Being inspired by knife number 28 in the book "Collector's Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution" by Neumann and Kravic. I decided to try my hand at making a locking blade friction folding knife.
Firstly let me admit that at times I thought I was in way over my head making this knife.
I began by selecting a suitable crown antler. I then began forging out the spring to fit the shape and contour of the handle.
This was quite a challenge for me. Although thinning and bending of the spring could be done in the forging process alot of stock had to be removed using a hacksaw and hours of file work.
The back of the handle had to be flattened with a file to get to spring to lay on the antler.
Next I made the blade. Forged from 1/8" 1095 steel. This is a big knife. The blade measures 4 1/4" in front of the handle and is over 1" wide a.
The critical area was getting the lock to work with the spring and the locking tooth on the blade.
I had filed a square hole for the tooth in the spring. I also left plenty of stock on my blade to allow me room for fitting. Fitting was a routine of assembly, disassembly, fit and filing for an afternoon. When I was confident of my lock I then heat treated the spring.
I then reassembled the knife for to be sure nothing had changed on me and then I heat treated the blade.
No glues or epoxies were used. Just very tight friction fitted hand made rivets hold the knife together.
A crude but functional finger ring was forged and installed into the spring.
The knife is 9 5/8" overall in length. The spring snaps like a trap when it engages the tooth on the blade. It locks ups as tight as a bank vault door with out any movement at all.
At times I felt like abandoning the project but I am glad I saw it through.
Your comments would be appreciated.
Thanks
Joe
Firstly let me admit that at times I thought I was in way over my head making this knife.
I began by selecting a suitable crown antler. I then began forging out the spring to fit the shape and contour of the handle.
This was quite a challenge for me. Although thinning and bending of the spring could be done in the forging process alot of stock had to be removed using a hacksaw and hours of file work.
The back of the handle had to be flattened with a file to get to spring to lay on the antler.
Next I made the blade. Forged from 1/8" 1095 steel. This is a big knife. The blade measures 4 1/4" in front of the handle and is over 1" wide a.
The critical area was getting the lock to work with the spring and the locking tooth on the blade.
I had filed a square hole for the tooth in the spring. I also left plenty of stock on my blade to allow me room for fitting. Fitting was a routine of assembly, disassembly, fit and filing for an afternoon. When I was confident of my lock I then heat treated the spring.
I then reassembled the knife for to be sure nothing had changed on me and then I heat treated the blade.
No glues or epoxies were used. Just very tight friction fitted hand made rivets hold the knife together.
A crude but functional finger ring was forged and installed into the spring.
The knife is 9 5/8" overall in length. The spring snaps like a trap when it engages the tooth on the blade. It locks ups as tight as a bank vault door with out any movement at all.
At times I felt like abandoning the project but I am glad I saw it through.
Your comments would be appreciated.
Thanks
Joe
