Making my next knife

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I bought some 1095 online. Most places seem to be out of 1084. I drew out a Grohmann pattern and then drilled a bunch of holes around. Talk about tedious! Then i used the dremel and cut between the holes. Then I cleaned it up on the belt sander. I'd already made a grinding jig so I just clamped it on and got to grinding (after finding the center). For a first time effort it's not bad. The flat grind is TOO flat, and it's not perfectly symmetrical but it's not hateful either. I'm going to go ahead and heat treated it and then put a handle on and finish it just for the experience. Not a bad use of a cold snowy windy day. 20220503_153626.jpg
 
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Excellent work so far. Keep em coming. Meaning the updates. Snowed last Friday here. Winter doesn't want to give up. Question, if that is your next knife, that means you made others in the past. Like to see them too.
 
Progress on the knife. I got all of the materials, drilled the handle holes, and prepped everything for the heat treatment. I bought some fire brick and made a kiln. I took a coffee can and filled it with vegetable oil and heated it on the hot plate. It took some experimentation to get the right torch to provide enough heat, but I finally got the temp right.

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Then I put it in the toaster oven 2 hours at 400 times 2.
I had to put a splitting wedge in the oven to provide some thermal mass. It keeps the temp more stable.

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Good job man! WAY better than my first effort, keep the updates coming!

Depending on the balance of the knife and for handle security to the blade you may want to drill more holes and rough up the steel prior to using epoxy. I used the 30 min. stuff from Walmart, did my glueing at the end of the day and let them sit overnight before messing with them. Once you glue and clamp the handles be sure to wipe off excess epoxy! That stuff will have to be ground off otherwise.

Also, when you fit your handles be sure to shape and finish the front edges as you won't be able to once they're glued.
 
Good job man! WAY better than my first effort, keep the updates coming!

Depending on the balance of the knife and for handle security to the blade you may want to drill more holes and rough up the steel prior to using epoxy. I used the 30 min. stuff from Walmart, did my glueing at the end of the day and let them sit overnight before messing with them. Once you glue and clamp the handles be sure to wipe off excess epoxy! That stuff will have to be ground off otherwise.

Also, when you fit your handles be sure to shape and finish the front edges as you won't be able to once they're glued.
Good info! Thanks
 
Some more progress.
I installed the scales and got them down to their final shape. Maybe. As I handle it for the next couple of days I may decide the "feel" could be improved with a little contouring here and there. I'll do a bunch more polishing and then sharpen it and call it good. Then I think I'll frame it and start the next one and see if I can't improve. LOL
Should I do the same knife to have apples to apples or something else?
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That is a damn fine job, my friend. No matter what you choose just get to it! :)

As for handle shape, you want narrower towards the front and rear and wider in the middle. This kind of shape fits the hand more naturally than a straight handle.
 
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Well, i figure I'm done with this one. It's far from perfect but it taught me a lot. I need to switch to a less aggressive belt earlier. I need to do some polishing before I heat treat. Handles are going to take practice . I NEED a bandsaw! I need to pay more attention at the start of the plunge lines.

On the plus side, the fine diamond lansky got it hair popping sharp. It feels like the heat treatment worked. Seems like a usable knife. It drew first blood today; I poked my finger sharpening it LOL
 
I ground blades at 60 and 120 grit, no more than that before HT. I had trouble matching the plunges also so I made a jig and used that until I could eyeball it and just use a maker on the blank. You're doing well, time for the next one! It'll be better because you're learning!
 
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