Here's a new knife whadda you think?

[chipper]

I just finished this yesterday. It's made from 3/4" W1 drill rod. The antler is elk, I melted down a pewter drinking flask I bought in Malaysia for the bolster and end cap. If you look closely there's a hammon on the blade that looks like a sun over what looks like a mountain range. I've been experimenting with different techniques using the clay to temper and this is how it came out.
Any constructive critisim is welcome.
Thanks for viewing.

Regards
Loyd Shindelbower
Loveland Colorado

 

[tom hargrove]

loyd ,loyd, how much better, can you get? that is an absolute dream knive. :bow: :bow:

 

[PitchyPine]

Very nice Loyd, looks great. :thumbsup:

 

[blacksmithman64]

Outstanding! How long is it?

 

[shmrck1]

Loyd,
Great looking knife! Good work.
snake-eyes :applause: :hatsoff: :bow:

 

a professional at the highest level.
:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

 

[laffingman67]

Loyd, that is a great knife! Your work is progressing very well, indeed. :hatsoff: I think you have made more knives in the last 2 weeks than I have in the last 2 years! :bow: I look forward to the response at the Fogg site.

 

[davy]

Nice lookin piece of steel & antler there Loyd! :grin:

Davy

 

[chipper]

Thanks for the input guys. I've been trying to make a knife a week, it's tough with two small children a wife and a full time job as highwayman.

Regards
Loyd Shindelbower
Loveland Colorado

 

[PaulN/KS]

"full time job as a highwayman"...?
So,robbed many coaches lately? :hmm:
Nice knife.Couldn't quite make out the hamon on my screen tho but I do like that look on swords.

 

[davy]

Davy

 

[laffingman67]

BTW, a little more polish and another etch should make that hamon jump out. :hmm:

 

[chipper]

Thanks man, I don't really have the stuff to do a real good polish yet. I'm trying to work up to that. I used 220 grit and then about 30 min of steel wool. I'm actually using the money from this one to buy a buffing wheel and more coke for the forge.

What do you recomend for the etch? I've been using lemon juice and elbow grease.

Regards

 

[chipper]

Highwayman sounds alot better than full time firmware engineer.

Regards

 

[LRB]

Good job Loyd. Radio shack has an acid many makers use, but I don't recall what it is. Davy may know.

 

[Nifeman]

Hi fellas, nice knnife Loyd. Wicke, that would be ferric chloride or Archer Etchant as radio shack calls it...Bud

 

[davy]

Is this the stuff your talking about Wick...? I dunno! :hmm: For etching PC boards?
[url] http://www.radioshack.com/pro...p=&sr=1&origkw=etch&kw=etch&parentPage=search[/url]

Davy

 

[renovato]

That's a beauty!

 

[jacqueeagonsr]

1. Yes - PCB is ferric chloride
2. Other 'natural' things that will 'stain' a blade, if it has no chrome in the steel, are acidic things like tomatoes, limes, and chicken blood.
3. And, last, but not least, that is a nice looking knife. I need to learn how to do that pewter thing.

 

[chipper]

3. And, last, but not least, that is a nice looking knife. I need to learn how to do that pewter thing.

Thanks for the help, here's how I do the pewter thing....

The pewter thing is the easiest thing I do to the knife. I heat up and melt the pewter I buy at second hand stores with a soup ladle over my camp stove. Simply take masking tape and wrap around the antler a few times, then make a dam to hold the pewter with a manila folder. You only need a small strip of the manila folder then tape it to the antler. Put the knife handle in a vice and pour in the hot pewter. I let it cool slightly and run unter cold water.

You can drill additional holes in the handle to catch more pewter, this will make it more stable. You can heat the blade slightly to wick the metal to the pewter.

I finish by using my dremel and wood bits to carve the pewter down to size. A brillo pad and then steel wool buffs the scratches out.

By the way if you mess up and don't get enough pewter somewhere, simply pour again until you get it right. Totally simple to do.

Caution! I soaked a antler and pressed the blade into the antler, like they used to do it in the old days. I then poured in pewter. There was residual moisture in the antler and the pewter exploded in my face. I have several nice little scars to remind me never to do that again. Luckily I was wearing glasses
Regards
Loyd Shindelbower
Loveland Colorado