My next project

I wanted to make a hunting knife that would be a great knife for skinning and processing the prey into useful cuts.

I managed to find a supplier of O1 tool steel flat bars. The steel contains 0.95% Carbon is 3 mm thick. It is an absolute pleasure to work with. Apparently the O1 tool steel is great for keeping and edge.

I have cut out the blanks using the stock removal method, and I am again using a Scandinavian Grind (aka Sabre Grind). I really like this shape and I may turn this into my first production shape.

The plan is to make them all full tang using indigenous NZ hardwood (Remu and Manuka) as well as deer antler.

On a recent hunting trip, I was lucky enough to get some deer antler from the farmer to use as handle scales. This will be a first for me, so lets keep our fingers crossed it works.

 

When i looked at the results, one knife did not look as i wanted, so I decided to try my hand at flat grinding....

I think I need a little more practice....

 Next is the heat treatment stage, and the results are below.

I will start finishing them soon and also add the handles

My Largest Hunting Knife to date.

I tried to record a step by step of this one.

Hope you enjoy it.

I was going for a hunting knife suitable for large hands.


Total length: 235 mm
Handle: 120mm
Blade length: 115mm
Blade width: 35mm
Blade thickness: 5 mm
Blade finish: mirror
Grind: Scandinavian Grind (aka Sabre Grind)
Steel type: Engineering steel bar - U1004 Carbon steel bright bar.
Handle material: Walnut wood, copper pins, copper lined lanyard hole.

Third knife

I was playing around to see if I could do something a little different.

My mate recently dropped his fishing knife overboard while kayaking. I made him this small sturdy blade to kill the fish after bringing it out of the water.

For something a little different and to help hang on to the knife when wet, I chord wrapped the handle.

It was made with the same U1004 engineering carbon steel I used for my previous two knives.

My Second Attempt

This is my second attempt.

I cut out the blank using the U1004 Carbon Steel Engineering flat bar again. 

The overall length is 19 cm

The blade length is 8.5 cm

Grind is a Scandinavian grind

Mirror finish.  

5mm blade thickness

25 mm wide blade. 

The handle is 10.5 cm

The handle material is New Zealand Rimu. The wood was recycled after a renovation project at Dilworth School in Auckland.  Three copper pins keep the handle attached. 

I am still learning, and I probably bled about five times during the manufacture. 

This is the first time I used Electrochemical etching to etch my initials s a makers mark. 

Eventually I will develop a logo for Thipa NZ Knives. 

I decided that until I have good technique, that I will give away my knives as gifts, but I am going to hang on to this one.