A couple new knives, please tell me what you think!

[Nic16]

Thanks! I love making anything, and looking at other things people have made. I'm not a big neck knife person, I like it on my hip. Oh, that's no fun. Must have been a nice gun. Thank you very much sir!

 

[Nic16]

Thanks! I'm a larger knife fan too, between 7-8 inches is my preference. A folder is a big task for a first couple of knives, can you post pics please? Haha, no kidding. I've never made a LR, but have made stocks from scratch, and it's painstaking.

 

[Vaino]

My first and only attempt at building a folder is now in a friend's 650 knives folder collection. He collected both factory and custom made folders and we both enjoyed the knife shows, although he was the only person who bought anything.....Fred

 

[LRB]

You might start with a simple friction folder or penny knife, if you want to do folders.

 

[Nic16]

Oh wow, that's extensive! Haha.

 

[Nic16]

I'm not a big folder person, one of my friends just made a really neat one though, he should be posting pictures if it soon on here

 

[LRB]

This one stays in my bag and is my primary deer working knife. Getting a good slot cut in is the hard part of these. I believe this one has a 4" blade.

 

[Vaino]

Now that's a beautiful folding knife. That type of knife was going to be my next contribution to my friend's folder collection, but then he died.

The blade file work is outstanding, as is the entire knife.....Fred

 

[LRB]

Thanks Fred. That file work is actually deceptively simple to do. It's getting a straight clean slot in the antler is what I find difficult.

 

[Rifleman1776]

It's getting a straight clean slot in the antler is what I find difficult.

No knife maker here. But I do cobble one together now and then. Once, only once :shocked2: tried to cut a slot in antler. Didn't get it then thought about using my table saw and lowering the antler onto the blade. Then decided I was fond of keeping my fingers in place. Didn't do it. :shake: Think I still have the partial cut antler hunk somewhere in my 'stuff' pile.

 

[Nic16]

Wow, beautiful knife! The craftsmanship is very apparent, nice job!

 

[LRB]

That one and a few others like it, were slotted by using an 8" composite metal cut off saw blade, mounted in a bench grinder. The problem was that since I have not figured out a holding jig for the antler, they were free handed, and I would screw up as many as I got right. The cut off blades can burn you and draw blood if you slip up, but are relatively safe when compared to a table or other type of power saw. The metal cut off blades do a good job if one can just keep things straight. If you can get the slot well started and true, you can finish with a Dremel tool to get the final depth.

 

[LaBonte]

Nicely done on both pieces from a fellow knifemaker. :hatsoff:

A book by friend Gene Chapman that might be of help for making a folder similar to Wick's, but with a period (a variation on a common French or Spanish style widely traded along the frontier) lock blade in an antler handle is here.
Antler and Iron II, building a Mountain Man Folding Knife
Of the several I've made or those made by fellow makers, all have had the mainspring for the lock two hefty IMO, a lighter spring still allows a good lock , but sure makes unlocking it a lot easier.

 

[LRB]

I made one of the locking types like Chapman shows. Came out great, worked good, but I didn't temper the spring soft enough and it broke months later.