OK, y'all have woken me up.......

[Walker570]

Thanks Ben. Yes, etched the other side today and still a secret till OF gets it, anyway it is now all ready for me to solder the bolster in, got the gap so tight this time I will have a job persuading it to run in there .... must have beeen one of my better filing days For the non knife makers, getting the gap from blade to bolster as tight as possible, is very important, must be waterproof.  Thought through all sorts of ideas for the handle but at this moment it looks like the original mesquite wood, 1/4 inch decorative pins and red and white liners. Then a good polish with boiled linseed oil finish because they is easy to keep topped up as the knife gets used.  Maybe a bit of wax on the bronze to stop it going green if not used much.

Then onto the sheath.

First job there is to make a wooden model of the knife but very slightly larger. Then two half female formers which fit over this model. The rear most being slightly deeper and to include a section where the handle will fit.  Two suitable pieces of heavy leather making sure there is some to spare soak in some warm water with just a touch of washing up liquid ..I find this lets the leather slide in the former better rather than rubbing a mark on any tight corners. one piece of leather over the bottom former, then place the wooden model so it will be directly over where you want it to go when the pressure is put on. Then the other piece of leather and the second former. This is where you need four hands.  Once clammped together up to the vice which hopefully has been opened wide enough to take the package. Check all is in line and slowly tighten up adding g clamps if necessary. Take it as tight as you can. Then forget about it for at least 48hrs maybe much more if the weather is cold. The longer the better.  Eventually release the pressure and with luck and a following wind you should have two perfectly boxed sides for your sheath with enough overlap to trim and run your stitching around.  The front piece can be slightly shallower than the back or in some cases flat. At this point you can then emboss or decorate the leather before stitching up.  I have a wood wheel about 1 1/2 inch wide on my grinder which I use to 'finish' the edges, polish them. Rub some brown boot polish on the edge and then work it over with the high speed wooden wheel. Makes a tidy finish.  I stitch by hand and pre drill all the holes. Laying the leather in the formers makes this easy if your careful.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Very interesting, a thoroughly enjoyable thread.

[la bala]

56 minutes ago, Walker570 said:

Thanks Ben. Yes, etched the other side today and still a secret till OF gets it, anyway it is now all ready for me to solder the bolster in, got the gap so tight this time I will have a job persuading it to run in there .... must have beeen one of my better filing days For the non knife makers, getting the gap from blade to bolster as tight as possible, is very important, must be waterproof.  Thought through all sorts of ideas for the handle but at this moment it looks like the original mesquite wood, 1/4 inch decorative pins and red and white liners. Then a good polish with boiled linseed oil finish because they is easy to keep topped up as the knife gets used.  Maybe a bit of wax on the bronze to stop it going green if not used much.

Then onto the sheath.

First job there is to make a wooden model of the knife but very slightly larger. Then two half female formers which fit over this model. The rear most being slightly deeper and to include a section where the handle will fit.  Two suitable pieces of heavy leather making sure there is some to spare soak in some warm water with just a touch of washing up liquid ..I find this lets the leather slide in the former better rather than rubbing a mark on any tight corners. one piece of leather over the bottom former, then place the wooden model so it will be directly over where you want it to go when the pressure is put on. Then the other piece of leather and the second former. This is where you need four hands.  Once clammped together up to the vice which hopefully has been opened wide enough to take the package. Check all is in line and slowly tighten up adding g clamps if necessary. Take it as tight as you can. Then forget about it for at least 48hrs maybe much more if the weather is cold. The longer the better.  Eventually release the pressure and with luck and a following wind you should have two perfectly boxed sides for your sheath with enough overlap to trim and run your stitching around.  The front piece can be slightly shallower than the back or in some cases flat. At this point you can then emboss or decorate the leather before stitching up.  I have a wood wheel about 1 1/2 inch wide on my grinder which I use to 'finish' the edges, polish them. Rub some brown boot polish on the edge and then work it over with the high speed wooden wheel. Makes a tidy finish.  I stitch by hand and pre drill all the holes. Laying the leather in the formers makes this easy if your careful.

A very interesting and informative read Walker.

[Mice!]

yes very thorough with the added twist of a surprise to come once Old Farrier gets his knife. now go shoot some squirrels unless your snowed in?

[Mice!]

caught part of this afternoons escape to the country, in the peak district, showed some guy making knives bespoke, turned out there were three guys making a living from it, didn't realise it was such big business.

[Walker570]

I was surprised by the number of people into making knives. I knew of a few real top guys and purchased from one, made to meassure, which is now still stuck in the ground somewhere in Wiltshire.  The number of times I have done that but mostly I can go back and find it still there. It really isn't rocket science. Don't get me wrong you can get deep into it with differing metals hardening etc etc. but for a simple working knife, it ain't that hard. Fancy machinery helps but again by shear muscle power you can fettle up a knife from a bit of spring steel.

Old Landie springs are case in point.  A vice , a hacksaw, a couple of files and a drill, plus some emery paper will start you off.

 

Fancy pins have arrived so might get the handle on this weekend or early next week.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Lovely!

[johnphilip]

2 hours ago, Mice! said:

caught part of this afternoons escape to the country, in the peak district, showed some guy making knives bespoke, turned out there were three guys making a living from it, didn't realise it was such big business.

He had a very strange way of trying to sharpern a knife .

[Grandalf]

Cash now with RBL Poppy Appeal.

Should get the receipt next week.

Ben

[Old farrier]

14 minutes ago, Grandalf said:

Cash now with RBL Poppy Appeal.

Should get the receipt next week.

Ben

That’s good news thanks again for your hard work ??

[Walker570]

Many thanks. That worked well.

Looks like another wet one tomorrow so might just get a bit more done.

[Walker570]

Well it's certainly sharp enough !!!  A clumsy slip resulted in me booked into the surgery for a couple of stitches.

[Mice!]

well that's not good, still the knifes been blooded.

so blood sweat and tears went into the making of this blade.

[Old farrier]

A mere scratch ?two days ago a cold I can see he’s a hypochondriac 

or its 

Just a excuse for a couple of hours off and a chance to get around a few members of 

uniform dating.com ??

anyway hope it heals up soon 

all the best 

of 

l

 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Nev, slow down a bit, don't want to miss any of the shooting you have lined up.

Hope it all heals quickly and your cold ******* off too.

[Old farrier]

10 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Nev, slow down a bit, don't want to miss any of the shooting you have lined up.

Hope it all heals quickly and your cold ******* off too.

Said with the sincerity of a man who’s next sentence is ?

 

if you can’t make it I’ll go in your place ?

[TIGHTCHOKE]

I wouldn't dare!

[la bala]

And to coin a phrase. IT WILL CUT.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

3 minutes ago, la bala said:

And to coin a phrase. IT WILL CUT.

Or "tried and tested by the maker!"

[Old farrier]

Good job he’s etched 

caution may be sharp on it ???

[mel b3]

I reckon that thumb needs a bigger bandage nev ☺

[Walker570]

three very neat stitches and lots of care and attention from the nurse who thought idea of the knife and the RBL was worth it. nicked a small artery but nothing serious.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

And here is the Nurse showing what a healthy thumb should look like.

[Walker570]

Yes, but her name tab doesn't read Jameson's and she said I should take extra fluids.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

And one should always take their medicine and it is very important to finish the course!