I finally found an evening to get started on a knife that I've been excited about for a while now. After a number of ideas and sketches flying across emails we landed on a sketch that looked real good to both the client and I. So now this chunk of .106" 440C is destined for a holiday turkey carving knife with all the fixin's!
I did a rough outline from a cutout of my sketch and laid into the steel with the 36 grit belt. I quickly discovered just how much faster this thin steel heats up, lots of dunking and light pressure. After a few minutes we have a rough shape!
Even in just rough profile the knife really came alive for me. These things sure look so much better in steel than on paper, it's really going to pop with a nice linear satin finish and good figured wood for a handle. Speaking of the handle, as we worked together designing this knife I began to get the feel that it is one of those knives that just deserves a
file pattern and
mosaic pins. Much to my pleasure my client agreed with me! So I started marking out one of my favorite
running leaf patterns. This particular pattern has a flow about it that is just busy enough, but still elegant. You may recognize it from a
Jungle Bowie I recently experimented with setting turquoise into the file pattern. It has a western, down-home sort of feeling I think. Here I am copying off of a bowie I made some time ago.
Once you get your mind wrapped around it, it is rather simple really, start with a
3 corner file notch....
Then place the chainsaw file at a sharp angle and make clean, consistent cuts.
2, 3 corner file notches; chainsaw file; 2, 3 corner notches; then chainsaw file and so on. I throw on a little die cast marking to ease things up on the eyes.
and one or two meticulous hours later...
A very good evening in the shop and a much needed break from studying Anatomy and Physiology! Next time I can break away from homework I'll be drilling holes and doing a whole bunch of hand sanding to get that scale off.
Cheers and, God Bless!
~Davy
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