My first knife build

[Bigrich]

Hi All,

For my 40th birthday my wife asked me what I would like and I said that I would like her to get me commisioned a knife in the style of Horace Kephart's made by him and often copied. Well she went one better and booked me a days tuition with bushcraft instructor and knife maker Dale Collett from the British Bushcraft School at his farm workshop in Worcestershire. Well I had an amazing day a took a blank piece of tool steel to what I think is one of the most beautiful knives I have ever seen or held. I thought I would share the pictures with you because I'm so pleased with the day, the result and can't recommend Dale highly enough and his ability to share his knowledge in just the right way.

Knife pattern drawn and placed onto blank


Shape roughly ground out


Shape tidied up


Holes drilled


Some file work put onto spine


Putting on the grind


Heating the steel



No shadow on the steel and then quenched in oil


Cleaned and ready to be tempered


Tempered


Drilling the wood for the handles


Double checking the handle fit


Handle roughly shaped up


Glued up and waiting to set


Final shaping by hand


The finished knife, although the handle does need a further couple of sandings and oiling which should make the colours even richer


Hope you like it, I do

Many Thanks

Rich

 

[Robbi]

Thats very good indeed, it has a certain Green River look about it. I like it a lot.

 

[marcelxl]

Lovely, what a great way to have the knife you want!

Enjoy it sir!

 

[Bigrich]

Thats very good indeed, it has a certain Green River look about it. I like it a lot.

Thanks Robbi, it feels beautiful in the hand too

 

[Bigrich]

Lovely, what a great way to have the knife you want!

Enjoy it sir!

Thanks Marc,

I couldn't agree more, shows she my better half by realizing that actually making the knife I wanted would make it even more special than one she just ordered : )

Cheers

Rich

 

[Albus Culter]

What a great day, a great knife and a great wife. Very impressed with the results, and thanks for sharing

 

[Big Stu 12]

Nice looking knife, well done mate

 

[Pawprints]

Rich,
A lovely knife, all the more special for having made it yourself. Now you need to set about sheathing it which now you need to do yourself so the whole package is self made. Have you done leatherwork before? Have you thought about which style you want?

James

 

[HillBill]

Great effort mate Can tell your happy with that one

Well done.

 

[fishfish]

nice work!

 

[mountainm]

Nice one - thanks for sharing, is Dave a member?

 

[Bigrich]

Hi All,

Thanks for the complimentary replies and yes Mark, I do like it The handles currently going through some wetting and drying to bring up the grain a little before a final sand and soaking in oil.

Will post a final pic when the handles done, and then of course when I have done the sheath

Cheers

Rich

 

[Niels]

Awesome knife! You wouldn't say it's the first time you tried Just stunning.

 

[CBJ]

Great job mate it looks cracking,


All the best

Craig

 

[Biker]

That is superb, and what an amazing wife you have to have thought of taking it to the next level. Big round of applause to her too! :notworthy You're oging to have to pull something magical off for her birthday so get thinking now.

As has been said that's going to be a knife you will treasure and have fond memories for the rest of its working life. Really REALLY pleased for you.... and belated happy birthday.