latest knife

[messerist]

Here is the latest knife I've made. it is forged from an old file, brass guard and curly maple handle stained with aqua fortis. Please let me know what ya think.

 

[pugmug]

Don't bring it to a gun fight!

 

[nekwah]

wish i was that good of a craftsman. nice knife

 

[yoshinkan]

I like it. Looks like it would make a nice field knife. Congratulations.

 

[JShirley]

Very pretty, and a fine example of its type. I have no idea what pugmug is talking about: one should have a knife at all times, unless you're in the shower...

 

[pugmug]

Admin on a firearm forum and no idea what I am posting about?Lol.P.S. nice blade.

 

[Valkman]

Nice work, shows a lot of patience in the fit and finish and handrubbing of the blade.

 

[Piraticalbob]

Lovely. You don't see enough trailing point knives these days.

 

[messerist]

Alas, you don't see too many pirates either(cept off Somolia). Thank you all for your very gracious comments.

 

[Big Bill]

I really like it. Very nice craftesmanship.

 

[bikerdoc]

Wow! what attention to detail!!!

My first effort last week ended up in the scrap pile. Goint to have to read and study somemore.

I really stink at this, but stubborn enough to keep trying!!

 

[7X57chilmau]

Very, Very nice work!

J

 

[bannockburn]

messerist

Very impressive; nice clean design and construction. Keep up the great work!

 

[hso]

Nice work.

pugmug,

Spent a little time reading some more in S&T and here and you'll find that in some situations a knife is the ideal weapon in a "gun fight".

 

[James T Thomas]

rare knife

"Strativarius?"

 

[Macmac]

Looks really nicely made.. Nice fit and finish..

Sometimes it is nice to leave a little file teeth to 'prove' it is a file somewhere.

How did you mount the grip, drill and burn? Drill 2 small holes and chop out the middle?

What method to harden and then temper?

Whars the sheath?

 

[speedsix]

Is this called a Roachbelly knife?

I have a Cold Steel Roachbelly on the way and it looks very similar.

I love full flat ground blades and files make decent knives. There is a company called Anza that makes knives out of files. None look as good as your knife BTW.

Nice work. I am a Warncliff fan. You should make one and show it off to us.

 

[messerist]

Thank you all for the comments. I am in the company of true gentlemen. Mac, I drilled the handle. I bought some "saw bits" several years ago and welded some extensions onto them. The bits have teeth on the shaft and make for easy "hogging out" of the handle for hidden tang knives. I heated the blade up to non-magnetic heat in my forge and edge quenched it in a mixture of bacon fat, paraffin and hydraulic oil. Cleaned it up and tempered at 400F for one hour; three times. I have not had time to make a sheath due to the new baby but promise to post when I do

 

[sixgunner455]

What kind of forge/anvil do you use? What kind of a file was it?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Very nice work.

 

[messerist]

Sixgunner, I wish I could tell ya what kind of file it was. All I can say is that it was old and rusty. Part of an orange crate full of files I picked up at a garage sale. My anvil is a 140lb Peter Wright anvil that I "stole" for $40!! I use a NC Tool and Forge Company "knifemaker" LP forge. I don't have a photo of my shop because it is basically my backyard. Hence, I don't forge during the winter, just hammer up a bunch of blades in the fall and work on them during the winter in the basement.

 

[hso]

140lb Peter Wright anvil that I "stole" for $40!!

Where's that massive envy smilie???

Wow, just wow! Is it in good shape or are the edges chipped off and the face pockmarked and peened?

 

[7X57chilmau]

$40!!!! Damn, you lucky bugger!

I got lucky too, a neighbour gave me a 200# anvil... Not quite as nice a pattern as a PW, as it lacks a table, and the horn is a simple cone, but it does the job very well.

I forge mostly in the winter, myself, also outside. I do hate to sweat.... Can be hard to get used to, with the upper body warmed by the forge, and the legs freezing below, heh.... Love the just-below-zero days, they're perfect!

I'm interested in knowing what equipment you use for grinding and polishing your blades. I've gotten by for a long while now with just a bench grinder (6" cheapy, one medium wheel, one wire brush) and a 4.5" angle grinder, but I know I need at least a decent belt grinder and a polishing centre....

Lack of grinding equip. has pushed me towards simply producing knives as-forged.... Which has the happy side-effect that each knife is done the day I start it (I also avoid furniture, making mostly one piece creations).... Curious what you use!

J

 

[KevinAbbeyTech]

Not too shabby!

I need to start making some again.

Mr. $40

 

[Macmac]

$40.00!!!!!! you ol dawg you!

No Bat's Blood in the quench eh? Now you know it ain't no good with out bat's blood doncha?

Ok so how did you like carving that stripe-ed maple? Ain't that some stuff to get even and smooth? or did you buy that down ta' walley world on 'Special'?

 

[sixgunner455]

PWs are nice. My father has one of them in his collection.

Too bad for me that he lives so far away. I don't do any forging except when I'm in Oregon, which only happens rarely. He forges several times a week.