'Snakes' knives

[Ade8mm]

The partner to your's was one of the reasons the handles are a bit longer now, when I came across a tougher/older animal I felt the handle was a bit short for my big hands.

All great things benefit from constant development.. Aye

 

[snake_2586]

Here's the one that snapped on me, now finished and awaiting a new home.

 

[snake_2586]

And 2 more leaving today.





I have ran out of the red, So had to make it up to the required thickness.

 

[snake_2586]

Another couple of pics of some that left recently.

 

[Gratz]

I received the red one at the bottom of the last post today. Even better than the photo shows it. Delighted!

 

[Crowstalker]

Just wondering how do you get the actual bade at the very start ground to a rough shape?

Are your knives stainless steel? Looks very well made

 

[snake_2586]

Just wondering how do you get the actual bade at the very start ground to a rough shape?

Are your knives stainless steel? Looks very well made

Sorry for the late response, (seems I'm not watching my thread), no my knives are carbon steel not stainless, so require some care, but I do not find the steel corrodes as quick as some I have used.

If you look back at the very first post, you will see the template I use, I mark out the holes in the plate of steel, drill them and then bolt the template to it, and then burn around the template with a plasma cutter, (must take some pics at this stage), I then remove the cut edge with a belt grinder, doing it this way there is still a small amount of variation but they are all more or less the same, for other shapes, like my small model I just mark out and grind up to the line.

hope that answers your question
Snake

 

[snake_2586]

I have read a few comments about the grinders used on different threads, and how people would like 2x72, so I thought I would show what I have now started using, I could have had a 2x72 but I didn't want something that big so looking on a certain Chinese web site I found these still using a 1x30 belt. The machine mart one I wore out was ok for the job once I made a larger work table for it but was still a bit under powered (350w) where this one is 800w and variable speed so turns out to be more flexible as well.
It also wanted a larger work table made for it, and wanted raising up of the bench for a more comfortable working height and the top guard was required to stop it throwing sparks over you shoulder, (that was interesting when I started using it) but overall I am pleased with it now I have it set up how I like it.
If anyone looking at this thinks about one, they do two models, one with a 700w motor and cheaper, when I was looking I couldn't tell if the smaller motor was sealed, if it was open with the fan blowing through it, that is not a good thing with metal grinding dust being blown through the motor, (just my thoughts).

 

[snake_2586]

I have been having a play, truth be told the blade has been sat for a while awaiting tiding up.
The blade started life as a wheel bearing, so I don't know what the steel is but it should be a good grade and it has ended up about 60hrc when tested with the testing files, there are a few imperfection created when I was hammering it out but I did not want to remove that much material when grinding it up.
As the blade ended up being a stick tang, I thought it was a good opportunity to use up some of my leather off cuts, so the handle has blue kirinite bolsters with a stacked leather handle compressed on and held in place with an aluminum pin, a bit different take on the traditional idea.

The blade ended up about 4" long, 2.5mm thick and 20mm deep, I am amazed by how light this knife feels, and having just weighed it, it is about half the weight of my standard knives at 90g.
Anyone interested it give me a shout, it will go with one of my standard sheath, probably stick it up for sale properly in a couple of days.

 

[snake_2586]

Time to start the process again, and I have tried to take a few more pics to show the earlier stages.

Steel marked out and drilled for the template to be bolted in position, to be cut around.



The blade blanks now all cut and and still rather hot.



The following morning, I have dusted them off and they are ready for tiding up.



I have now gone around the edges with the belt grinder, and down the sides, they are now starting to look more presentable.



This morning I have ground the bevels on them, they are now awaiting hardening.

 

[Dann37]

Do you have any knives built for sale or are they all taken

 

[snake_2586]

A few pics to show how a leather stacked handle progresses.

 

[WH308]

That looks very smart.

 

[snake_2586]

I have not updated this thread for a while, so though it was time for a few more pics.
Again another leather stacked knife just this time with buffalo horn bolsters.

 

[snake_2586]

And as I can only put five pics per post, here's the finished knife ready for its new home.

 

[snake_2586]

I have also come across another issue, I don't normally see the requirement for a 'mirror' finish on the blade, but it was requested by one chap, so I though I would give it a go. It seems when using a fine belt 400 grit plus (both of these were done on a 800 grit belt) if you catch the belt at an angle with the blade it cuts a strip off the belt and leaves a 'V' shaped gouge in the blade.



It does not solve the problem but so I did not have a knife with a couple of notches in the blade, I ground an extended coil in this one.

 

[snake_2586]

I haven't put any pics up on here for a while so time for some more, This is one a mate at work asked if I could make one this style, obviously not a hunting/bushcraft style knife, but I'm quite pleased with how it came out.

6 inch long double bevel blade, stainless cross guard, black kirinite bolsters and dyed black leather stacked handle.

 

[snake_2586]

And another couple that never made it to the classifieds.

 

[nathan83]

And another couple that never made it to the classifieds.

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Will you be doing any more like the top blue one?

 

[Ade8mm]

I haven't put any pics up on here for a while so time for some more, This is one a mate at work asked if I could make one this style, obviously not a hunting/bushcraft style knife, but I'm quite pleased with how it came out.

6 inch long double bevel blade, stainless cross guard, black kirinite bolsters and dyed black leather stacked handle.

View attachment 199270View attachment 199271View attachment 199272

Rather reminiscent of an old style Diver's knife