A work in progress -- FINISHED!

[Sam1911]

Hi!

Just got this to the point that it's turning into something and I'm liking it a lot so I thought I'd share.

This is a variation of our Mk1 soldier's knife, clip point version, but expanded to XXL size.

This is 3/16" thick 52100 so it is going to need a finish (and I've got a great idea for that...it's going to look different!), and the blade width is 1-5/8". Blade length is 8-1/8" from the shoulder of the bevel to the tip. Overall length is 13-1/2". Handles are green canvas micarta, but they're just rigged up temporarily at the moment as I'll need to take them back off to do the final finish on the metal. Probably will make black canvas micarta pins again.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Excellent job !

 

[JShirley]

Turning out very nicely, Sam. Love that handle.

 

[bikerdoc]

Got enough keys?

Good looking knife.

 

[stan rose]

That looks really good. Can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Now that's a knife!

 

[hso]

8" is a hoss of a knife.

Looks a bit like one that I bought from Valkman back when he was making.

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

So is this your Sunday-go-to-meetin' knife

Any plans on a sheath?

 

[Sam1911]

I've worked on, finished, modified, and generally enjoyed Don's knives, and still have one or two of his blades here to finish someday. (No fighters, though.) He's been a great inspiration and encouragement and taught me a lot. If I hadn't picked up some of his "flavor" along the way, somehow I'd feel I'd failed.

(Personally, I think it sort of came out closer to the USMC fighting knife but noticeably larger, stronger, and with a handle that is ... well, very very good.)

So is this your Sunday-go-to-meetin' knife

Ha! No...though the first knife I worked on was one of Valkman (Don)'s big fighters and I made a tuckable IWB sheath for it! Got tired of carrying that much blade around in my drawers, though.

That was this one:

Still my "Sunday go to meetin' knife" I guess!

Sheath? Of course! Whenever I'm done with fitting it up and finishing it, I'll make a sheath. Probably OD, or maybe black, kydex. Most likely with a large Tek-Lock as that just works.

 

[b7tac]

Damn. ^^^ That one right above is great!

 

[JTW Jr.]

Nice grinds , hard to tell from the pict , but did you grind on a wheel or flat platen ?

 

[Sam1911]

That's all flat ground. I'm not such a fan of hollow-grinding for a heavy-use blade. This one isn't "delicate".

Properly termed, this is a saber grind.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I like that one a lot. Are you going for a bit-o "skull-crusher" at the end? Seems it would be a better (aesthetic-therefor opinion) continuation of the rest of the knife's elegance to have that radiused if not.

Makes me think of something Jim Bowie would be making were he at it these days.

Love that clip point!

 

[Sam1911]

The pommel is shaped a lot like my other handles (maybe a bit more pointed) but I decided to radius away the corresponding part of the handle scales just for a different touch. Well, and because I wanted to do this all "subdued" and can't find any thong hole tubing that's dark in color. So the ... uh, call it a "rescue-glass-breaker" end there sort of developed on its own. Not sure if I'll keep that on future versions or not. Depends on whether I feel it gets in the way or is unobtrusive.

Fortunately, with all normal holds I've tried on the knife, my hands don't cover or rest on that part of the handle scales, so there's no change in feel.

Some folks love the clip )) and some really don't. I've made the smaller version both ways and can't make up my mind, myself.

 

[Sam1911]

Well, the pics are TERRIBLE (5:45 am, indoors, dark, glarish, and oddly blotchy...go figure) but this is my first shot at a two-color finish on this blade:

I don't know whether to be a little miffed that it hides my nice straight grinds D) of if I should be confident enough to know that, of course the grinds hold up and I don't need to show them off! LOL.

 

[JimStC]

Nice job Sam. I like the look a lot. Gonna to look great with those scales!

Jim

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Tough call on that one. The lines are something to be proud of showing you're not just another fella walkin' steel into a grinder - but then - that's an interesting finish as well...

 

[Sam1911]

So I finally produced a camo pattern I like (loving the "ghost scales" on top of tiger stripe!) and went ahead and finished it up.

OD Green Kydex sheath with large Tek-Lock, of course!

 

[rbernie]

Looks nice, Sam. Does it have a lucky owner yet?

 

[Sam1911]

Awww...well, uh. No, not really. Just me. Honestly, I haven't convinced myself to let go of it yet.

That's a bad habit.

 

[rbernie]

But a very understandable one......

 

[JimStC]

Sam,
That is a very nice one! Your work has quite the artistic flair. Keep em coming.

Jim

 

[messerist]

Sam. Let it go, be free. You can make another one. One of the reasons I do not have any knives that I've made is that by the time I finish one I have exhausted all my enthusiasm for said blade and wish for it to go to a new home. Your knife looks to be a winner in my book!

 

[Bobson]

Wow, that's a beautiful knife. I didn't even know you made knives, Sam. You're very talented.

You happen to do any custom or special order work?

 

[Sam1911]

Bobson, thank you very much! It is a skill I've been working on for about two years now. I've lost a lot of hide and fingernails in the process, but I'm starting to be pretty satisfied with some of my results.

I have done custom pieces, sure. At the moment I'm trying to work on a small-batch model where I do a few of something and then put them up for sale, which keeps me from promising folks something I can't manage to get them for 6 months. But if you want to suggest an idea for a pattern/form I'd love to hear about it, and maybe would consider putting that in my long-range plans.