Knifemaker making knives.

[Knifemaker]

After a 20+ year hiatus from making knives, looking for stuff to do during my 8 week furlough from work, I’ve gone back to making knives again. 

First is a sandwich knife with Cocobolo handles and stainless steel pins:

The next was a 8” Chefs knife, with Desert Ironwood handles and stainless steel pins:

 Next project will be a folder. 

 

[dcarver]

Really good work, KM. Do you make the blades too?

 

[Knifemaker]

Don’t make the blades. I have a few times, but the work involved didn’t produce a blade that was better than what I could buy. The technology in modern steels has risen to the point I just lost interest in doing it myself. 

   There are blade makers that will sell you a good blade for much cheaper than what they charge for a finished knife. 

 

[SacramentoMike]

So you WON'T be appearing on "Forged in Fire?"  Bummer.

Nice looking handles though.  Looks like they'd KEEL.

 

[Bounce]

You gonna test 'em by using a belaying pin to hammer them into nails (and ice, and antler, and...)?

 

[BkerChuck]

KM, not sure where you're getting your handle material but I'm good friends with the guy who runs Wood Dynamics here in PA. They do stabilizing and dyeing of various woods for knife handles. Not sure if you might be familiar with him or not. He has some stuff on Facebook but I'm not sure if he has a dedicated website yet. Check him out.

Your stuff looks awesome!

 

[Knifemaker]

Thanks! I got most of my handle material and a few blades from a company called Koval, which I learned got bought out by Jantz supply:

https://knifemaking.com

Wood Dynamics does have a website. I sent them an email...thanks for the info on them.

   Some wood I got from my sawmill guy (the one that planked up all that cedar and black walnut for me.)

  Some I found at a wood working store called Rockler Woodworking, that does carry some exotic woods. 

I do also like micarta, and still have a supply of Dymandwood, which I got before a fire put them out of business.

  Still not sure how much I am going to get back into knife making. I still have a few knives that I made and didn’t sell. Like this Damascus hunter:

African Ebony handle with mosaic pins. 

I also made scabbards for my fixed blades, (leather over wood lined with leather) 

 

[BkerChuck]

Glad to be of help. Mel has some really cool stuff and they do a lot of stuff now with guys into making turkey calls too. I know he usually attends the Blade Show in Atlanta and a NWTF show in Nashville. He started off years ago making pen blanks when turning custom made pens had become a big thing with woodworkers and he's progressed since then with new techniques and materials.

 

[Knifemaker]

You gonna test 'em by using a belaying pin to hammer them into nails (and ice, and antler, and...)?

Nope. Nor will I try slicing through free hanging rope or aluminum cans. If the knife easily shaves hair off my arm, and is still sharp enough to cut “see through” slices of a soft tomato... after chopping up two heads of cauliflower, and yet still able shave off some more arm hair after that, I’m good. 



Good steel helps, as does knowing how to hone a good edge. Oddly my most used kitchen knife is a cheap carbon steel Chinese cleaver. It doesn’t hold an edge like most of the other blades in my arsenal, but it will take one, and works well handling most culinary tasks. 

 

[Knifemaker]

Well, another knife project. Neighbor had an old Western Cutlery hunting knife that’s rubber handle was starting to split. So making a new handle out of laminated Brazilian Rosewood:

Here is the finished knife:

  He was very pleased with the knife. But after giving it to him he said he needed to find a new sheath for it, as the old one is falling apart.

    Well gee, I told him, I wish you said that as I can make a sheath for it.

  “What do I have to do to get you to do that?” He asked.

 “You have to give me the knife back Joe” 

So, back to the workshop....... 

 

[Bounce]

Verah nize!

 

[Knifemaker]

My first attempt at making a folding knife. Handle is Lava Flow Kirinite (a hard acrylic with ribbons of polyester running through it)

 

[garauld]

Nice work.

 

[Bounce]

Love all the work done on the surfaces. Smoove.

Do I remember right that you said you had your tryst with forging and now get blanks to work with?

 

[Knifemaker]

Love all the work done on the surfaces. Smoove.

Do I remember right that you said you had your tryst with forging and now get blanks to work with?

Yes. I buy partially finished to finished blades instead of making my own. The folder above was a “kit” that contained all the parts minus the handle material. 

    I leave the forging/ tempering to those who are more skillful. 

 

[Bounce]

Make sense. Bet fire insurance is less without a forge, too.

 

[KevinLewis]

Thanks! I got most of my handle material and a few blades from a company called Koval, which I learned got bought out by Jantz supply:

https://knifemaking.com

Wood Dynamics does have a website. I sent them an email...thanks for the info on them.

   Some wood I got from my sawmill guy (the one that planked up all that cedar and black walnut for me.)

  Some I found at a wood working store called Rockler Woodworking, that does carry some exotic woods. 

I do also like micarta, and still have a supply of Dymandwood, which I got before a fire put them out of business.

  Still not sure how much I am going to get back into knife making. I still have a few knives that I made and didn’t sell. Like this Damascus hunter:



African Ebony handle with mosaic pins. 

I also made scabbards for my fixed blades, (leather over wood lined with leather) 

I missed this knife for the Halloween this year.

 

[Knifemaker]

So, here it is, the last folder I will make. Just don’t have the eyes for doing these anymore. This is a Christmas present for my     stepson. Lacewood scales, brass bolster and a synthetic sapphire thumb knob (his birthstone)

 

[Auburn]

nice work!