Quenched Blade

opaul

opaul

Well-Known Member
Just got this one out of the quench. Since the quench I've put it through two tempering cycles. I'll finish grinding it tomorrow and hopefully get the scales glued up. I haven't decided on what material to use, canvas micarta, burl, bone, stag? What do you guys think would look good?
 
Ask your wife, that's what I do. seriously though, personally I'd go with the burl or bone...or linen micarta, I'm just not big on cavass micarta unless it's on a big chopper
 
bladegrinder said:
Ask your wife, that's what I do. seriously though, personally I'd go with the burl or bone...or linen micarta, I'm just not big on cavass micarta unless it's on a big chopper
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I have some linen micarta but I have more canvas. My wife likes burl so that is what she would pick. This is the last knife I did with canvas micarta, never thought about it in terms of blade size.
 
Does canvas micarta leave a texture finish from the thread pattern showing? OR, is it a really smooth finish? It looks like it would be a good non-slip handle.
 
KenH said:
Does canvas micarta leave a texture finish from the thread pattern showing? OR, is it a really smooth finish? It looks like it would be a good non-slip handle.
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It depends how far down in grit you go. I never finish G10 or Micarta past 240G and then wipe it down good a couple times with believe it or not WD40! Their is also a Micarta that has a covering on it after you final shape the scales you peel the protective coating off and it has a traction like coating on it if I was reading the description correctly? USA Knife Maker sells it if your interested.
 
opaul said:
Just got this one out of the quench. Since the quench I've put it through two tempering cycles. I'll finish grinding it tomorrow and hopefully get the scales glued up. I haven't decided on what material to use, canvas micarta, burl, bone, stag? What do you guys think would look good?
Click to expand...

I'm really liking Burl lately! The Demascus Hunter I just started is getting a Burl of some sort with a White G10 Liner. I'm going to try and etch the tang so the liner and tang really "POP"! At least that is the look I'm hoping for? My vote is BURL!!
 
I'm a sucker for wood, so no matter how nice a man-made material looks, I am always biased to wood. I guess the real question is: how do you plan to use the knife? If knives were guns, my thoughts are like this- everyone loves an English Walnut stock until you imagine yourself scraping and scratching the snot out of it crawling through briars and brush. All of a sudden that black plastic stock makes so much sense! Is the gun a user-gun, or is it an heirloom? That's my thinking. Form follows function.

Having said that...

For all the blood, sweat, and tears we all put into our blades- it is most often the handle that sells the knife. "Pretty" sells. "Pretty" determines value in many peoples' minds. It's just as easy to put a beautiful handle on a knife as a micarta one. The same knife will sell for a lot more money with a beautiful handle, assuming the fit and finish is there.
 
John Wilson said:
I'm a sucker for wood, so no matter how nice a man-made material looks, I am always biased to wood. I guess the real question is: how do you plan to use the knife? If knives were guns, my thoughts are like this- everyone loves an English Walnut stock until you imagine yourself scraping and scratching the snot out of it crawling through briars and brush. All of a sudden that black plastic stock makes so much sense! Is the gun a user-gun, or is it an heirloom? That's my thinking. Form follows function.

Having said that...

For all the blood, sweat, and tears we all put into our blades- it is most often the handle that sells the knife. "Pretty" sells. "Pretty" determines value in many peoples' minds. It's just as easy to put a beautiful handle on a knife as a micarta one. The same knife will sell for a lot more money with a beautiful handle, assuming the fit and finish is there.
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That sums up my thinking perfectly. I love stabilized wood because you get to have your cake and eat it too! Pretty and tough enough to use...
 
I am not a wood man for something I am going to use in the woods like said it gets messed up easy.But I love the look of wood on knives but keep it on a shelve.But in the end everyone has their favorites.
 
Gliden07 said:
It depends how far down in grit you go. I never finish G10 or Micarta past 240G and then wipe it down good a couple times with believe it or not WD40! Their is also a Micarta that has a covering on it after you final shape the scales you peel the protective coating off and it has a traction like coating on it if I was reading the description correctly? USA Knife Maker sells it if your interested.
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On some of my G10 knives I finish them to around 120 and use mineral oil to make the G10 pop. it doesn't have any odor, I've never put anything on micarta though.
 
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I decided to go with Ringed Gidgee. I've never used it before but I've read it's as hard and dense as desert wood but maybe more so. I've seen pictures of it finished and it's beautiful. This is the grind and finish so far.
 
Smallshop said:
When are you going to try a paracord wrap with super glue finish?
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Funny you should ask that :). I'm thinking about making a few small knifes for friends for Christmas and I was thinking a paracord wrap! Only thing is I'll have to read up on how to make the handle wrap.
 
That is a good clean blade ready for handles. For me I would always go with wood given the oportunity although I have taken a real liking to buffalo horn for how it works and feels in hand.
 
Is the buffalo horn brittle? I have been using Corian lately and LOVE it...it is hard (and brittle) and sands very nice. I followed Ed Caffreys advice and do not make sharp corners with it....nice big radiuses...lol. Then it can take a whack better'n anything I've tried. Would love to try bone and horn...just wonder about cracking, etc?
 
Smallshop said:
Is the buffalo horn brittle? I have been using Corian lately and LOVE it...it is hard (and brittle) and sands very nice. I followed Ed Caffreys advice and do not make sharp corners with it....nice big radiuses...lol. Then it can take a whack better'n anything I've tried. Would love to try bone and horn...just wonder about cracking, etc?
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The horn is not brittle in the least. I have done a bit with it over the years making grip caps for rifle stocks that are only held by a center screw and it is a very stable material. It works and finishes very nicely. I have never had any of the horn crack or do anything that might show a detremental tendency.
 
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