Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Lin Rhea on August 03, 2010, 11:28:00 AM
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Well this is it. For some time now the Tadgang supporters of St Judes have worked hard to generate funds to help benefit the kids. Some of us that hang out on the Hunting knives and Crafters section have decide that we would like to help out too. We would like to open this thread to introduce this project. Besides being part of TG we also are members of the American Bladesmith Society and will attemp to make a knife for the auction in 2011.
The knife blade will be forged by me, Lin Rhea MS, then passed on to Karl Andersen JS for him to heat treat the blade, build the take down feature, and fit up the major parts, then passed off to Doug Campbell JS to perform the final fitting of the parts as well as etch the pattern into the damascus blade. When finished we are hoping that it will reflect a bit of each of us. This knife will be accompanied by a hand crafted sheath by TG member Robin Severe (roughcountry). I will be posting some photos of the blade coming along.
We certainly look forward to seeing the outcome as much as any one else, so please follow along and comment as you see fit. So, let's get started.
:campfire:
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God bless all four of you and your talents. Knives do so well on the St. Jude auctions, and I predict this very special one is going to be a real winner - for the kids. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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This will be fun to watch. Three of the best at work.
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Thanks guys. We are trying to show progress photos along, although we may miss a step here and there. It's hard to take a picture of yourself sometimes with hot steel and flames calling for your attention, but we have some.
Here is my new forge fired up and heating the billet.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/4832139385_e29ab27205.jpg)
The billet is 25 layers of 1084 steel and 15N20 (alternating)stacked with the pipe handle on it. It has to come up to 2400 degrees or so and then I hammer it or squeeze it together to make the weld. After that I draw it out, cut, and restack it for another weld. For this particular billet, I welded the 25 layers, drew it out till the billet was about square, turned it 90 degrees and continued to draw it till it was long enough to cut up and restack. So, in effect, I turned the layers verticle in the stack. Now I restack, weld, restack again and weld till I have 15 layers. So to describe the layering, I would say it as 25 X 15 layers. Here is the first step of shaping the blade. It's real rough and thick, but will refine later. If you look close, you can see the layering on the edge and the sides of the potential blade.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4855337346_01e983ae07_b.jpg)
Let's rest for now. I have to get a couple more of this process. Lin
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(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4854716657_b0940e2e87_b.jpg)
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Very cool guys, I love damascuus blades, but the reason for this knife is way more important than the knife itself.
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Well, that's just too cool for school. Always wondered how that was done. Looking forward to the progress this blade go through.
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Lin -
Thank you, Karl, Doug and Robin for this effort. This will be the premier item for the 2011 St. Judes Auction. There's gonna be a trip to the bank to get my credit line increased in order to bid on this one! :clapper:
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Thank you. Just wait till you see what Karl and Doug are going to do to this thing.
This picture is showing the bulky thickness it has at this stage. That is the cutting edge. More a little later.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4854714141_ff4235cd41_b.jpg)
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This will be a Knife to be remembered. Thanks guys for your effort...Doc
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This will be a special knife for sure! Looking good Lin!
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Looks great Lin! A big thanks to all of you for your contributions to this project. This will be a big winner for the kids. With all of your talents this will be one mighty fine collectors piece for the high bidder.
For all of you that don't spend any time on the knife forum here. You need to know that we are blessed to have some of the finest knife makers on earth within our Trad Gang Family. If you are ever in the market for a fine belt companion look these guys up, there is no finer a gents out there. We need to remember about our sponsors and members that donate their time and money for our St.Judes project each year - support them when you can.
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Thanks, we are glad to do it.
Here is another shot to show how the pattern is interupted to make some squiggles. I cut groves into the sides of the blade.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4855333872_95a3951964_o.jpg)
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As you can see, the grooves need to be offset from the other side. Then when the blade is forge into it's final thickness, it has the intended pattern showing on the sanded and etched surface.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4854714019_b1d403b612_o.jpg)
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Great thread! TTT
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: TTT
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Thanks for bumping it up guys.
The blade is rough ground and in the mail to Karl as we speak. I dont have any pictures, but Karl will shoot it as he gets it and start from there.
We're not in a big hurry as it might seem. But we want to allow plenty of time for each guy working on the knife as well as the sheath to be comfortable with the time schedule and be able to enjoy it.
In the package to Karl is the blade of course, but I scratched out a drawing of what I envision the finsihed knife MIGHT look like. Each of us in turn will make notations, doodle, sign our names, etc on this drawing paper and when finished, the drawing will go with the knife. Lin
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how did i miss this post earlier??? one item i might have to bid on... cool stuff guys! thanks!
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:thumbsup:
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Many thanks to Lin, Karl, Doug and Robin. Not only is this going to be great for the kids, it is going to be an amazing show to watch this knife bloom in front of us. We are all going to learn a few things, too. I already have.
Good on ya, guys! :thumbsup:
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I only have one question............. When does the bidding start????????????????????????
:goldtooth: :goldtooth: :goldtooth:
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I'll start it off at $250.
For the kids!
Shoot straight, Shinken
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Looking forward to seeing this one unfold (not literally, but you know what I mean!)
Any ideas on the fittings/handle material etc?? I may have overlooked it, only 1/2 through my first cup of coffee this morning.... eyes and brain still catching up.
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Matt, we discussed briefly using African Blackwood.
Maybe I will twist and etch some 1903 wrought iron for the fittings.
I haven't seen Lin's drawings yet.
I've slept out by the mailbox for the last two nights, but my package still hasn't arrived.
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I think I'd better start saving $ right now. I have a feeling this auction item will be expensive.
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Wow Karl, that sounds good. Maybe with some subtle stainless spacer highlights to go with the 15N20? Sorry, I cant help watching too close over your shoulder.
It should be there today. I mailed it late in the day so it probably pushed it over into the next shippng day. Lin
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Well, I heard a "toot toot!" in the drive a while ago and it was my mail man.
He had a package from Prattsville, Arkansas! (where ever that is?)
Inside was what I was waiting for - a blade!
Here's the proposed drawing for guidance - which I need! - and general mock-up of the direction Lin has envisioned for this St. Jude's project.
Not only will the outcome be challenging and a lot of fun, but getting there will present its own hurdles as well.
Right out of the chute, we had a "crossed wires" episode, but I think we're getting around that.
Making bows and knives can not be all that much different when all things are considered.
A fella takes some pieces of "stuff" and creates something new from those pieces.
What is different, however, are the people who make them and the methods and sequences they employ from shop to shop.
That is the challenge that the "Bladesmiths for St. Judes" are going to have a lot of fun with.
We will each be looking over the other guy's shoulder - from a "digital" distance - and helping and enjoying and assisting along the way.
I post this info up here today so everyone can finally see what we are shooting for and more enjoy these conversations.
Don't hold your breath!
It'll take us a few months to get 'er done.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/pack-1.jpg)
Here is the drawing and the very roughly forged and ground blade - which now has a long way to go.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/01-1.jpg)
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Looking/sounding great guys :thumbsup: :thumbsup: My stamp in on the way to ya Priority mail Karl.
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A work of Art indeed. Going to be alot of eyes on this one from start to finish.
For the energetic bidders in the bunch this is for 2011 St. Judes Auction, no need to start bidding yet guys - much better to start saving as this one's going to raise some big $$$$. :thumbsup:
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A work of Art indeed
Not the legs Karl, not the legs. :rolleyes:
Can you imagine the stains that will be on that paper before this thing is over? :) Lin
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sweet deal...good on you guys.
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yep thats gonna be a cool one, I will be bidding and I havent bought a knife in over 10 years!
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Wow, lookin good. Also for those who don't visit the hunting knife forum often. If I remember right the credit for the idea of a collaboration of Trad Gang bladesmiths for St Jude goes to Hunt It.
Lin, Karl & Doug quickly stepped forward. gonna be cool watching this one.
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Thanks for pointing that out.
David is "The One".
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I missed a few photos of the original billet being built up and welded. I have been in my shop this morning building another. This billet is identical to the one our project knife came from. Here is the 25 layer billet with a handle on it after getting it pretty hot, but not quite at welding heat.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4868477455_0e21832ae4_z.jpg)
After that it has to get to 2400F degree F or so and get squeezed to make the weld.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4869091984_9a9a89220c_z.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4869092092_0731258197_b.jpg)
The heat in the above pic is getting low enough so am trying to even the block up kind of square and go back into the forge. After it gets hot again, I draw it out longer keeping it square, then turn it on it's corners and put a little flat along each corner making it into a rough octagon. Heat it up again, turn the layering vertical and forge on down into a rectangle bar all the while trying to keep it flat and as straight as possible. Here are some shots along the way. Notice that the original layering in the stack has now turned 90 degrees in the billet.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4868474077_1a19ac2a71_b.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4869088398_d30364ea08_b.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4869088286_4a6e755468_z.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4868473815_7173cbddde_b.jpg)
(http://
Notice the layering
[img]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4868473621_084af76f8b_z.jpg)
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Why are you sweating?
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:biglaugh:
It's a hot day in Arkansas.
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Thanks for showing us the process...
And not your legs
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Originally posted by kbaknife:
Why are you sweating?
:notworthy: :clapper: :biglaugh:
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Just dang Karl!!! Whomp down on a fella when he's all hot from hammerin in 100 degree heat will ya!! :laughing:
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I'm like a kid at Christmas, I can't wait to see how it turns out! I'll definitely be watching the whole process on here.
Good thing you guys are doing.
Thanks,
Huck
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God bless you all. It's like watching a child grew up. So very wonderful.
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That is great. I am glad you are showing the process. Cant wait to see the end product.
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Fantastic pictures Lin! Way better than Karl's legs!!!
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Thanks Dave and thanks for gettin this project started. :clapper: Lin
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:clapper: Any updates?
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Hey isn't the auction just around the corner...? :wavey:
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:saywhat:
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This is awesome. Can't wait to see it finished.
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Looks like you are all building an awesome knife, For a great cause. God Bless
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:pray:
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It's about time to resurrect this thread!
In the last little bit, I've been called by both Lin Rhea and Doug Campbell asking me when I was going to get the ball rolling on our little project again, so, as not to get in trouble, I decided to go back into action.
Please refer back to the beginning of this thread for any info you may lack.
I pulled the blade out of the tool box on my bench - I'm sorry! the safe! - and looked at what had transpired over the winter - not much.
I did manage to get Doug to send me his stamp and I got his Bear Claw stamp and my name stamped on the reverse side with the "JS" for Journeyman Smith, to coincide with Lin's "MS" Master Smith stamp on the obverse.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/kd-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/kc-1.jpg)
This picture shows the rough ground condition Lin sent to me with a slight etch to show the Damascus pattern he created.
It didn't last long!
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/kb-1.jpg)
In the deep concentration, and extreme focus I am known for, I took the blade to my belt grinder to refine the grind and lines on the knife in preparation of hardening and tempering.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/ke-1.jpg)
The hardening process requires the blade to be far closer to the finished condition than it was currently in.
Here is the result of my highly sophisticated grinding session showing the more finished dimensions of the blade:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/kf-1.jpg)
This Western Bowie will also have a "false edge" on the front clip. This shows where I have begun the process at the grinder, which I will finish by hand with files.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/kh-1.jpg)
This thread will be popping up from time to time in the next few weeks as the blade progresses to the point where I will send it off to Doug for the final stage.
My part will be to create the individual parts and create the basic assembly of all the pieces.
Then, Doug employs his expertise in making it all come together.
Stay tuned!!
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Way to go Karl. I have full confidence you and Doug will do this thing up right and will be a heck of a tool for the outdoors. :clapper:
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That knife will be THE nicest knife ever made!! Someone will be very fortunate to win it. You three are the best out there at making knives. I can't wait to see it finished! Mike
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Cool Buddy, glad to see it coming along :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Amazing talant guys :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
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Looking forward to seeing this special knife when completed. Great work Guys. God Bless
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Looking Good Karl!
It really is a fantastic thing you guys have all pitched in to do here. We all know that St. Judes is a wonderful organization. Above all the great things that happen here on Trad Gang the efforts of all to raise funds for this very worthy cause is amazing feat.
The completion of this knife is going to be very exciting indeed. I will be writing an article on the whole project and am hoping for Knife or Blade Magazines or both to accept the article and print it. This will highlight the efforts of our Trad Gang Knifemaking Team and generate good positive exposure for both the Team and Trad Gang in general.
There is no question that this knife will be one of this years auction highlights if not the premier item in this years auction aside from the cookie war. Whomever gets this knife will own a true Masterpiece indeed. There will be collectors seeking this one! So, it will be go big or go home all the way on this one.
I am very excited about this project and would again like to thank the Team for agreeing to take this one on. Thanks Guys! :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
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good work guys! Gonna be a nice one!
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What awesome Skill. This knife is going to be a site to see.
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Wow looking great! I was saving my pennies for a shot at this bad boy! I'm betting it will raise over $2000 for the kids. Or at least thats all I have saved so far.
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Very cool!
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Any updates?
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Nice work man. I too, can't wait to see the finished product
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looks great so far..
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TTT!
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More pictures coming soon.
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Current production pictures coming soon!
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Sparks flyin' again!
I'm in the process of getting my portion of the knife done so I can get it sent to my good buddy, Doug Campbell.
My main task is to get the knife in its final and refined dimensions prior to hardening.
Once the knife is hardened, changing things becomes an entirely risky process, so the closer to its end shape, the better.
Here I have clamped a carbide faced clamp to the blade and I am refining the precision of the grind so it matches on both side geometrically.
I might add here, that working with steel is an entirely different game than shaping other materials like wood and such.
It's just far more difficult and arduous.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/fa-1.jpg)
Now it's important for me to remove ALL of the lateral grinding scratches prior to hardening. This is done with steel bars and silicon carbide paper to a completely clean and straight 220 finish.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/fc-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/fd-1.jpg)
This knife was made with a clipped front end and includes a false edge.
It's important that the false edge be not only symmetrical from side to side, but it must be sharp and crisp as well.
Nothing is more slipshod than edges of a false edge that are washed out.
A now-gone knife maker by the name of Buster Warenski, who was one of the only people on the entire planet to be allowed to fondle and inspect King Tut's daggers for reproduction purposes, once said that a person should almost be able to get CUT on the bottom edge of a false edge. That little ledge where the false edge makes the transition to the blade flat.
I go to great extremes on both symmetry and crispness on my knives, and every time I do one, I think of Buster.
The only way I've found to do this is by draw filing the clip and false edge and refine with steel-backed paper.
I know there are TONS of other makers who just grind them in.
But not at Andersen Forge.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/fe-1.jpg)
Draw filed:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/ff-1.jpg)
Hand finishing:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/fg-1.jpg)
Sharp and crisp:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/fh-1.jpg)
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Now we're going to establish what are called the "guard shoulders", that junction where the slotted guard butts up against the back end of the working portion of the blade.
I once again resort to using my carbide faced file guide which allows me to crisply define the junction.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/fi-1.jpg)
Here, it's in place where the excess material will be removed:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/fj-1.jpg)
And here, the final product:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/fk-1.jpg)
Now, she's ready to harden.
Here's the quick metallurgy tutorial on hardening a knife blade.
After forging and some post-forging operations, the knife is relatively easy to grind and drill, etc, but that blade is worthless as a knife! It's basically soft.
So, we need to make it hard.
Here I have the forge coming up to a proper heat.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/fl-1.jpg)
My task is to alter the internal arrangement of the alloys of the steel by bringing it up to around 1500 degrees.
If, at that point, I was to remove the blade from the forge and simply let it cool off on its own, the steel structure would revert to a worthless and soft condition. It would sort of go to its 'Happy Place'.
But we want it hard.
So, I bring it up to that 1500 degrees and quickly quench it in a properly designed quenchant that has certain additives appropriate to THAT! steel type.
We want to extract the heat out of it QUICKLY! so as to remove the heat that the steel would require to be able to revert back to its 'Happy Place' and FORCE it to create a new condition.
That new condition is hard and very brittle.
Some steel must get from that 1500 degrees and down to about 900 degrees in under 2 seconds, and other steels need to make that jump in 8-10 seconds.
So, there are different additives in different oils that accommodate the different steels.
The steel used in this knife needs to make that transition in just a few seconds.
Lot's of makers use sub-standard substitutes that only allow small percentages of the transformation to take place and it's easy to tell a properly made knife from one where the maker took shortcuts.
Here is one of the quench tanks I use and will use on this knife.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/fm-1.jpg)
After quenching:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/fn-1.jpg)
Now this knife is hard, but at the cost of also being brittle.
So, we will temper it.
We'll put it in a digitally controlled heat treating oven at about 425 degrees for two tempering cycles about 2 hours long.
This gives that steel structure just a little bit of extra heat so that a controlled portion of it can go to it's 'Happy Place' and leave a knife blade that is rather hard, but no so hard as to shatter, and can be sharpened easily.
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So, the hardened and tempered knife.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/ga-1.jpg)
Here are the components of the knife assembly:
The blade, guard, spacer, Ceylon Ebony handle block, butt cap and finial.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/gp-1.jpg)
It's important that I get the sides of the ricasso/flats perfectly flat and parallel.
I do this on a granite surface plate that is true to less than .0001" inch across the face.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/gb-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/gc-1aJPG.jpg)
Now I do a re-grind of the blade and finish it all over again! The hardening and tempering process sort of "burns" the outside of the knife skin like a piece of toast gets burnt on the outside and this needs to be cleaned off by re-grinding and hand-finishing.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/ge-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/gf-1.jpg)
Only this time, I don't just go to 220 grit.
I finish out the 220 with a perfect 400.
Than finish out the 400 with a perfect 800.
Then finish out the 800 with a perfect 1200.
Then, etch in ferric chloride acid. :thumbsup:
Remember how Lin forged up this blade steel in the begining?
With alternating layers of dissimilar steels?
Those two steels were ALMOST! the same, butone of them had about 3% nickel added to the mix.
This makes that steel very tough to be used as industrial band saw material like that used in huge sawmill blades.
Well, that nickel makes that steel resistant to the acid etch and shows us the pattern created by manipulating the steel billet when we forge it in the beginning.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/gg-1.jpg)
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It's also important that my assembly pieces be perfectly flat as well.
So, I place little tape "handles" on my pieces and get them flat on the ol' surface plate:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/gh-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/gi-1.jpg)
My spacer piece is a little thick for my tastes, I'm removing about .050" on my small mill and also getting the two sides parallel at the same time.
Then, back to the surface plate.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/go-1.jpg)
Just a few shots of the shop:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/gk-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/gj-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/gl-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/gm-1.jpg)
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Hi I am kinda new around here but I am not new to traditional Bowhunting . I have done alot of hunting and have used recurves for the bulk of my deer hunting.
Another thing I am not new to is the world of custom knives. I have been involved with them for over 25 years and what I would like to say is how fortunate ya all are to have Artisans like Lin and Karl around here to do something like this .. They are just first class Smiths that are masters of there art. Thanks Guys see ya at Blade this year and maybe Denton Hill If I can make it.
On to the knife
fantastic knife
Great steel to start with and that Belly and the shape of the clip is just perfect in my mind
Thanks Again and I really like this site and the folks on it
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Thanks, Joe, Glad you could join the party.
And, see you in a few weeks in Atlanta.
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So, now we take that large front guard piece and mark it for slotting.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/ha-1.jpg)
First, we run down the center of the slot with a 1/8" inch end mill, which in fact is only .124".
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/hb-1.jpg)
Since the ricasso area where this will sit is .274" thick, once I remove the slot thickness of .124", that leaves exactly .150" more material to remove.
So I go one way of the slot .075" of an inch and the other side the same distance and we get this:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/hc-1.jpg)
Now, this is why I take so much time getting the ricasso and guard shoulder area not only perfectly flat, but also both sides EXACLTY parallel, and within .001"/less from top to bottom.
When I slide the guard with absolutely no filing or other fitting, I get this:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/hd-1.jpg)
Then, by filing the top and bottom of the slot to fit the guard shoulder radius, I get this:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/he-1.jpg)
Now, do the same thing to the spacer, and things are starting to come together.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/hg-1.jpg)
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This is all very impressive. What a beautiful blade. Thanks for taking the time to share the build of this knife and explaining the process, which is akin to magic in the eyes of many :)
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Now that we've got our guard and spacer fitted, we need to get our handle put on.
I've got my tang cut for length according to the drawing, so I need to thread it 10-32.
When I thread my tangs, I like to get them so they look like a screw you bought in a hardware store:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/ja-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/jb-1.jpg)
Now I take my profiled handle material and m,ill the face flat where it will meet the spacer.
This knife will be a take-down and can have absolutely NO spaces visible or physical.
Everything must be a flush, flat fit.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/jc-1.jpg)
Here I lay the handle on the tang and make marks on the face of the handle where the tang enters and exits.
These holes are then drilled and filed.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/jd-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/je-1.jpg)
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This is such a great build/project...thanks for taking the time to document and share it with the group. :notworthy:
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Upon first fitting, it almost goes on but stops a little short.
This is because I only drilled and filed the hole from the front to fit the major portion of the tang.
Note that the first .300" of the tang behind the spacer is larger than the remainder.
This is where the handle stops abruptly.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/jf-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/jg-1.jpg)
So, I take a high speed rotary die grinder and remove material from the inside of the slot to accommodate this larger area.
When the knife goes together, I want to have to just gently push it into position without any slop in the fit.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/jh-1.jpg)
This is the way things are supposed to go together.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/jj-1.jpg)
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Now for the butt cap and finial to pull it all together!
The 3/16"/.185" thick butt cap is marked and drilled.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/jk-1.jpg)
I drill it with a step drill.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/jl-1.jpg)
This creates a ledge that will mate up with the shoulder I turn on my finial when I make it on the lathe.
This is a temporary one to show the mating surfaces.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/jm-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/jn-1.jpg)
Together:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/jo-1.jpg)
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In the morning, I will place alignment pins from the handle face into the spacer, and from the butt cap into the butt of the handle.
This will allow me and Doug and the new owner to take this knife apart at will and play with it!!
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Hey Karl this is WAY COOL ,now every Bow Hunter in America will be making these.LOL
Guys just a little hint it is way way harder than it looks!!I have spent all day watching in person ,come home and try it ,within ten minutes I am on the phone with Karl
Wait till he shows use how he files the handles
Lin Rhea, Karl Anderson and Doug Campbel are doing a great thing for the kids and on top of it all someone will get a true one of a kind colaberation Knife
My hats off to you guys ,
Kevin Evans
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Awesome job Karl :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Kevin is right your making it look way too easy. ;)
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Awesome work.
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Karl,
I could not be more proud of your craftsmanship on this knife. Your take downs will soon be legendary and it's an honor for me to be a part of it.
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Looking great guys!
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Can't wait to see it finished. It looks like it's going to be a beauty.
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Beautiful work! Fascinating to watch, and what an addition to the auction.
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Sweet my friend!! Looking real good and the pictorial is fantastic! I can't wait to write the article on this project. We'll need to get a picture of the cheque it brings in!
Keep up the great work guys!!!! You make all of us at Trad Gang Proud. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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This is the part I enjoy and also represents what I consider to be about the strongest assembly possible for a hidden tang knife.
These alignment pins allow the maker the ability to repeatedly disassemble the knife during creation, and allow the new owner the freedom of being able to check the "health" of this knife and take care of it like a fine weapon, and be able to reassemble it in the exact position necessary.
Here, the pin locations have been determined in a prior step and shown here:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/la-1.jpg)
The pins I use are 5/8"/.625" long and 1/16" diameter stainless steel pins.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/lb-1.jpg)
Here I will set the pins into the handle .425":
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/lc-1.jpg)
and into the spacer 200".
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/ld-1.jpg)
Note the little dot right at the top of the tang slot? This is to indicate "up" so the spacer does not get put on upside down.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/le-1.jpg)
Here we show how they slide together:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/lf-1.jpg)
Since this knife has a butt cap, I will perform a similar procedure on it.
However, since the butt cap is only 3/16"/.185", I can't go .200 deep. So, I only drill the holes .125" in the butt cap and .500" in the handle.
This way, any of the pins can be used in any of the holes to eliminate confusions.
I originally had the bottom hole located and actually started to finalize it before I decided to raise it some due to the profile of the handle and the depth necessary for the handle pin.
So, there are two little "dots", but incomplete and of no significance.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/lg-1.jpg)
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Now to make a permanent finial and retire the temporary.
For this I turn a piece of 3/8 416 stainless stock.
Remember that hole I drilled into the butt cap with the ledge?
That ledge was .100" deep.
So, I turn a shoulder on this finial that is .110" long.
When assembled, this keeps the larger portion of the finial from scratching the face of the butt cap.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/lh-1.jpg)
Now, thread the finial 10-32 to match the tang:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/lj-1.jpg)
Check fit and mark for length:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/lk-1.jpg)
and the give it a little shape of its own and assemble:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/ll-1.jpg)
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Originally posted by Lin Rhea:
Karl,
I could not be more proud of your craftsmanship on this knife. Your take downs will soon be legendary and it's an honor for me to be a part of it.
I appreciate that, Lin.
And make no mistake, I don't want to go down in history!
That said, sure, my take-downs are assembled with a lot of care.
But even my fixed assembly knives are created in EXACTLY!! the same fashion.
Every time.
Threaded tang and finial and pinned for strength.
Every time.
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For those who may question the strength of the take-down finial, I did a little test one day for some doubters.
I made up a little assembly just like I would make for one of my knives:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/tools/TDTa-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/tools/TDTb-1.jpg)
Then, hooked up a log chain and all the concrete blocks I had to my deer lift:
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/tools/TDTc-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/tools/TDTl-1.jpg)
And gave it a crank!
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/tools/TDTm-1.jpg)
I think it'll hold up.
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Thats my kinda field testing right there! :notworthy: :notworthy:
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Boy do I have a new appreciation for knives. Great job and a lot of hard work and effort!
Gil
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Now, the new owner needs to be able to take that knife apart, so I turned a take-down "wrench" to fit the hole in the finial.
And, we can't consider it complete without a little checkering!
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/mb-1.jpg)
And here are just a few of the tools - maybe 1/2 of the hand tools I used - not including all the power equipment I used here and the forging equipment that Lin used to forge the Damascus and the blade.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/ma-1.jpg)
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Her she is, ready to be sent to my good buddy, Doug Campbell.
It will now be his task to take all these parts to their final dimensions.
They're just squared off and blocky at this time.
It has been an incredible honor to work on this with such a fine group of people.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/St%20Judes/Collab-1.jpg)
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My oh my, that is one fine looking knife! And very cool to see all the hard work you guys put into your creations! That is inspiring :)
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Awesome work! It's amazing what work goes into something like this! True craftsman.
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Originally posted by LC:
Awesome work! It's amazing what work goes into something like this! True craftsman.
CraftsmEn.
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WOW this is and is going to be a very very special knife,
Outstanding work!
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Great job/postings Karl, you and Lin have set a pretty high standard. I'll do my best to keep it going and I know when Robin performs his magic it'll be that much more special. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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I love that pic with the hanging cynder blocks...... Show off :bigsmyl: Great stuff
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Wow........
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WOW,NICE
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I have been a knife enthusiest for a long time, it is great to be able to see the work and progression from the very beginning of the knife throughout its construction. Excellent work and craftmanship, this will be a very fine knife. It really makes me appreciate the care and skill involved in making quality custom knives.
Ben
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The knife and drawing arrived here this afternoon in fine shape. Looking forward to getting going on it unfortunately that wont be till next Tuesday. I'm flying down to SC to chase hogs shortly so it's not all bad ;)
Lin and Karl have done an awesome job on thier parts, this is going to be a great auction item!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/4-11001.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/4-11005.jpg)
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Simply Beautiful
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Wow!!! Nice work guys, and great thread showing all the steps. Can't wait to see the final product.
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Oh MY, I think I am in trouble!
Let the bidding begin!
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Glad to see it arrived in good condition, Doug.
I ship all of my knives in those wooden boxes and have not had one "incident" yet.
Now don't take that with you to dress your hogs!
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Awesome! You guys are amazingly talented :notworthy:
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I've been following this all along. What a cool blade by some really great craftsmen. I can't wait till I get to see it in person.
It's kinda scary to try to put the leather on this one, can't wait to try. RS
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This is awesome! I can't wait to see what's next.
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Me too! But it's in good hands. Doug will be showing his stuff before long.
Robin, you'll do the kids proud as any of us would. You cant keep your talent a secret.
It's a real honor to be able to work on this project with you guys. I appreciate Terry and the TG bunch allowing us to show it on Pow Wow. Sometimes some of us on the "Hunting Knives and Crafters" forum get to taking it for granted, I guess, but even though there are so many knife forums, I enjoy TG's the most.
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Fantastic work!
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The heart and soul going into this knife is incredible. It should fetch a fortune for the kids. Keep up the amazing work guys!!
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Evening folks, back in the real world again, Mother Nature reminded us with this today...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/Snow.jpg)
This knife would have made a great companion on the hog hunt but wasn't quite ready yet ;)
Lin getting to work on this knife with guys like you, Karl and Robin is a real honor for me. I can't wait to see how this beauty does in the Auction.
Been catching up on chores and pushing snow mostly today but did get a little time in on the knife. Got the handle mostly shaped and down to 320grit, the profiles on the guard, ferrule and butt cap. Sorry about the pics, wish I had Karl here to do them right, I've got to work on that some day...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/4-19-1004.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/4-19-1003.jpg)
Lots more finish work in the next few days, stay tuned.
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Lookin' Real Good! What a Great effort for he Kids :clapper:
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niiiiice!
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All I can do is drool on the pictures - no way this beauty is going to end up anywhere close to my price range. But I sure love to see the craftsmanship put into it! Great work to all involved!
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The first thing I did today was sand the handle down to 600 grit then fit the spacer and butt cap. It's a good thing Karl did such a great job fitting all the parts cause I've had it together and apart a couple hundred times doing the final fitting.
I put a little radius into the butt cap then lots of hand sanding on it to 600 grit also. The handle will get several coats of hand rubbed oil before it's finished.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/4-20001.jpg)
Did a little file work on the spacer then lots more handing sanding.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/4-20002.jpg)
All the finshed parts ready to go together, soon as the handle finish is done it'll be off to Oregon so Robin can work his magic.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/4-20006.jpg)
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Wow, Doug. That is soooooooooooooo sweet!
You are doing us all proud right there.
That butt cap is killer.
Can't believe you didn't take a picture of it all together!
You're such a tease.
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Looking Sweet Guys!!! :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
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Smooth as butter. :notworthy:
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Wow, I'd say the magic is already done. Cool think is, I get to wrap my hand around it a few times. I plan on trying it in both hands.
I won't know what to do with the leather untill I look at the blade. But you can bet I'll sure try to make a sheath worthy of going with this treasure.
RS
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WOW is all I can say. That is looking reel nice.
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Wahlaa... is that a word ;) Anyway here she is boys and girls...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/4-21007.jpg)
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That came out fantastic
Congrats to all involved
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That is some impressive craftsmanship. Well done gents!
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Originally posted by Steve O:
That is some impressive craftsmanship. Well done gents!
Steve I'm with you...It is amazing what people can make on this site!
Amazing!!!
Josh
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That is sweet.What a great knife and for a good cause. You guy's rock.
Chuck
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HOLY SMOKES! That thing is beautiful!!!
God has surely gifted you fellas!
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Well done gentlemen! That is impressive!!!
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WOW!! :thumbsup:
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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You're a fantastic "closer" bud!!!
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A wonderful look into how the Pro's do it!
Thanks for the time and effort guys!
A fantastic knife!
Steve
-------
Potomac Forge
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Blows me away! Great job Lin, Karl and Doug!!!! That knife is amazing, and the build along was fascinating.
Allan
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Better send this back to the front page.
This blade is great in the hand guys, someone's gonna get a treasure.
I've just about finished the sheath, one little addition to the tools and it's on the way back to Lin.
The sheath is full lined and is made up of six pieces of leather. It has a hidden copper pin in the welt to keep the edge from cutting into the thread.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/roughcountry/jude006.jpg)
Here's a shot of the back
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/roughcountry/jude007.jpg)
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Wow
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Pure, functional, art!
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Now thats a form of art I can appreciate,well done by all.
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How can you put a price on something like this? I'm sure it'll be way out of my bid range, but for those that do bid you better hunker down and watch up 'til the very end. This is at least a four figure knife.
The children at St. Jude's will reap a bountiful harvest off the superb talent and generosity from the creators of this work of art.
It has been a pleasure following this thread and seeing a length of forged steel being transformed into an heirloom masterpiece.
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Well done guys!!!! One fantastic knife and sheath, a true work of art by the craftsmen of Trad Gang. This has been a fantastic project to watch from start to finish and you all have done such a fine job of detailing your progress. This is going to raise some serious $$$$ for St. Judes and I'm looking forward to watching the bidding on this one.
If possible can we get the knife back to Karl or Lin so we can get some more good finished pics of knife and sheath. I'm just thinking of final shots for magazine article guys. Karl and Lin, you guys know best, is what we have posted here good enough or do we need few final good ones?
For everyone wondering what I'm talking about. When I had the idea for this project my intention was to write and submit an article on the project to Knife and Blade magazines and perhaps TBM and the Compton Newsletter. I want to get the craftsmen involved good exsposure for their efforts and also show evryone what a fantastic contribution the Trad Gang Family makes to St. Judes each year. It really is a fantastic thing that our family of traditional archers achieves. So not only will the owner get an amazing knife, they might also get it published in some cool magazines.
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Dave,
I have arranged to have Chuck Ward photograph the knife/sheath package as soon as Robin get's it to me. Chuck's work is seen world wide in a number of publications as well as noteworthy books. It will provide a very crisp and formal final photograph. I also will make sure there is a hard copy 8 X 10 to go with the knife. If you have suggestions to add to this, please just ask.
Of course any of the work in progress shots you need will be available as well. Thank you Dave for concieving this fine idea and helping it along to completion. It's been a pleasure to work along side Karl, Doug, and Robin. Thanks to all involved.
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Fantastic Lin, your way ahead of me and thats great. Once you have that shot will you go ahead and post it on St. Judes auction forum. I'll be in touch re article once auction over. Gotta have the final sales figure in the article for sure.
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Awesome guys!!!!
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Now that is nice! :clapper: Great job guys.
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Well, here she is and I think it turned out great. The auction is up and ready for your viewing, but I thought it would be good to top off the thread with a full view shot of the finished knife and sheath. Thanks to all involved and to you who are planning to bid.
If you have any questions even now, please ask. It would be an honor for any of us to assist.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2163/5711082968_db6abb5c0a_b.jpg)
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Amazing :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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I saw this knife posted on the St Judes Auction forum last night...and just sat back in my chair in awe.
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
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Thats a knife!!! Kinda knife Mrs. Green should buy her husband for Christmas or anniversary :thumbsup:
Whomever, hangs this one on their belt will be a lucky soul and will have made miracles happen for the kids at St. Judes. BID HIGH, BID OFTEN AND ENJOY.
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I think Mrs. Green and Mrs. Stinson should get into a bidding war!!!! That I want to see. :bigsmyl:
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:nono: :nono: :nono: :nono:
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I forgot to mention something. :)
It seems the reason we made this knife had a similar affect on each one of us, including Robin. I guess it make you want to do more than called for. He made a little leather tool holder and braided lanyard for the take down tool Karl made. A lot of "us" went into it.
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Holy Cow! is that thing beautiful. I know my bank account will never by able to buy it, but the kids at St. Judes are going to really benefit from it.
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Outstanding work, Gentlemen!!!! I've been using one of Karls takedown Bowies for a few years now!! Beautiful work Guys!!!
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Lin
The picture Chuck did sure came out super. Really shows every detail. It was sure a pleasure to work with all of you and Hunt it had a great idea. Hope to meet you, Karl and David in the future. I had the pleasure of Doug and Karens company a couple days this week.
Looking forward to the fun to start, and the cause of helping kids be well.