point of view paradoxically does not apply to say, handguns and holsters.

Point being, whether displayed sheathed of not, I get the feeling this would be a lot nicer with a triple layer leather sheath with it.

POV only of course.


Todd.

 

[Valkman]

50 Shooter, I haven't made knives for 5 years so you'll have to keep an eye peeled for ones that come up for sale.

Yea I don't like Kydex either but some knives and customers required them. The guy that made it made the best Kydex I've seen but it's still Kydex.

 

[hso]

But of course it's a matter of taste.

No, it is simply a matter of whether you want the knife to rust or not. A Kenny Rowe sheath beside a great knife in a glass topped display case is better than the knife in Kenny's sheath in the case because you won't cause the blade to rust and the guard to tarnish.

I've been saddened many times seeing a nice knife in a pretty sheath with a ruined blade because the previous owner didn't understand this.

 

[Gordon]

Kydex is pretty nice ! While the CPM 154 of mine has held up well around the ranch, it has gottin wet more than once (long ago when it rained around here) the knife is on my night belt near the bed!

 

[Valkman]

Sweet set-up Gordon, you're ready for anything! I guess you won't be selling your Fighter to 50 Shooter?

 

[hso]

Kydex is pretty nice!

Kydex is practical, like a Glock.

This is "pretty nice!"



Still, a display knife doesn't need a sheath unless the owner wants one as window dressing.

 

[Yo Mama]

Beautiful knife Valkman! Glad to see it's back with you.

 

[Brin]

Don, It is a shame you are not making knives anymore. You made beautiful looking nice knives. How wide was the D2 flat stock you made this knife out of before you started to grind?

 

[Gary A]

I've been reading and occasionally posting on this forum for a number of years and I am regularly struck by the class shown by people, especially senior people on this board. It's heartening.

 

[Valkman]

How wide was the D2 flat stock you made this knife out of before you started to grind?

1/4". Thank you guys for the comments!

 

[hso]

Don,

How long did you spends with the 'stones'?

 

[Brin]

Don, thanks but the measurement I am looking for is the width of the stock you made this knife out of. Looks to be about 1”or 1-¼”?

 

[Gordon]

I'd say 1 1/2" pretty wide blade

 

[Valkman]

I think it was 1 1/2" stock and I narrowed it some but not a lot.

hso, it took me 30 minutes to straighten out the angles at 100 grit and make it uniform. Then about 10-15 minutes with the higher grits and strops. Cut the heck out of my right index finger along the way - man that 100 grit tip was sharp and cut my finger like butter! But I put my Man pants on, got it to stop bleeding, applied a band-aid and goot back to sharpening.