ditchman Posted June 17, 2019 Report Share Posted June 17, 2019 (edited) always being short of decent antler....ive got to do "Duckand swing" knife which is a slightly smaller #7......so i found this quirqy bit of antler...the fitting end is a bit strange ...but when i cut it open it might be solid horn...which will allow me to cut deeper on the shaping on the underside.............. anyway its on the altar of St Fidler...and i shall look at it for a while before i start...................... got to cut the damn hedge now..which will take 3 days so i should get back to the knife rounderbout wednesday.... Edited June 17, 2019 by ditchman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted June 17, 2019 Report Share Posted June 17, 2019 It's gunna be lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2019 20 minutes ago, amateur said: It's gunna be lovely if it works out alright....it will quite a nice little pocket knife....just got to have a think about the knife clamp how it will sit.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted June 17, 2019 Report Share Posted June 17, 2019 Still got my hedges to do, just done the lawns and washed some bed linen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead eye alan Posted June 17, 2019 Report Share Posted June 17, 2019 1 minute ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Still got my hedges to do, just done the lawns and washed some bed linen! Soon be time for a quick snort of red to get the little cells working.🍇 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2019 21 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Still got my hedges to do, just done the lawns and washed some bed linen! will you marry me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted June 17, 2019 Report Share Posted June 17, 2019 That’s going to be a good one totally unique 😊👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted June 17, 2019 Report Share Posted June 17, 2019 Just done half of the hedges, two days and knackered. Looked at tiding the shed but decided a tidy shed is the sign of a sick mind so modified the wing spreader block on the magnet. I had been given a self propelled 140 cc Brigs and Stratton mower which had been thrown out because the actuating cable had snapped so sprayed the underside of the deck and measured the cable. Found some old knives in the draw so may look at a restoration. Your new project looks very interesting, good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted June 17, 2019 Report Share Posted June 17, 2019 hello, you must be getting quite a lot of surplus Opinel handles by now Simon !!!!!!, look forward to see this new one when finished, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted June 17, 2019 Report Share Posted June 17, 2019 2 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said: hello, you must be getting quite a lot of surplus Opinel handles by now Simon !!!!!!, look forward to see this new one when finished, Opinel dont make handles anymore, they get them from a supplier in Norfolk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted June 17, 2019 Report Share Posted June 17, 2019 6 hours ago, dead eye alan said: Soon be time for a quick snort of red to get the little cells working.🍇 Off to work in a while! 6 hours ago, ditchman said: will you marry me No! But thanks for asking!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 well.......did some of the hedge ..then it started to rain...so i thought i would have a few mins at the knife...and i think it will work........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diver One Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 Looking good! how are you going to finish the cut end of the antler? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 (edited) 27 minutes ago, Diver One said: Looking good! how are you going to finish the cut end of the antler? as per usual 1/4" thick brass plate pommel mirror finished as will the blade will be and the antler scrubbed with wire wool and oiled.......the bare end will be cut back a bit more yet.. similar to the pic below Edited June 18, 2019 by ditchman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckandswing Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 It’s maybe a ridiculous thing to say but knowing that’s being crafted for me makes me a bit emotional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 (edited) 26 minutes ago, Duckandswing said: It’s maybe a ridiculous thing to say but knowing that’s being crafted for me makes me a bit emotional. there there.......the profile looks similar to a humpback whale...........what do you think ? Edited June 18, 2019 by ditchman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diver One Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 Very nice finish...that's given me an idea for "capping" my next stick instead of using horn &/or bone. How do you get the pommel so close to the contours of the antler without 'scuffing up' the antlers patina? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckandswing Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 4 minutes ago, ditchman said: there there.......the profile looks similar to a humpback whale...........what do you think ? I love the look. Usable and unique. Cheers Ditchie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 (edited) 42 minutes ago, Diver One said: Very nice finish...that's given me an idea for "capping" my next stick instead of using horn &/or bone. How do you get the pommel so close to the contours of the antler without 'scuffing up' the antlers patina? start rough .....................finish smooth............and a good set of magnifying glasses...sometimes you need to round it off and sometimes because of the finish you have to take a little bit......the handle will tell you what it wants.... Edited June 18, 2019 by ditchman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 It's craftmanship, innit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diver One Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 2 minutes ago, amateur said: It's craftmanship, innit. Yep 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Diver One said: Yep 👍 good idea to cap off a piece of antler with brass or copper...bronze....for a stick...........now that would be unique......... even better........cap off a stick with an opinel knife...the stick needs to be a hard dense wood....like yew....blackthorn.....NOT HAZEL.... Edited June 18, 2019 by ditchman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diver One Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 Right that's top of my rainy winter day project list! Fortunately I've got loads of brass bar and Rod . I think I will drill and tap a short stud into a disc , drill out antler for stud, two pack epoxy then file away anything that doesn't look like a pommel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 35 minutes ago, Diver One said: Right that's top of my rainy winter day project list! Fortunately I've got loads of brass bar and Rod . I think I will drill and tap a short stud into a disc , drill out antler for stud, two pack epoxy then file away anything that doesn't look like a pommel sound and good enough...........i solder in a couple of studs to act as anchors.........same sort of thing.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 I'm afraid that I lose patience with finishing, somewhere between fine filing and medium emery cloth, so most of my stuff on the bike is "satin" finish - much to the irritation of my clockmaker father - so I really respect Ditchie's craftsmanship. I know how damn difficult it is to get a finish like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.