Budget blade

[rapidboy]

Bought this Frost quite a while ago and very quickly the plastic sheath broke so i didn't use it.
Finally got around to trying my hand at some leather work (second attempt at a sheath) and I'm pretty pleased at how it turned out.
Learnt a lot and will improve the next one.

Only problem is that the blade takes and looses an edge very easily.
The edge tends to "roll" and when i carry it at work and needs to be sharpened everyday.
Is the blade steel in these notoriously soft?
Cheers
RB

 

[RovingArcher]

That surprises me. I've owned the exact same knife for about a year now and have only had to use a leather strop to bring the blade back to it's keen edge and it seems to hold it very well. Same with my Mora 2000, which has the same blade material. However, in all fairness, I don't give either knife hard use. Kitchen, lite woodworking and game chores is about all they have to tackle.

I like your sheath, especially the addition of the loop to hold your firesteel. Job well done!

 

[rapidboy]

My normal work knives are and have been for several years ,stainless frost knives.
They are harder to sharpen but hold an edge much longer.
I give them serious abuse ,cut ,pry ,chisel (wood ,brick whatever!!) ,they stand up well and i don't worry if i loose or damage them.
This carbon version has had a much easier time ,cutting wood and stripping cable but dulls very quickly ,perhaps i got a dud.
I hear great things about them and was a little disappointed with the performance of this one.
Cheers
RB

 

[Gary]

I too am surprised by this - maybe your knife has lost its temper in some way (and I dont mean teddy bear out of pram) :smashfrea has it been near a fire?

Or maybe it wasnt properly tempered int he first place - I have one of those and it holds a really good edge.

 

[rapidboy]

No hasn't been near a fire ,used very little due to the fact that the plastic sheath give up the day after i bought it!
My father got one at the same time so i might try it to see if it's any better.
I think i got a bad one because so many are raving about them and the stainless ones i use are great.
Cheers
RB

 

[tenbears10]

good work on that sheath, dead impressed. Did you get advice on working leather or was it trial and error (you said it was a second attempt)?

Bill

 

[rapidboy]

Just trial and error.
"the man who never made a mistake never made anything"
First attempt was years ago for a Wilkinson Sword Army knife.

 

[Gary]

Thats a good saying Rapid!

What do you use to get your stitching so small and neat? It looks machined is it?

 

[maddave]

For your second attempt, that's awesome !! :respekt:

The stitching and construction is excellent..Well done :yup:

 

[rapidboy]

What do you use to get your stitching so small and neat? It looks machined is it?

Yes i used a machine for the new one ..........a pillar drill and a small drill bit. :yikes:
Two needle technique and double stitched for strength.
The first one (for the WS) was made a few years ago and i took it to a shoe maker for stitching before i put in the rivets.

I would like to get some proper tools and do some serious leather work when i find the time.

My father made this knife from a broken butchers knife many years ago and gave it to me when i was about 10.

I had to remake the sheath when i was about 13 or 14 and used a leather thong instead of thread.

I always liked the simplicity of this stitching but it is vulnerable to damage from the blade (although this stitching is now about 16 years old and still holding).

This was another project from when i was about 14 or 15 and i found an old army machete.

Just a lump of rust really with no scales or scabbard.
The scales and scabbard are made from oak.

My father had just bought a band saw and i was amazed at how i could cut such fine slivers of wood so i laminated 3 pieces together to make the scabbard and the scales pins are just brass bolts turned down on a bench grinder.

My misspent youth is all coming back to me :mrgreen:
RB