This thing is FAST!
Saturday, 29 June 2013
My new toy
Got a great deal on a 1/2 HP Bench grinder, and then attached a Linishall Linisher attachment.
This thing is FAST!
This thing is FAST!
Monday, 10 June 2013
The Triplets
My Dad and his Mate both wanted me to make them a knife. They placed the very first official order for a bespoke Thipa NZ knife.
So lets start with a bit of history on these. In some of the previous blog posts, you guys would have seen the progress of these knives and also how they looked post heat treat. The below picture are of the two blades and the raw wood that I am going to use for the knife scales.
I wanted something a bit special for my father. I mean he gave me absolutely everything and molded me into the person that I am today. So you want to give him the perfect knife, but if I had to wait until I make the perfect knife, then my dad will never receive his knife... Anyway, I am quite happy with the one I made for him, and I think he will like it too. It is definitely more of a skinner knife than anything else, but I am looking forward to him cutting up some Biltong for his grand kids with this knife.
His mate was one of the inspirations behind my knife making. This is the same guy that helped me hunt my very first animal. It was a "Dassie" or a Cape hyrax. These animals look like rodents, but are actually related to elephants (Google it, you will see why some people call it a rock rabbit). The cool thing is that my dad's mate's name is very similar to this animal's name. On that same weekend we picked up beautifull piece of wood in a riverbed, and he said to me: "You know you can use that to make very nice scales for your pocket knife". His words stayed with me all my life, probably because I had no idea how to make knife scales, but today I can send him a knife that I made by hand.
I hope both my dad and his mate enjoys the knives, and have the opportunity to use them as hunting buddies for many years to come.
Before I send them away, I will try my hand at leather work and make sheaths for these knives. We shall see how they turn out.
The third knife... Well this was my very first flat grind knife. I am quite pleased with how it turned out. Initially it was going to be a satin finish, but I went for a mirror finish in the end. I have to say, the mirror polish worked really well on this one. I have someone in mind for this knife, so let's hope that he is happy with his new knife.
Check out the video at: http://youtu.be/XtSyy4uzCYU
So lets start with a bit of history on these. In some of the previous blog posts, you guys would have seen the progress of these knives and also how they looked post heat treat. The below picture are of the two blades and the raw wood that I am going to use for the knife scales.
I wanted something a bit special for my father. I mean he gave me absolutely everything and molded me into the person that I am today. So you want to give him the perfect knife, but if I had to wait until I make the perfect knife, then my dad will never receive his knife... Anyway, I am quite happy with the one I made for him, and I think he will like it too. It is definitely more of a skinner knife than anything else, but I am looking forward to him cutting up some Biltong for his grand kids with this knife.
His mate was one of the inspirations behind my knife making. This is the same guy that helped me hunt my very first animal. It was a "Dassie" or a Cape hyrax. These animals look like rodents, but are actually related to elephants (Google it, you will see why some people call it a rock rabbit). The cool thing is that my dad's mate's name is very similar to this animal's name. On that same weekend we picked up beautifull piece of wood in a riverbed, and he said to me: "You know you can use that to make very nice scales for your pocket knife". His words stayed with me all my life, probably because I had no idea how to make knife scales, but today I can send him a knife that I made by hand.
I hope both my dad and his mate enjoys the knives, and have the opportunity to use them as hunting buddies for many years to come.
Before I send them away, I will try my hand at leather work and make sheaths for these knives. We shall see how they turn out.
The third knife... Well this was my very first flat grind knife. I am quite pleased with how it turned out. Initially it was going to be a satin finish, but I went for a mirror finish in the end. I have to say, the mirror polish worked really well on this one. I have someone in mind for this knife, so let's hope that he is happy with his new knife.
Check out the video at: http://youtu.be/XtSyy4uzCYU
Here they are with the custom made sheaths. Ready for shipping.
Monday, 13 May 2013
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 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.
I think I need a little more practice....
I will start finishing them soon and also add the handles
Thursday, 25 April 2013
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.
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.
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