Rat Tail Brute

[Lin Rhea]

Thank you gentlemen.

I decided to forge a smaller version to play with the options. I have mulled over several variation of materials and construction and think I have made some progress even if this is a different knife. I will of course finish the main knife in this thread but wanted to show you my experimental knife.

   

I really want to try something different on the larger knife but I know it will look ok if I don't go over board. The small knife has copper liners and pins and some salvaged rosewood from a crate. It's good stuff once you get past the idea of it being scrap. I did no grinding to the full tang. It was an exercise in forging and the means of assembly studying how the various points blend and converge at the ricasso.

[tomsm44]

Well, your "rough draft" is quite nice.  I wouldn't mind having it.  I'm thinking a small pouch sheath with a metal clip where it could be "worn" inside a pocket would be perfect for that little guy.

Matt

[D.Ellis]

That little one is cute as a button. I like this style of brute with the forged rat tails.
Darcy  

[tomsm44]

By the way, scrap wood can be really nice.  Two of the nicest pieces of wood I've used were from scrap.  One was from a broken 03 Springfield stock.  The other was a killer piece of curly maple that came from a scrap piece of flooring I pulled from a burn pile.  The builder culled it because there was a knot in it and the home owner thought the knot would look bad in his fancy house.

Matt

[Lin Rhea]

I got it done today. I made liners of bronze and extended them at the front a bit for some detail. It's hard to tell but it turned out pretty nice even though it's a brute type knife.

 

[South MS Bowhunter]

Looks great Lin!

[tomsm44]

   

[just_a_hunter]

It's hard to tell but it turned out pretty nice even though it's a brute type knife.
 

Not for me....... Pretty easy for me to tell that it turned out beautiful...

Todd

[Roughcountry]

I'm thinking it turned out real nice. I like the contrast of sheep scales with the dark forging marks.
Very distinct knife Lin. Your skill at the forge shines in this blade.

[bjansen]

Great work Lin.

[D.Ellis]

I don't think I am really qualified to be critiquing a Master Smith's work, but I'll put my foot in it anyway. It looks, to my eye, like the handle scales should end up closer to the plunges than they do. I see this on a lot on brutes, and I'm sure it is done because of the integral "squashed" finger guard, but I think the scales could still be extended forward, perhaps a bit more difficult to accomplish, but shouldn't be impossible. Just my opinion. Everything else looks great.......just that section of uncovered steel between the scales and the plunges looks proportionally too long.
Feel free to tell me to shut up if I am way off base.    
Darcy    

[Lin Rhea]

That is exactly what I think Darcy. I'm glad you spoke up. AND it is the reason I am making them. To work out the issues. I still like this knife but want to move everything forward as I figure out how to get it done within a reasonable amount of time and effort. If I have to resort to milling machines I will make one of my finished knives.

I presume that one idea behind a brute de forge is that it can be made sort of fast while allowing some room for embellishment.

[D.Ellis]

I am sure you'll get it nailed down with your forging ability. Have you seen how they used to forge triggers in the old days? Similar effect, thin and flat (to fit thru a slot in the lower tang of the firearm) and then wide to fit the finger comfortably. The method I saw for that was to clamp the thin stock in a vice and forge the trigger shoe to shape by mushrooming it over.........just a thought.
I look forward to seeing the next installment.
Darcy  

[Lin Rhea]

Darcy, do you have any source for more information on the trigger forging? I'd love to look at it. Things like that is how I learn. Thanks

[D.Ellis]

I'll see what I can dig up.
Darcy  

[D.Ellis]

I tried to PM you this link, Lin, but your inbox is full. Lots of information on old time methods of metal working(and wood working) if you dig around a bit on this site.
 http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=t2ksf67fhep8i0aavs0ni4nbt4&topic=24661.0
Darcy  

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks Darcy.