Recent content by coutel

I have used them several times before quite successfuly. Whatever size the female shank is, definately overdrill the hole as it expands when you mate the male/female together. I complete all my handle shaping before I put the rivets in place or else I would be grinding the heads away...

Ricasso can be a weak point at the handle junction especialy if its a hidden tang where shoulders could be a weakness...either too soft (annealed) or too hard (fracture). And its only really going to show as a problem under extreme abuse/testing where leverage is applied on the handle....Is...

I agree. In fact, I dont think that the manner that the ABS bend test is conducted is conclusive to proving it is a good blade, and I dont think its meant to be....It is more a test of what the smith can do with a piece of steel after its shown to be able to chop, cut and shave without edge...

No need top be sorry! 'Common' refers to knife makers destruct testing their own knives.....to test the integrity of their hardening and tempering...It gives an idea of flexibilty (return to near true) against not flexing and the degree of breaking. Not scientific, but maybe a bit more...

I have bend tested maybe 20 or so (of my own) knives in the last 2 years to check the integrity,........ not by any means scientific or conclusive!..its an ongoing process. Its common to bend test a blade by placing a scaffold pole or similar over the handle down to the ricasso area (and...

I am lucky that I have a slack belt that I can use to convex the edge....Run the belt so that it brushes the edge forwards (spine to edge). Very easy to get a wire edge (usualy on a 400 grit) then just give it a final strop. I maintain it on a ceramic rod or a stone......and sometimes...

Placing the blade in a bag with a load of mashed up tomatoes is another good way to get a working patina as well......I have never like shiny knives :-D

Stuart. I use ceramic rods a lot of the time. I rest one end on a table, position the knife edge as if I was going to slice some ceramic off!!........I dont use very much pressure at all, ... just one pass usualy does the trick providing it isnt too blunt. IF the edge is really blunt...

Gary..... Just to clarify.......a convex from edge to back would be more like (what I think of anyway) , an 'axe'.......The 'razor' profile would be more of a full concave/hollow grind. kevin.

Gary. There are several variations..... One way is a total flat grind bevel from spine to edge, but instead of taking it to a razor edge on the flat, leave it slightly blunt then convex it on the edge only. Or you could put a slight convex from edge all the way to the spine.An overated...

A flat grind with a slight convex edge (Moran grind) is my favorite... It can easily be stropped on leather or course material to keep it honed.... kevin.

Thanks Chad. Its actualy Big Maple Leaf Burl.. cut and shaped it from a block I have.....It starts out a pale colour (like pine) so I darkened it then sanded it to highlight the burl. Vacum soaked it in tung oil for several days then buffed and waxed. This is a photo of the entire...