A couple of new knives...

[Ken L]

I put some handles on a few more knife blanks that I've picked up. First set of 4 are some steak knives for my nephew. He's getting married this coming weekend, and I've worked on these for a while to get them right. Started out making the handles out of mesquite because they live in Texas, but the grain was boring and really didn't make the knives "pop" Switched to some bocote, I think it works out pretty well. Blades are san mai Damascus, which has a high carbon middle layer like a D2 or something similar, and then several stainless layers and the hammered finish. The picture doesn't show off the Damascus too well, but the pattern is all in the area between the "dark" steel and the hammered portion. Up close it looks awesome.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b370/Ken_L/12256710-AA25-47BF-9699-9A61A3DE1A22_zps5bcptifb.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/Ken_L/media/12256710-AA25-47BF-9699-9A61A3DE1A22_zps5bcptifb.jpg.html)

Made this one for my brother. A while back I had a similar knife that Bawanna was drooling over, I ended up giving it to this brother (the nephew that is getting the knives above's dad) so that he could give it to his boss as a retirement gift. The boss liked it so much that he asked my bro to have me make another one. Couldn't find the exact same pattern, but came across this one and thought it would do nicely. Buffalo horn handles, nickel silver bolster and pins. I have to admit, buffalo horn is fast becoming my favorite handle material. It's relatively easy to work, but it is unforgiving. Best of all, it has some real depth and character to it.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b370/Ken_L/EA57DFC7-AE3C-4B2A-8F0D-8A92CAA629D9_zps5u3mugcb.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/Ken_L/media/EA57DFC7-AE3C-4B2A-8F0D-8A92CAA629D9_zps5u3mugcb.jpg.html)

This last one is one I've finished for me. At least it's for me for now. I have never done a partial tang knife, only the rat-tail tang of the puukko style knife, so this was a first. Also a first putting a bolster of this type on. Wood is marblewood. The knife is pretty light, and has a good weight forward balance to it. I think it will make a great trout and bird knife, or one to just carry around.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b370/Ken_L/28B53F29-D9CA-4126-B616-232E3C799F09_zpswh7hqf1w.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/Ken_L/media/28B53F29-D9CA-4126-B616-232E3C799F09_zpswh7hqf1w.jpg.html)

I have a couple more in the works, another Damascus blade that has a cross-shaped pattern to it. It's a coffin-handled Bowie, and it's destined to go to the COO of the company I work for. He's in Texas, and I will be using mesquite for it. I found some with some really good figure, but there wasn't enough figure to make all 4 steak knives above. Also have a nice tanto that I'm still figuring how to complete. The handle is pretty long, and I haven't been able to find horn long enough. I think I have a plan though.

[Bawanna]

Very nice work, all look really good.

[gb6491]

Very nice work, all look really good.
As usual, Bawanna's observation is spot on...very nice work indeed:)
Regards,
Greg

[Bills1873]

Quite a talent you have! Nice indeed!

[Ken L]

Thanks, guys. It's something I started doing to satisfy an "itch" but it seems to have progressed to an epidemic. At least that's what my wife tells me!

[340pd]

There are far worse "epidemics" than knife making. Really nice work. Be sure to tell them to keep those beautiful steak knives out of the dishwasher.

[Ken L]

That's the first thing I taught my wife--sharp things like kitchen knives are hand wash only. The set she had--this is the second marriage for both of us--was so full of nicks and chips that they seemed serrated. I couldn't sharpen the nicks out by hand. When we got married and started using my set, she commented that they stay so sharp for so long that they must be better knives. This was before I started making her a set, so no they weren't anything special but they weren't washed in the dishwasher. She understands now!

I always give a description of what the knives are with the ones I give away, and with the steak knives I'm going to put in block letters HAND WASH ONLY. NOT DISHWASHER SAFE. I can only do what I can, but he'll get it.

[laserfish]

Where are the best blanks available. Just made my first this year, but would like quality blanks for the amount of labor involved. Thanks.

[Bawanna]

Stabilized is the best material to avoid heartache. Not all stabilized wood is equal either.
I like WSSI. If you punch in stabilized wood, he comes up first usually.
Never got a bad piece from him.

You can send him your wood or I generally just get what he has on hand.

Knives are a little more forgiving than handgun grips since they are solid backed but stabilized is still best especially if they get washed from time to time like kitchen knives etc.

Course my favorite is stag but I'm finding that very difficult to match the right piece to the right knife.

[laserfish]

Sorry, I meant blade blanks. For our 25th year of hunting with the same group at the same deer lease, I made knives for the 6 I hunt with. I used blade blanks from Woodcraft and quartersawn Mesquite from the lease for the handles. I bookmatched the scales and made leather sheaths for each. They turned out nice but are mainly for looks. Where do you find the Damascus blades? Love those.
Thanks

[Ken L]

I get mine from a couple different places. Jantz Supply is where I started out, and always has a great selection. http://www.knifemaking.com/default.asp

I picked up the steak knives at KnifeKits.com. They have a good selection, also used them for the horn this last time because Jantz was out of stock. https://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index.php

I use Two Fingers Knives in Idaho Falls, ID a lot. I stop at their shop when I'm in the area and never leave empty handed. The Damascus one and the hidden tang that I've pictured above are Two Fingers Knives. They have an eBay store, http://www.ebay.com/usr/twofingerknife?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

I've also bought some Scandi knife blanks on-line, but those are usually for a more specific taste. If you want links I can post those up too.

Just re-read your post, and regarding the Damascus, I've bought most of my Damascus blanks from Two Fingers. I did make a couple from some blanks from Jantz, and then of course the steak knives from KnifeKits.com. My favorite ones came from Two Fingers, but all of them are good quality. One trick I've learned, is that if the Damascus pattern doesn't look "sharp" I re-etch the blade. Just use some electronic etching solution from Radio Shack and dilute it according to something I found on-line, and dunk the blank in for a minute or two, take it out and neutralize the acid, rinse it and it really pops.

Hope this helps.

[Theobald]

This last one is one I've finished for me. At least it's for me for now. I have never done a partial tang knife, only the rat-tail tang of the puukko style knife, so this was a first. Also a first putting a bolster of this type on. Wood is marblewood. The knife is pretty light, and has a good weight forward balance to it. I think it will make a great trout and bird knife, or one to just carry around.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b370/Ken_L/28B53F29-D9CA-4126-B616-232E3C799F09_zpswh7hqf1w.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/Ken_L/media/28B53F29-D9CA-4126-B616-232E3C799F09_zpswh7hqf1w.jpg.html)


I love this little one.