F1 Blank

[falcon]

Super job Leon. Please ignore the questions in my comments in the Gallery - I've only just found this thread and raised the questions earlier - I've found the answers here. As regards tools, I make a few handles for walking sticks (Thumbs, Crooks etc) and I've found sandpaper straps useful as you can clamp the knife in a vice and achieve symmetrical strapping as you work around. I've also bought a drum attachment for an old electric drill which is mounted in a clamp on the bench. I think I'd better acquire one of these blanks before they're all gone.

 

[leon-1]

Thanks Gerd, that is appreciated, I have seen your work which is exceptional and I suppose in some ways a bit of an inspiration for this one.

Falcon, when I was sanding this down I used strips of sand paper / wet'n'dry about 10mm wide to work the handle of the knife pretty much the way that you mention :biggthump

 

[falcon]

I really like the barrel shape in the central part of the handle as this should help it to fit more comfortably into the palm of the hand. I would have liked to have achieved this with the Lapplander (my first attempt, pic in gallery) but the Attleboro' pins I used were thin at the edges so couldn't be filed down to form the handle contour. From the photos on the Brisa website, am I right in assuming that you receive a solid tube which, when epoxied in place can then be shaped to the contour you require? Also, I had difficulty deciding how wide to cut each slab (I did this on a sawbench) and because of the type of pins I used the overall width of my knife is larger than it probably should be. Did you have a target width in mind before you started? Hope you don't mind sharing your "trade secrets".

 

[leon-1]

Yep the Mosaic pins are a solid tube about 10cm long.

The scales when split were about 15mm wide each and I didn't want them any more than 10mm in width at any point when finished, then I just used various grades of paper to shape it till I was happy with the shape and the feel of it

 

[falcon]

Cheers :thumbs_up

 

[rowen]

If you still want info on sheath making have a look at this -

http://www.homestead.com/beknivessite2/pouchsheath.html

hope it helps and good luck

 

[jdlenton]

WOW ):
realy nice work that :knifecut:
I'm in the middel of my first knife its sat on the bench for a month now but after seeing this I'm inspired well done :You_Rock_

 

[jdlenton]

wow ): realy nice work that :You_Rock_ my first knife has sat on the bench for a month I'm inspired now of to the workshop for me
well done

 

[leon-1]

Thanks for the info rowen and thanks for the compliments jdlenton :biggthump

 

[falcon]

That's a great link for sheathmaking......I've just remembered there's another very good one in "Hoodoo's Cache" which can be accessed from Hoodoo's posts or his member's page.

 

[leon-1]

Thanks Falcon, I'll give that a good look over as well :biggthump

 

[greg2935]

I am sure the rough edges will wear with use, that looks like a nice bit of kit to me.

 

[leon-1]

It's not all that bad to be honest, but in the end it is down to me knowing that it could of been better, I want to make another employing what I have learnt from making this one.

As a functional tool for the field I would not think twice about using this one, it is comfortable in my hand and allthough weighty I don't really notice it

 

[michael]

That's a lovely job you have done there, have you done that a lot, because it looks excellent, I was considering making a handle myself, and wondered how much practice is required, and have you any tips? Nice one

 

[bushman762]

I'll go along with the that...it's a great looking knife...If I could get a blank handy i'd be motivated to start my first knife...I even went to a retired saddler to see if he had any tools he didn't need (leather work)...but he reckons most gear he had, has disappeared over the years...but he'll have a look for me.

Best Regards,

 

[leon-1]

That's a lovely job you have done there, have you done that a lot, because it looks excellent, I was considering making a handle myself, and wondered how much practice is required, and have you any tips? Nice one

Thanks, since then I have done another for one of the members here.

The only tips are to make sure you are happy with the finish on the tang before attaching the scales, take your time and try not to rush things, try to work both sides as evenly as you can, it is easier to use hand tools and a lot more forgiving.