New knife being born...
- Thread starter JonathanD
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OK, so this morning saw #284 in the same state as the 'phone photo I posted yesterday, here's it with a better camera...
If a handle is to be 'fishtailed' in shape I always start that shaping at the butt end, here hafted a little further, a bit more shape...
Here I have that butt end exactly as I want it, shaping/symmetry, all there although still at 40g...
I then start hafting the front ends of the scales, just flat at this stage, I'm just looking for almost final and even thicknesses on both sides...
Once to thickness it's a case of taking the corners off, shaping and blending, still 40g...
This next photo shows everything shaped and blended and now taken down to 120g...
Once I am at 120g the shape will not change at all, removing material accurately at fine grades is not easy, so from the photo above not much changes that can be show in a photo, 120g > 240g > 400g > a grease loaded 400g > polishing mop...
So, that see's #284 ready for leather....
Cheers all
If a handle is to be 'fishtailed' in shape I always start that shaping at the butt end, here hafted a little further, a bit more shape...
Here I have that butt end exactly as I want it, shaping/symmetry, all there although still at 40g...
I then start hafting the front ends of the scales, just flat at this stage, I'm just looking for almost final and even thicknesses on both sides...
Once to thickness it's a case of taking the corners off, shaping and blending, still 40g...
This next photo shows everything shaped and blended and now taken down to 120g...
Once I am at 120g the shape will not change at all, removing material accurately at fine grades is not easy, so from the photo above not much changes that can be show in a photo, 120g > 240g > 400g > a grease loaded 400g > polishing mop...
So, that see's #284 ready for leather....
Cheers all
That's what I like to see
Earns it's keep does that knife Stu. Sees dirt and guts and all sorts of stuff. Dropped it six foot down a rockface while cutting a bramble out of my way a couple of weeks ago, landed on scree and bounced three feet over some rocks. I was expecting the worst as it landed on the blade, but all it got was a little dent on the spine and a very slight chip to the tip which will sharpen out next time the benchstones are needed. That high scandi grind of yours is a winner.
I might stop making your knives Jon
Wasn't my fault, whining girls with me moaning about nettle stings and brambles caught in their hair. Never abuse your knives on purpose. Well maybe once...
Well.. maybe twice...
Well, three times maybe.. but that's it.. honest..
Weeeeell.. you could add another perhaps...
I'm really chuffed with how that bone came out. You can't predict how antler or bone will look underneath, but we did with that piece. I don't know of many makers that keep in touch and go every step of the way through the process as Stu does, it's part and parcel of his service if you want it. I'm lucky now as he knows all the oddities and peculiarities of me and my knife very well. But from day one he got what I wanted, and after this knife, it will be eight he has made for me in this pattern and I don't know another knifemaker that is at the top of the game in all areas as Stu is. Every British person should have an example of handmade Sheffield steel and be very proud of the fact that it is one of a very few surviving British industries.
Just so folks are not confused, the one in the pics above is my antler version and not the new one. It's off to get some leather so I won't get it in my grubbies for a while yet.
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