Being new to the forum and knife making in general I figured I'd throw up what I've been picking away at. But first here's my little set up. Now on to the first of hopefully many. It was fun to make and challenging. 5160. Copper. And oak Since those pics I've smoothed out the little hump where your little finger sits. Have a look. Please critique and comment. It's not done yet but it's getting close. I'll post updates as I do them
Looking great Ryan, love the pukka style knife you've done well. Can't wait to see it all finished and the amount of smithing tools you have is astounding and should yield some excellent projects in the future. Keep posting!!!
Thanks alot for the comments. It will be my first completed knife. I've forged out alot of blade shapes, practiced with doing bevels and trying to move the steel where I want it to go instead of where it wants to. Much trial and error. And this new skill set has a sometimes harsh teacher... I've got the burn marks to prove it. Lol. This little knife here has bit me a couple times already but I've learned alot from making it. Right now I'm working on two copper wire twist inlays that will sit at each end. This should hopefully fix the epoxy mistake that's still visible pommel side. I ended up with about a 1/16 gap that the epoxy filled but I didn't notice until it had set. I was playing with sizes. But I think I'm going to use the smaller wires. And that's my test sheath. First try at one of those too it didn't turn out too bad. But the finished one will have much cleaner lines and stitching.
That is a great first knife. I like the style and the choice of material for the handle. I can't find much to critique with that. The sheath looks good too (commenting as someone who just struggled through his first one.)
Yeah leather is tricky. I was really surprised how easily patterns transfer to the leather( I was punching holes on a cutting board and the board pattern transferred to a small section of the sheath. Here's some of the other work waiting to be finished.
Good eye. Yup that's a hammer hawk. Got the idea from a member of another forum. It's been fun so far. And that's was only from a small head. I'm making a drift for the eye then it's heat treat time.
Here's a little update. Worked in the wire inlay today. Didn't turn out too bad Then The wrap Rinse and repeat for the other end Didn't end up quite as clean as I wanted but not to bad in the end. It will do.
Drilled holes down to the tang. Filled with epoxy. Sunk the wire into the hole then pulled tight on the other side. It actually held in place without the epoxy the first time round but I used it to make sure it stays secure. I had to really press to seat all ended into the hole. Any bigger and the fit wouldn't have been as tight. Tricky when the groove for the wire was only about 2/16 wide
Quick little update. It's been soaking in boiled linseed oil and I pulled it out to see how much it darkened. Not too much. And it's coming along nicely.
Nice knives, and doing great for starting out! which make me wanna ask have you been blacksmithing for a while? cause your collections of hammer and tongs kills mine...
That whole lot was a lucky find. A guy bought a house and the previous owner had all that in the garage. As well as a large amount of industrial woodworking equipment. I was offered a price I couldn't walk away from. Forge,anvil, tongs, hammers, hardy tools and a good chunk if mild steel. (After a bit of research found i got it for less than the cost forge and anvil combined) so I've been blacksmithing casually for 2 years now. Got a 1 week class with Rene Petijean at Sir Sirsanford Fleming College a couple summers back which started it all. He does some amazing gate and chandelier work.
Everyone else in that course made some really nice stuff. Arbors, fire grates, sculptures. I spent a week learning to weld steel. Here's what I accomplished
Well this one is finished. Just need to do up the sheath and off it goes. Little better pic this time. I like how the handle ended up a little lighter than in the last pic.
