A non-matching pair of knives WIP.

I haven't had much time to post but this is from between Wednesday and yesterday.
http://imageshack.us/a/img46/1623/photoapr17230120.jpg
This is the welts glued up and you can see how the blade is retained.
http://imageshack.us/a/img843/1340/photoapr17223349.jpg
I glued up the snake and buffalo skin to the sheath front here. I need to get some contact cement because the CA1500 says it does leather but it is a bit useless here. It makes an alright sealer though.
http://imageshack.us/a/img15/7109/photoapr20163543.jpg
I got this deadly contraption set up, 2mm brass bar sharpened to a point and put my drill on ludicrous speed. I used it to make the stitching holes in the welts and belt loop. I didn't get many pictures at all of the next bit but here are some holes.
http://imageshack.us/a/img853/5343/photoapr20163535.jpg
You can see that I have started to oil the leather, I couldn't find any mineral oil so I used olive, I figured that my dad will look after it anyway and the rest of my sheaths will be dyed.
I didn't get any pictures of any more sheath making. I learned that it is best to stitch the belt loop before gluing the sheath front on. Stitching an inch deep into the sheath wasn't impossible but it took an hour with a needle cut down to 3/8" and needle nose pliers to do a saddle stitch on it. Waste of a perfectly good needle. I made the holes in the welt and then glued the face on, then I used the holes in the back as a guide to push them through the buffalo skin. A bit like making holes in handle scales.
This is the finished sheath. It isn't perfect by a long shot but I'm proud of it. It holds the knife well and feels more sturdy than any other sheath I have held with the exception of two or three made by an actual knife maker.
http://imageshack.us/a/img580/504/photoapr20211740.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img7/3176/photoapr20211714.jpg
 
http://imageshack.us/a/img41/6126/photoapr27211123.jpg this is a picture of the plunges, it is the only angle I could get a picture of. Turns out that buffalo horn is an awful material and I hate it. It warped so it didn't fit properly. It was a waste of £10 worth of horn and some black fibre. I will never use it again, not worth the smell.
http://imageshack.us/a/img854/7479/photoapr27210823.jpg
There is a picture that shows it not fitting. I will replace it with spalted beech. http://imageshack.us/a/img19/8265/photoapr27210839.jpg
I was foolish enough to glue the liners to it without stabilising it. I really need to slow down. I will see what I can do with a superglue finish to hold it together on the knife. I don't think it will be too bad.
I decided that if I was doing a new handle that I might as well make some new holes. It means the pins won't be so loose. I drew out the tang as it stood and drew some more holes on. I wanted a pin at the finger groove and I rather liked the look of a 2mm hole. The father approves and it is his knife so it's all good.
http://imageshack.us/a/img163/1908/photoapr27215522.jpg
The lower holes at the ends and middle will be used and the top ones second from the edge, I forgot to tape it for the picture. I got the whole blade sanded to 120grit for heat treatment. The grinds where very washed over so I made it into an Appleseed grind. Better to have a well done Appleseed than a badly done flat grind. The grind is thin enough to not be completely inferior. The scratches took ages to get out because I was sanding in the same direction as them.
http://imageshack.us/a/img855/9515/photoapr27210944.jpg
I had some 1/2" aluminium that I used for sanding the concave bits of the handle.
http://imageshack.us/a/img818/1904/photoapr27215615.jpg
I will send the blade for heat treatment some time during the week hopefully. That's all for now I think.
 
A little update, I have come across the dreaded situation that we all fear... I have exhausted my funds. I am going hungry for a bit to get some heat treat money but food usually is top priority, I may continue buying a normal amount of food instead of heat treatment. All I can say is that it will definitely be done by the end of July, hopefully before. I will try to use he angle grinder to make a start on the other knife but I still am a bit nervous with my arm.
 
I decided to man up and go near the angle grinder today.
http://imageshack.us/a/img706/3054/photomay10163750.jpg
I did that. It is from the same billet of steel, made to fit the half made sheath that I was given. I'll get a picture of it up in a minute. My battery died before I could get a picture of the plunges. I decided to cut the choil before doing the plunges to keep them in line, it worked to an extent. I'll get pictures of that when I can. Progress has pretty much stopped on the other knife. I'm going to get them simultaneously heat treated, I might get the local blacksmith to do it if he is ok with that. I was letting the grinder motor cool and decided that I would take it on more step with polishing; from 120 long. to 400 latt. (Nightmare) to 600 long. apparently you should use sandpaper like it is free but I'm using it like it is 50p a sheet so it takes ages. I won't be posting much until the 31st because I have to do birthdays and exams almost simultaneously....
 
Well that would be my examinations done for the year. Progress might start tonight. I can't get much done tomorrow because I am shooting some lovely old chair legs (Lee-Enfield No.8, bet none of you have ever seen one of those before). This thread is now alive again. I am on my way out the door toward the auto shop for some sandpaper. That's all until tonight. Remember that is GMT so that will be around luncheon time for you lot.
 
Liam,
I have owned and shot just about every Lee Enfield rifle design ever made including the .22 cal No 8 model. You have to know that many of the Brit Empires rifles were sold to sportsman and collectors here in the USA after WW11.

I prefer the no 2, no 3 and my No 5 Jungle carbine all of course in Cal .303 British.

Have fun.

Laurence

www.rhinoknives.com
 
I knew about all the full bore LE rifles going over but I always thought that the No.8 wasn't sold much. We have them in cadets and were always taught that they were never really sold and remained as a beitish cadet rifle and nothing more. I want to fire a No.3 and a No.1 but I'm sure you know of the difficulties with that here. What about the L-98 A.2, I fired one of them and I don't think that H&K are selling them to anyone other than us yet. For the record I can't shoot straight on anything other than my grandmothers BRNO Mod.2. If I ever come to the US I want to shoot as many firearms with as many people as possible.
 
Sanding is going alright on the blade, getting there slowly. I asked the blacksmith about heat treating the blades and he wanted nothing to do with it. Turns out teenagers and knives being associated at all is frowned on by anyone, even those who make knives themselves. This is getting silly.
 
LiamLynch said:
Turns out teenagers and knives being associated at all is frowned on by anyone, even those who make knives themselves. This is getting silly.
Click to expand...

I only wish it were silly. It is abhorently dangerous for any population to give up essential liberty for perceived security. Stay with it, Liam. Show those around you that making Man's oldest tool is a most respectable endeavor.
 
Chris Grants website crashed my iPod but I'll try to find him. I finished grinding the skinner and the other blade is ready for HT. I have aquired enough sandpaper to go up to 320 long. on the blade, I'm halfway through 180 latt. it will take a while but I'm trying to finish this knife for next week so I'll be at it a lot I think. I'll try and get pictures up tonight.
 
The picture situation isn't going well but it's just sandin at the moment. I sent the first blade to Mick Wardell for HT so I get to start the new handle and mark the blade and all the exciting stuff like that. I will need to clean up the blade, shape and attach the handle, then finish the handle. Now finishing wood to be shiny is not something I know how to do. I could do a superglue finish I think but I don't know if they at any good.
 
What do you do when a blade is at the heat treated?

http://imageshack.com/i/npcmpfj

You make a bullwhip of course. I spent about 10 hours doing this. It isn't difficult at all but it's very repetitive and time consuming. It is about 5 1/2' with a 2 1/2' fall. Made from green and gold paracord and lamp chain. If anyone decides to let their children make one of these make sure they wear safety gear. Namely eye and neck protection. I learned the hard way.
 
It's very fun and the neighbours haven't been such delinquents since they heard it. I almost lost an ear this morning so now I wear my old Stetson when I play with it.
 
FINISHED! It's only been five months.

My knife got back yesterday and I got to work. I polished the blade up to an 800grit satin finish and started work on the handle. It's the same process I used for the horn. I snapped my 2mm but so I ditched the small hole in the finger groove. I almost ruined it at the last minute as well be grinding a divot into the handle. What is a good way to shape a handle? I used my pretend dremel. The spalted beech worked quite well I think and I figured the splaying wasn't so much that the knife would be completely useless. I glued the handle a few thou off line with the hole before I could get the pin in and I thought I had ruined it. Here are some pictures, not many because I get over excited.

http://imageshack.com/i/15uvd8j

http://imageshack.com/i/0f8vx9j

http://imageshack.com/i/0rx63ij

http://imageshack.com/i/mrcw2gj

http://imageshack.com/i/2m4uqwj

I have now made a proper knife with a decent grind, finish and handle.its not very impressive so I decided not to charge the guy for it. I need to clean up the tip because I forgot the sheath got wet and I put the knife in and it rusted while I was at school.

I ordered some CPM 154-CM from Aldo for my next commission. What is the stuff like for filing by hand? I still can't afford a grinder. The NJSB site said it is easy to work with so it can't be the hardest. I'm putting together a website which will be up and running in three knives time. Hopefully these next ones will be slightly faster to make. I have more funds and materials this time.
 
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