My apologies to Valkman

[Vonderek]

A number of years ago when Valkman was getting out of the knifemaking business I had the opportunity to purchase one of his unfinished blades. My intent was to learn how to put a handle on a kick-ass knife that I waited too long to purchase. As many times is the case, life got in the way and Valkman's blade sat in my office....occasionally reminding me about my procrastination.

Life has gotten a bit slower as of late and I went to work on the project...using mostly what I already had. Some brass screws instead of pins, a couple of walnut scales I picked up a couple years ago, boiled linseed oil, epoxy, a wooden dowl and block and some various grits of sandpaper (although I will admit to cheating and bought a palm sander to finish it off), and a Dremel-type tool.

Anyway, here it is. I think I'm going to send it out for a proper sheath as I have learned through this process that "I'm not all that" and will leave the rest to a pro.

So Valkman, my apologies to you for not doing your exquisite Fighter sufficient justice. But all the same, I am very proud of it both because of the beauty of your work and the ugliness of mine that, in the end, wasn't horrible and has a rustic feel which is representative of my sensibilities.

Edit to add:
This is what it looked like while glueing the scales and before i commenced sanding and grinding

 

[bikerdoc]

You did good!

 

[bikerdoc]

Which reminds me I got a D2 blank around here somewhere that needs finishing.

 

[Armored farmer]

Vonderek,
You are too critical of your own work.
My compliments to both you and Valkman.
That is a great looking knife.
You did good.

 

[WestKentucky]

My first was much worse than that. Chopped out a hunk of discarded mower blade and used wood screws to hold it all together. Ugly as sin and a lot less fun. Yours is at least a very useable knife. Congrats. Leather isn’t so bad, and a knife sheath is one of the easiest things to learn with.

 

[RA40]

Congrats, great job!

Would encourage you to consider making the sheath too. Leather isn't very difficult to work. I find that time stitching up a sheath to be relaxing compared to the other tasks involved in making up a knife. If one is tooling up the leather to make it fancy then that is pretty involved.

 

[entropy]

Looks nice, and I'm sure Valkman will be along anytime to confirm that!

 

[Valkman]

That looks real nice! I'd hog out where the choils are to make it more comfy for fingers, but that is a great effort!

Did I mention who heat treated the blank when you bought it? It just occurred to me that it was probably done by Bos - if I mentioned that it was, then treasure it!

 

[bannockburn]

Vonderek

Like others have already said: you done good, real good!

 

[hso]

Good for you!

 

[Vonderek]

I'd hog out where the choils are to make it more comfy for fingers

Yes, that is one of my "uglies". I chamfered the edges and then punked out to go any further. I was concerned that I had come too far to ruin it (which has been a trait of mine in the past.) Like the catch-phrase in the movie Magnum Force, "A man's got to know his limitations." Ha!

Did I mention who heat treated the blank when you bought it? It just occurred to me that it was probably done by Bos - if I mentioned that it was, then treasure it!

The heat treat is fantastic. It is going to take me some time to put an edge on it with my rudimentary sharpening kit as it is nice and hard. I am sure once I get it sharp it will stay that way for a long time.
I will treasure it! This knife is not going anywhere unless it's on my belt! I was honored to work on something you created and Paul Bos heat treated.

 

[Valkman]

You should contact a knife maker and ask them (or see if you can go there and do it on their grinder) to contour the handles. That wood would come out looking NICE!

 

[Litlman]

It looks nice.

 

[Valkman]

Yes, that is one of my "uglies". I chamfered the edges and then punked out to go any further. I was concerned that I had come too far to ruin it (which has been a trait of mine in the past.) Like the catch-phrase in the movie Magnum Force, "A man's got to know his limitations." Ha!

I'd just get a 1/2" round file and go at it. You're not going to ruin it! I used a small wheel attachment that did it quickly but now a file to rough it out and then sandpaper would do nicely.