Another Knife in Progress

[jcmcclure]

This is going to be a present for my fiancee's little boy who is just getting in to the 18th century hobby. His birthday is in a couple of weekends, so I have switched gears and got this knife to this point pretty quickly.

Made from a file...blade needs cleaned up and I have got to get some material for pins, but this project is nearly done. I spent more time removing the forging marks than I have in past projects and I think I am going to like the polished then aged look pretty well.

 

[Black Hand]

...get some material for pins ...

Finish nails work very well, and iron pins are historically accurate. Fill the gap between the blade and handle material with cutlers rosin, insert the pins and peen the ends slightly.

 

[fischereco2]

That looks awesome. How did you inlet the bone for the half tang? Do you just cut a slot with a saw or something? I'd like to make a similar knife in the future.

 

[jcmcclure]

Other are going to have better advice because this was my first time hafting a knife in such fashion. I used a hand saw and fitted by hand with my smallest files.

Your mileage may vary and others may chime in with better proven experience.

 

[ZUG]

Nice knife - nice style. How about a poured pewter guard and have the pewter melt extend and fill the tang of the blade into the handle - pin the handle to the blade first :hmm: .

 

[jcmcclure]

I finally had a little time and got this knife completed. I put a couple pins in and did a somewhat aged finished on the blade and haft.

 

[flattail]

Nice, solid looking knife! :thumbsup: Enjoy.
Ed

 

[Grumpa]

Very nice work. I like the bag, too.

How about some dimensions, and info on what you used for the blade? Is that a dropped antler?

 

[jcmcclure]

The blade was forged from a file and the overall length is compared to that a dollar bill. I will take another pic for comparison.

Not sure what a dropped antler.

 

[LRB]

A dropped antler would be a natural shed vs common saw removal from a deer head. Yours appears to be sawed from the skull as most drops will have a natural half ball structure on the crown. If sawed close to the skull on some, a ball can be shaped from the bone also. Either is good, but the ball on some can be carved into faces or other artsy decoration.

 

[Rifleman1776]

That will be a handy usin' knife.

 

[jcmcclure]

I had never really heard that term before, and yes Wick you are correct.

 

[ZUG]

Where are you getting you antler stock from and is the price "reasonable" :hmm: ?

 

[jcmcclure]

What I have are sheds from my own or my dad's collecting. After some friends learned that I like knife making they brought old sheds or racks from previous seasons. I have bought a few racks, but am reluctant to do so because of various fish and game laws....I try to play it safe. What sheds I have seen are not cheap, so I am glad I have the surplus I do.

 

[Jaeger]

Very nice! It sure ain't gonna slip out of your hand.....

 

[ZUG]

Thanks for the reply. Years ago I was using Sambar Stag antler rounds a lot but the price and availibity was high and erratic so I went with man made stuff .

 

[LRB]

Sambar is still a bit high. Seems like there is quite a bit of Axis antler available. It is a little cheaper, but not as cheap as found drops.

 

[ZUG]

Thanks for the reply & info :bow: .

 

[Rifleman1776]

Sambar is still a bit high. Seems like there is quite a bit of Axis antler available. It is a little cheaper, but not as cheap as found drops.

Axis does not have the porous marrow like whitetail antlers. It has (in 99% of them) only a small blood line or tube in the center. I have turned axis on a lathe and like it very much for that reason. Never made a knife handle from it but I'm sure it would be a beautiful material for that purpose.