Maybe I got one more knife left in me?

[rcmodel]

Sept. 6, 2015
I had to give up knife making about 10-12 years ago because my hands couldn't take it anymore.

But, I thought maybe I had one more left in me?

I had an old 7 1/2" Japan 440c Cyro quenched fighter blade blank in the Junque for 15 years.
Decided to go Coffin-Handle, with Ivory Micarta, and Ball-End guard.

Decided I maybe can make one last one for myself.
But this will be my last one, as my hands are already hurting!!

I got all winter, and can take it slow, instead of fighting it like a one armed paper hanger trying to fight wasps in the wall filling orders.

Made brass balls for the ball end guard today, then my lathe speed control box went up in smoke!!!

Dang Nab It!!!

I'd like to do a photo thing in NFW from start, to the the finished knife & leather..
But it will be huge, so stay tuned!!

The general layout:
Guard stock is 3/8"x3/4" brass stock.
Ball stock is 3/8" round brass rod.




Like this one I made in 2002: I actually made three of them and sold them.
Should have kept one for myself!!



rc

 

[rcmodel]

Sept. 6, 2015

Making Balls:




General layout, even made myself an extra Ball!:

(Never know when you might Lose a Ball in the basement Workshop!!!)




rc

 

[rcmodel]

Sept. 7, 2014

Milling tang slot in guard:



Sawing guard to shape:


rc

 

[rcmodel]

Sept. 8, 2014

Shaping guard on drill press with drum sander:




Balls & guard rough shaped:



rc

 

[rcmodel]

Sept. 8, 2015

Testing Nickle-Silver with inlay methods:




Rough Silver-Soldered in place:



rc

 

[rcmodel]

Sept 10, 2015

Marking & Milling scales for tang:






rc

 

[rcmodel]

Sept. 11, 2015

Test fitting:



Pin locations marked:



rc

 

[rcmodel]

Sept. 12, 2015

Silver brazing the balls on the guard.
Silver Solder is Jewelers 'Hard' which is 85% real Silver, and melts at 1,400 degrees.




Done!
Crud is Flux that mostly falls off when quenched hot:




rc

 

[rcmodel]

Sept, 12, 2015

Guard rough polished:



Finished making Nickle Silver & brass Thong Hole Liners:


That's all for now, but stay tuned!!

rc

 

[Brin]

That is going to be a nice knife when you are done Rcmodel.

 

[rcmodel]

Sept 12, 2015

Cutting scale pins:


Pins cut:


rc

 

[rcmodel]

Sept 12, 2015

Drilling holes:
2 pins, front and rear, keep the scales aligned while drilling the second scale to match.



Pins in temporarily:



rc

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

DANG! That is looking good rc.

 

[Valkman]

Looking good! Is the pin material 1/8th" brass rod?

 

[Gordon]

A magnificent piece ! Really, the blade shape is excellent. 440c properly treated as right at the top for all around no hassle appearance . The handle will show well when finished on dressy occassions while still being usefull and rugged. Kudos to you.

 

[rcmodel]

Is the pin material 1/8th" brass rod?

Yes, 1/8" bronze welding rod scuffed up on a belt sander for better adhesive bond.

rc

 

[rcmodel]

Sept 12, 2015

Ready to silver-solder guard/blade joint.
Using Stay-Bright low-temp (430 degree) silver solder.

Using a engine valve spring to keep tension on the guard without heat sinking all the heat into the vice.



Going Hot!




rc

 

[rcmodel]

And Hotter on the back side!


Photo out of order!
Hand rubbed the blade first with 400. 600, and 1500 paper & oil.


rc

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

RC - I feel gyped...

A bunch of the photos are not coming through.


Bad "settings" at my end?

I seem to be gettin' a little less than half and sometimes I'll get on in a post and not the other or two.


Todd.

 

[hso]

RC,

Thank you for sharing the build details! This shows so many members the effort that goes into building a knife after the blade is ground/forged. It ain't as simple as many think!

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

RC,

Thank you for sharing the build details! This shows so many members the effort that goes into building a (QUALITY - HIGH ATTENTION) knife after the blade is ground/forged. It ain't as simple as many think!

Agreed with the above conditionals.

Todd.

 

[rcmodel]

A bunch of the photos are not coming through

I don't know?
They are all working on my PC & iPad.

Anyone else have problems seeing them??

rc

 

[Valkman]

I see all the pics. Gotta say you do things right RC! I won't hand rub blades as (even though I'm at the tender age of 59) my hands could never take it. They sure look good though but I use my 9" disc sander.

 

[rcmodel]

Well, I decided to put everything I got in my Bag of Tricks on this last knife.

Already made some mistakes I wish I hadn't!

Been a long time since I did some of this stuff!!

Gotta learn it all over again!

I would have had it done by now 15 years ago!!

Course it don't help having to stop and bring the wife back home in the middle of things! Drilling the pins this afternoon and the phone rang.

She slipped out of the house and made it 1/2 a block up the street before one of the neighbors called me and said she was heading off! :banghead:

rc

 

[WestKentucky]

Well RC, I only clicked in the thread because it was yours, and I sure am glad I did. Nice work. And good for you taking good care of Mrs. RC. I still have a box of 40sw brass slowly but surely filling up that I intend to send your way.