Minimalist gralloch knife project - no slabs, easy clean, washable kydex sheath

[zambezi]

This lockdown has given me time to indulge in the time-consuming joy that is knife making. I am a novice. This thread will track the build of my second ever knife. Knife #1 is still awaiting a sheath...

The question of how you maintain good hygiene with a gralloch knife and sheath lead me to thinking I should build a knife+sheath combo that can go in the dishwasher. Kirinite, G10 and other synthetic options can deliver a water impermeable handle, but I reckon that good ergonomics could deliver a grippable blade that is naked steel. A really simple flat grind blade that is no longer than it needs to be sat in front of a handle that remains grippy when wet.

Plywood template made from sketches and then transferred to 3mm 1095 carbon steel bar stock. Shape cut out with an angle grinder and finished with hand files .



The envisaged egronomics are best expressed in the next two images which mimic typical blade grips during gralloching

 

[kimh]

Not seen any knifemaker produce a dishwasher scabbard with a leather over sheath... as yet

 

[kimh]

What's the new knife for? skinner... if so put a hook in the handle (gut hook - skinning hook) as a zipper

 

[zambezi]

What's the new knife for?

Mostly practice building knives.

But I was half thinking the kydex sheath might be configured to affix to my rifle's shoulder strap. I.e. if I have my rifle, I also have a knife for gralloch.

In the event, it has been a journey of discovery re technique. Or rather, its lack. I do not have sufficient control working free hand with files. I really need to get a 72" belt sander and build knife jigs as required.


Free hand filing a flat grind is a chore... Jimping on spine gives excellent grip Edge is messy. Only moderately sharp at first time of asking.



The hard wax should have cured on the first knife by tomorrow, so I will go back to that and sharpen it and build out the leather sheath.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

yup, I agree, a zipper that works is really useful.

 

[zambezi]

Today I set about making a knife-filing-jig so that my next attempt is not plagued with non-planar draw strokes and gouges on faces that did not need to be addressed by the file. Various versions of a jig exist on the web and somewhere between Aaron and Alec's designs is where I am going. Only it is a bit more like Scrapyard Challenge as I am building the jig with whatever I have in the workshop rather than buy new.

I selected a tube for the guide rather than a solid rod as it confers greater stiffness. Also, most designs incorporate a height adjustable feature at the end of the rod distal from the file. I have gone with a fixed pivot height and will achieve different angles of grind by shimming the blade table as required.




The eye is the cam belt tensioner I replaced on my old Toyota. That is bolted to a castor wheel assembly. This allows the rod to arc freely. [I found that eye bolts cause the rod to rise at the extremes of arc as the "V" of the eye cams the rod upward]

 

[willie_gunn]

Not seen any knifemaker produce a dishwasher scabbard with a leather over sheath... as yet

You haven't been looking hard enough

Dave Stretton sells stainless steel liners for leather knife sheaths. I picked up one when I bought one of his breastbone saws.

Our Manufactured Or Recommended Range | Donington Deer Management

 

[kimh]

You haven't been looking hard enough

Dave Stretton sells stainless steel liners for leather knife sheaths. I picked up one when I bought one of his breastbone saws.

Our Manufactured Or Recommended Range | Donington Deer Management

Yeh have one as do I have plastic ones for the kitchen draw, I've not seen a knifemaker/bladesmith/custom knifemaker make a set of knife/liner scabbard/leather sheath

 

[zambezi]

The metallurgy on this knife seems a little better than that of my first knife, but still not brilliant. I now know that heat treating 1095 is not a gimme. This blade will be hung in the garage for use as a box cutter for liberating DPD deliveries.

 

[zambezi]

Finished the knife jig and am rather happy with form and function. My design has two optional pivot points. Between them, they cover all angles of grind I might wish: from chisel through scandi to full flat. The actual grind angle is set by stacking "shim" planks at the bar stock end: