My first knife project

[Idlefellow]

My brother-in-law who makes knives sent me a "knife kit" - blade, guard and sheath - with the note: "Let your creativity run wild." It may have been a joke; I'm not sure. It's not a blade shape I would have chosen for myself (which is probably why he chose it ) and it's Pakistani stainless - probably not the best quality. I realize there are real knife makers here and I know that putting a handle on a blade isn't really making a knife, but anyway... I wasn't going to make an antler handle as that's kind of his trademark, but I suddenly thought of a piece I had (which he had also sent me a while back when I asked for some of his left overs for a use here and there). I remembered it had a little tine that might make a sort of finger rest and might fit with the blade shape that I see as kind of gnarly. Sure enough! It was a little short so I had to make a spacer. Now that it's done I see a few things I wish I'd done differently, but too late now, and I guess it's OK for a first (and probably only!) attempt...

 

[Brewdude]

That is very cool Mr. Idle. Really like the finger rest thingy.




Cheers,

RR

 

[Mikem]

I like it. Even as a "kit" that would make a hell of a hunting knife IMHO. I have a Bowie knife with a handle like that but its to large to carry hunting. The one you made is perfect for carrying while hunting.

 

[DWSmith]

Very nice! Did you do the jimping?

 

[Idlefellow]

Ha! Just saw this post! And no; not only did I not do it, I had to look it up 'cause I didn't even know what it was

 

[Blackhorse]

Very nice! Did you do the jimping?

Jimping…or “filework”?

“Once upon a time there was an old word, "jimp" that came from North England and Scotland, meaning neat, handsome, and slender in form. The early knife industry designated these machined cuts or cross-hatched patterns on the back of the spine of the knife to improve traction of the fingertips "jimping." They still call those regular spaced machine made cuts jimping, but in the custom and handmade knife world artistic filework is the dominant version and king of technique. Jimping may be machine cut by automated slitters, mills, or blades, but filework must be hand-cut.” - Jay Fisher from his comprehensive knife website.

Jimping

Filework

 

[Tbradsim]

Sons first knife made from a lawn mower blade. Made the sheath also!

 

[Blackhorse]

What’s the stitching material on the sheath? Horsehair?

 

[Tbradsim]

I’ll ask him, he’s in Texas now!

 

[Blackhorse]

You better shout then.

 

[Tbradsim]

Depending on the Wife, which I do a lot, it’s some kind of twine.

 

[Blackhorse]

You got me all worked up here. I looked up pics I posted here of some of the knives I’ve made over the years. I’d literally completely forgotten a few of ‘em. I won’t hijack your pos via photo bomb though.

 

[Tbradsim]

you may have seen this one, he got a Damascus blank, and used Girraffe bone for the handle, gave it to me to cut my plugs!

 

[Tbradsim]

Have at it, love knifes!

 

[Blackhorse]

Love the plug cutter there…lean & clean.

OK…you asked for it. Note that I don’t do the blacksmithing on the blades. I leave that to those with actual talent.

Also I won’t go into detail on specific items…way too much that way. Just a photo

 

[Tbradsim]

Love them all, especially the green handle one!

 

[Ranger107]

Very nice. Almost wish I needed another knife.

 

[Blackhorse]

But you don’t. Really.

 

[Aussiemike]

Hey Idlefellow have you done another knife just wondering. In awe of the first one you did beautiful bit of gear mate.

 

[Idlefellow]

Hey Idlefellow have you done another knife just wondering. In awe of the first one you did beautiful bit of gear mate.

Thanks Mike! No, I haven't done another. I did do a hatchet which I think I posted on here before; the head was in a box of stuff my sister-in-law gave me when my brother-in-law passed and I had it for quite a while before I came up with an idea of what to do. Found this chunk of wood on a morning walk and it just seemed to fit...