Some of my work

[FTO_dude]

My name is Zac, or FTOdude.
I just turned 20 years old, I'm a student and i live in south-east Melbourne.
I've been a knife guy only for the past 2 years or so. I've owned swords for a few years before that too.
I suppose I was frustrated with the lack of variety and quality of fixed blades available from Aussie retailers so i decided to have a go at making my own.
After a little bit of messing around, getting to know steelworking, i jumped right into some leaf spring knives. they were not excellent.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/FTO_dude/Knife%20Making/DSC_0128.jpg
They sat in that condition for quite some time as i wasnt all too pleased with them.
instead i moved onto saw blades, they gave me a lot more experience in applying and shaping handles
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/FTO_dude/Knife%20Making/DSC_0106-1.jpg

Christmas time came and i finally got myself a belt grinder, and thats when production kicked up a notch!
In the last couple of months i've just finished of these bad boys

The big sheep
D2 tool steel
12cm blade, 25cm overall
4mm thick
6mm stainless pins from a bbq rack
Jarrah scales with black liners
The sheath is of my creation too
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/FTO_dude/Knife%20Making/DSC_0355.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/FTO_dude/Knife%20Making/DSC_0363.jpg


Those leaf spring knives?
This one has a 13cm blade and is 26cm overall.
5160 Spring steel(From a Mazda)
The handle is homemade Micarta from hessian and fibreglass resin.
The pins are aluminium tubing from a hobby shop.
This was also my first attempt at kydex
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/FTO_dude/Knife%20Making/DSC_0332.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/FTO_dude/Knife%20Making/DSC_0323.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/FTO_dude/Knife%20Making/DSC_0335.jpg


and finally this on is 36cm overall with a 19cm blade.
same steel
and again homemade micarta
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/FTO_dude/Knife%20Making/DSC_0119.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/FTO_dude/Knife%20Making/DSC_0130.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/FTO_dude/Knife%20Making/DSC_0118.jpg
Love that final shot!

and just finished this one up yesterday
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/FTO_dude/Knife%20Making/ESEE3%20Copy/DSC_0173.jpg

Hope you guys like my stuff!

[Bennie Lovejoy]

Great looking blades. I especially like the with the cord wrapped hand guard.2thumbs

[Dwane Oliver]

Those look great Zac. I really like the one with the Green handle. What is "hessian" ?

Welcome to the Pound too

[BrianBoyles]

Great looking knives.
I really like the green handle one. The kydex sheath came out nice too.

[wdtorque]

Welcome. You are off to a good start IMHO. The sheepfoot is nice, like the scales alot. But the green mazda is my favorite. Bottom unit looks good btw. Dozier

[Doug Lester]

Zac, you are deffinantly doing good work. I too like the green handled knife. It has some real nice lines and you deffinantly have the home brewed micarta down right. For those of us on this side of the big pond, hessian is burlap.

Doug Lester

[Keith Willis]

Great work!
I agree with Dozier,I like the''Green Mazda'':Dthe best.
Keep it up.2thumbs

God bless,Keith

[Tod Lowe]

Good looking work on the knives and sheaths.2thumbs
Excellent pictures too!

[LR Adkins]

Nice looking knives Zac. Welcome to Knife Dogs.

Larry

[calharkins]

You definitely have talent. Keep em coming!!!