Latest couple of Knives

[Neiltoo]

Ive fallen out with my grinder ( it never does quite what I think its going to do - its fault of course ) So these 2 were done pretty much all with hand tools except for cutting out the blanks (angle grinder) and a bit of belt sander on the handles. The scales are Bocote and Ebony wood. I really like the grain on the Bocote, the photos dont do the wood justice.
I think its time I got some leather and made some sheaths

 

[British Red]

Neil,

I really like the larger or the two - I assume thats the Bocote? Can post some dimensions and materials too - looks like about a 3mm thickness but its hard to tell without scale. What steel did you use?

Anyway - lovely work!

You really need an enclused sheah for the big one...in light tan...with a dangler loop...then to decide you dont want it!

Red

 

[Neiltoo]

Neil,

I really like the larger or the two - I assume thats the Bocote? Can post some dimensions and materials too - looks like about a 3mm thickness but its hard to tell without scale. What steel did you use?

Anyway - lovely work!

You really need an enclused sheah for the big one...in light tan...with a dangler loop...then to decide you dont want it!

Red

Thanks

Yip, the bigger one is Bocote. both are in O1. - 3mm

The bigger one is about 230mm overall with a 110mm blade and the smaller one is about180mm with a 90mm blade.

I was going to wait for some sunshine to take the pics but apparently weve had our ration here in Ireland for this year :tapedshut

It funny but I get the most enjoyment out of making the blades, the handle is almost a chore - when I started to make the first one I thought it would be the other way round

 

[eraaij]

I like that small one - looks perfect! I would have taken the edge all the way to the handle, but that is about the only thing that I would have changed. Great work!

-Emile

 

[C_Claycomb]

Lovely lines! I too like the bigger one, but then I am something of a fan of bocote. Its just a shame that the really decorative stuff doesn't get imported (often?). If you want to really drool over some stuff, check out www.gilmerwood.com, they have bocote with grain like OS contour lines.

Does the handle work take longer than the blade? I like working on both, but really start to get fed up finishing either one, there is always that one last scratch!

Hope you find happy homes for them both.

 

[familne]

Very nice indeed, look like a perfect pair!

 

[Salix]

Ooohhh I really like the bigger one, just my sorta knife

Ile fight you for it Red

Mark

 

[addyb]

Those are beautiful blades!

Adam

 

[British Red]

Well,

Since Neil hasn't said he wants to sell them, lets hold off on the "knife fight"

From the sound of it these may be the last two and he'll take up macrame

Red

 

[Salix]

"Macrame"........ ...............thats even better

 

[Neiltoo]

Many thanks for all the nice comments.

With regards to selling my knives ; my skill would need to reach a whole new level before I would even think of selling any of them. I started to make them because I needed a couple of knives and thought I would enjoy making them. Each new knife seems a little better than the last therefore I want to keep it. This does leave me the problem (?) of what do with older knives. I could give some to family and friends but I would expect a response like " gee thanks, uhh what am I going to do with this then?" :11doh:


Thanks for the link C_Claycomb . I spend far longer on the blades than on the handles , as you can probably see the handles suffer as a result. I must try to fix this next time. I have been working on 4 blades at the same time and the next 2 are just about ready for heat treat. One of them will be a vegetable knife for my mum. Its thinner steel than Ive used before so Ill be interested to see how it turns out.
I have just bought some bocote and cocobolo from here :http://www.wood-shed.com/index.html

They are aimed at wood turners but will cut blanks to whatever size you need. Their prices seem very reasonable too.