My latest knife

[50cal.cliff]

This knife is a replica of 1800’s style, ball grip belt knife. The handle is made of maple. Inset in the ball grip are two inlays of cow bone. On one side one a bear paw has been engraved, on the other side prayer feathers. The handle is 4 1/2” in length, with four steel pins.
The blade has been acid etched to achieve the finish that you see on the blade, as well as the aged look of the blade. The blade itself is 6 3/8”, for a total over all length of 10 7/8” for the entire knife.
The sheath is leather wrapped with rawhide and hand sewn with sinew. The edge has been adorned with brass tacks.

 

[rabjr]

Very niice! :thumbsup:

 

[davy]

Yes indeed! :thumbsup:

Davy

 

[mazo kid]

Looking good! :thumbsup:

 

[battman1]

Very nice is exactly what I was thinking.

 

[BillinOregon]

Lovely job. Particularly like your sheath details.

 

[RickD]

Very nice

 

[agill]

:thumbsup:

 

[JamesG]

That looks great nice job on the case and the knife.

 

[RC]

COOL! ya dun good!! :thumbsup: like the blade finish..good job!

 

[50cal.cliff]

Thanks guys it's great to hear a little encouragement! I strive to do my best with each knife I build! The pictures really don't do the blade justice. There are lines etched into the blade that just don't show up in the photo's.

 

[fatboy]

That a nice lookin knife !! send it to me I'll let you know How sharp it is

 

[PitchyPine]

Dern good lookin. :thumbsup:

 

[smo]

Great job Cliff :thumbsup: Keep up the good work :hatsoff:

 

[50cal.cliff]

Thanks Pitchy,I was begining to think folks around these parts had lost intrest in these kind of knives. This knife may not be 100% true as a replica but rather I figure it might be like one someone carried and valued so he added the engravings, you know kinda made it his own!

To LHunter, it will shave an arm just like you took your razor to it! If you don't belive me ask Snake-eyes, he got one of my skinners for his Grandson. This knife is made from the same steel, it takes an edge and holds it well and its not a PITA to resharpen either.
I did discover one thing cow bone is alot harder than I expected! :wink:

 

[crockett]

Nice knife -I agree. And, nice sheath- I always figure the sheath is sort of the frame on the picture and equally important.

Now....On this forum we have had quite a bit of knife talk. I started out building knives before I got into building guns. Everyone needs a knife, maybe two or three, and it is a lot cheaper to make knives than guns. Some of us like Wick are professionals and some, like myself are hobbyists. I like to think my knives are pretty good but it takes me forever and a day to make one, I could never do it professionally. In any event maybe Claude could think about taking a poll on how many of us build knives, whether we are pros or hobbyists, whether we build all sorts of knives or only period knives, etc. If there is a lot of interest perhaps a new thread could be created dealing only with the making of knives and cutting tools that are period correct for us.

 

[50cal.cliff]

Now I have to say first off "Wick, is the man"! He has sorta of became my mentor or at least my "go to", man when I have questions.He probably regrets ever having said he didn't mind answering questions! :haha:
Now I also should say I have picked others brainson this forum, such as Nifeman and his lovely wife. Now there is a lady who knows about rawhide sheaths.
I myself am still learning all about this knife making and don't see myslef in the same catagory as the others. I love trying my hand at this time period as far as knives and such though. It might make for a intersting thread at that!

 

[fatboy]

What kinda steel did you use

 

[50cal.cliff]

The steel is from an old two man saw. It has a whole lot more carbon than I expected. It wets up to a wicked edge and holds one well too! This knife was made by the reduction method, as I don't have my forge up and running yet, but I am getting real close!

 

[fatboy]

We have a knife at the hunting camp that my Grandpa made from a saw blade 7-8" blade takes a good edge. My mom said he use to make some of his butcher knives.