Knife Build Along

[Blacktail]

I am gonna try to show the steps of a knife build as much as I can as it progresses


First step is to map out a knife

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/bullnose_map.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14165&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=323)

[Blacktail]

Next is to get into the shop and grind out some steel

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/shop_build.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14166&ppuser=323)

[Blacktail]

Cut out some handle material

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/handle_build.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14167&ppuser=323)

[Blacktail]

After shaping get the blade protected and attach a brass guard
Protect all the metal, drill the handle and test fit all the parts

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/bullnose_build.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14168&size=big&cat=&ppuser=323)



If are gonna do one ya might as well do two:wink:

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/droppoint_buld.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14169&size=big&cat=&ppuser=323)

[Bow Walker]

Thanks for the photos Roy. It's a very interesting process. I'll be following right along.

[ElectricDyck]

Neat stuff, me too.

[Blacktail]

next step today was to grind and fit both the steel tang areas of the blades,clean the blades and guards up some more and protect them with some layers of tape.

Mix the epoxy

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/06mix_the_epoxy.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14173&size=big&cat=500)

[deer nut]

Very cool! Something I have long been interested in. Where do you get your steel & what type do you use? Do you sell these knives?

[Blacktail]

after mixing the epoxy and fitting the tangs some more

Tape the shit out of the antler handles to protect from the epoxy and clamp them up.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/07epoxied_and_clamped.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14174&ppuser=323)


Now all that is need is to wait for the epoxy to dry
Used up the last of my brass flat stock so ordered some from ranger original
Gonna use it for brass end cap on the droppoint and might cut up some buffalo horn for an end cap for the bullnose

[Blacktail]

Very cool! Something I have long been interested in. Where do you get your steel & what type do you use? Do you sell these knives?


I get different types of steel from various sources

The bullnose in this set is made from 440-C precision ground
and the droppoint is 8A

Yes I do sell

Check out my website of some of my work and take a look

[Ddog]

nice Blacktail,,,looking good..how do you find that epoxy holds up?
its probably lots cheaper than lepage stuff eh. one more thing,,where do you get that epoxy?

[Blacktail]

nice Blacktail,,,looking good..how do you find that epoxy holds up?
its probably lots cheaper than lepage stuff eh. one more thing,,where do you get that epoxy?

I have used that epoxy for years
It is formulated for use with really oily types of wood and is waterproof and flexible
I have used it before to laminated up longbows and recurves I have made

I use to get it from Industrial Plastics and Paint in Victoria but have not found a place out here around Medicine Hat to get it.
I ordered this batch up from Lee Valley and they sent it to my door

[Conrad74]

Looking good -that painters tape has multiple uses

[Blacktail]

a lttle more trimming up and evening out the handle

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/08.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14207&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=323)

Next was to epoxy and pin the end cap and wait for it to set

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/09.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14208&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=323)

[Blacktail]

now after being gone for work up north for a couple weeks
I got to work on this one again
triimed up the end cap and buffed up the handle
now all that is needed is a sheath

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/102.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14420&size=big&cat=500)

[Blacktail]

Making the sheath starts with laying it out on leather

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/lay_out_on_leather.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14435&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=323)

Cut it a little bigger to allow for the stiching

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/cut_it_larger_for_stitching.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14436&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=323)


stamp out the elk on the face cut a spacer piece

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/elk_stamp_and_cut_an_edge_piece.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14437&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=323)

Glue it on the seems and clamp it until it sets
also cut a piece for the belt loop

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/clamp_it.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14438&ppuser=323)

[Blacktail]

After the glue dries put a stiching groove in,mark the stiches and make the holes

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/stiching_groove_and_spacing.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14439&size=big&cat=&ppuser=323)

then you stitch with waxed thread

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/stiched.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14440&size=big&cat=&ppuser=323)

install the snaps,wet the leather down and stretch it closed over the knife for a tight fit.work the leather to stretch and contour it into the shape of the knife

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/snap_it_wet_it_stretch_it_closed.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14441&size=big&cat=&ppuser=323)

set it aside to let it dry

[Ambush]

Great thread. I've made a few knives, but they look pretty home made to. Usualy made from circular saw blades from sawmills.

Do you weld the tang to the blade or is it one peice?

I throw quite a bit of brass into the scrape bin. Mostly bearing bronze and phousfor bronze. They are wear plates in hydualic pumps. Meant to resist abrasion and wear from steel surfaces running on them. Would they be any use to you?

You make some very eye catching knives. I'd cry if I had one and lost it.

[Blacktail]

Great thread. I've made a few knives, but they look pretty home made to. Usualy made from circular saw blades from sawmills.

Do you weld the tang to the blade or is it one peice?

I throw quite a bit of brass into the scrape bin. Mostly bearing bronze and phousfor bronze. They are wear plates in hydualic pumps. Meant to resist abrasion and wear from steel surfaces running on them. Would they be any use to you?

You make some very eye catching knives. I'd cry if I had one and lost it.


I have made a few from saw blades but sometimes you rewally don't know what kind of steel you are getting with them all the time
I get pieces of steel from a couple places for a reasonable price

the tang on most of the knives are one piece
occasionally if I use a threaded type pommel I will weld on a piece of threaded rod to the tang and tap the hole in the pommel
With this one the tang goes in about half way and looks much like a jagged spear which helps the epoxy to grab

[Bow Walker]

Super thread Roy, thanks again for doing it.

A question though. Do you hand-stitch the sheath? The way you describe the steps it seems that you do.

It's not hard to see that the final cost reflects truly on the amount of labour involved in the manufacturing process. Great looking knife.

[Chuck]

Very nice indeed!
Sure beats sitting, doing nothing and worrying about tomorrow.

[Blacktail]

Super thread Roy, thanks again for doing it.

A question though. Do you hand-stitch the sheath? The way you describe the steps it seems that you do.

It's not hard to see that the final cost reflects truly on the amount of labour involved in the manufacturing process. Great looking knife.


yes I do handstitch the sheath with believe or not waxed dacron B50

[Blacktail]

After the leather has dried and formed to the knife, treat it with neetsfoot oil inside and out to waterproof it and attach the belt loop

Finished product!!

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/0093.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14493&ppuser=323)

[Johnnybear]

Great thread. That looks like a really nice knife. Thanks for the photos and build along. That was really cool:cool:.

[Blacktail]

yup turned out real good
and yes indeed it is for sale

[fester]

Really great work!!

[Bow Walker]

Thanks for the thread Roy. It's very interesting and informative. Your products are great.

[mud-dog27]

very nice wish i had read this yesterday before i started my sheath today does the neetsfoot oil make it dark like that or do you die it aswell

sorry if i missed this question bein answered

[waistdeep]

check is on route!

[ElkMasterC]

Good thread, and thanks for doing it.
One little thing: the whole "I go to my shop, here's the blade" thing was too quick.
Where do you get the steel, what form is it in, bar stock, sheet, etc?
How do you draw out and cut the rough outline, and how do you shape and temper the blade?
Thanks!
EMC



Edit: Oh and how much for that one, or is it gone

[NoLimit99]

I get different types of steel from various sources

The bullnose in this set is made from 440-C precision ground
and the droppoint is 8A

Yes I do sell

Check out my website of some of my work and take a look


Just a note, pictures of knifes you have completed and or are selling would be a great way to show off your skills and finished products. That way we/I can get a visual of them and possibly buy a fleshing knife if ya make them.

[Blacktail]

very nice wish i had read this yesterday before i started my sheath today does the neetsfoot oil make it dark like that or do you die it aswell

sorry if i missed this question bein answered


The oil stains it that colour

[Blacktail]

Good thread, and thanks for doing it.
One little thing: the whole "I go to my shop, here's the blade" thing was too quick.
Where do you get the steel, what form is it in, bar stock, sheet, etc?
How do you draw out and cut the rough outline, and how do you shape and temper the blade?
Thanks!
EMC



Edit: Oh and how much for that one, or is it gone

I actually started the knife before I started the thread and already had it ground out of the flat stock,also if I showed every step the post would have taken up monstrous amoun ts of bandwidth with pictures and probably would have been about 5 pages long with no replies.
I am working on another one and will take your suggestions in stride and try to give a little more detail on that point

And sorry this one sold pretty quick to member waistdeep

[Blacktail]

Just a note, pictures of knifes you have completed and or are selling would be a great way to show off your skills and finished products. That way we/I can get a visual of them and possibly buy a fleshing knife if ya make them.


Unfortunately I am not a "sponser" here so I can't advertise ( as if this is a "business" to me...lol),can't even post my website in my signature or avtar because of it.
All I can do is tell you to view my homepage which is in my profile.

Stuff I have finished and are for sale I do post in the hunting gear section of the buy and sell forum:redface:

[Blacktail]

check is on route!

I am up north working again for a couple weeks
It is already packaged and ready to go
when it arrives my wife will mail it out