A few new ones

[kbaknife]

I've been reluctant to post up non-hunting-type knives over the years I've been here, simply because that's the way it was moderated in the beginning.
But it has become evident that is no longer a restriction.
So, I'll post up a few I finished recently.
The first two are fighters - one with Bubinga and the other with Macassar Ebony. One with stainless fittings and the other with wrought iron.

These are fully take-down in design.

Thanks, guys.

 


 


 


 


 

 

[kbaknife]

 


 


 


 

[kbaknife]

Next we have two smaller fighters.
One is a Stainless/Carbon San Mai with Damascus fittings and a Koa handle:

 


 


 


 

[kbaknife]

Then another San Mai Fighter with a hot-blued guard and stabilized mango:

 


 

[kbaknife]

And when it comes down to it, maybe my favorite of the bunch is this Cowboy Bowie:

   


   


 


 

[ymountainman]

Thanks for posting!

[D.Ellis]

I'm seeing camp knives and large clip point hunters there Karl........seriously, that's what I carry when hunting, so those count in my opinion.
Top notch work as always    
Darcy  

[Lin Rhea]

Very few of us are going to go out and fight with em but they look good before, during, and after the fight.    

I actually carry what I would call a Bowie knife into the woods and chop saplings and vines around my stand area. This gives me an idea of a bowie's limitations and strengths when compared to Camp Knives which can carry weight forward on my design.

Karl, while yours are beautiful, I know they are made to use as opposed to being curio grade (another word for worthless IMO). You test and study and raise the bar for durability and performance. In my opinion, your showing us these knives here, even though they're not hunters per se, is just as important as showing hunters because it spurs us all to a higher standard. It lets us know that there is more to making a knife than we might at first think. Thank you for doing that.

[kbaknife]

Very kind words from all.
Thank you.

Lin, I'm going to say something about testing and San Mai.
I have had three or four knives of stainless San Mai construction fail since I started making it. But I use that word "fail" lightly.
During certain phases of the process, especially when hardening, there is extreme differential stresses between the FULL THICKNESS stainless and the tool steel core.
On the blade portion is not much of a problem because I have ground the stainless to a zero thickness along the bottom edge.
But at the ricasso, the stainless is still full thickness.
Keep in mind that 420 SS doesn't austenize until about 1900 degrees, but the 1095 was fully austenized at 1500.
On one particular knife about 2 weeks ago, I had the full ricasso 1095 austenized and quenched it.
It didn't like it.
What happens is that this area will split right down the center - like pulling apart a peanut butter sandwich. Just rips right in two.
I did that and didn't notice it until I had the blade all cleaned up. And the split carried forward just the tiniest bit onto the blade right at the choil.
Anyway, I stuck in a leg vise.
Slipped a pipe down on it and broke the tang right off.
So I figured I'd test the blade portion.
Keep in mind I've got just the square-ended portion of the ricasso.
I slid a really big crescent wrench down on the blade.
Not only can I not break it, I can't even get it to hardly flex!! I'll admit I'm a bit concerned for my own safety, but I slide that wrench on and start pulling and I give up before anything bad happens.
That blade just kind of laughs at me.
I am so thrilled with that I can't say.
I think the stainless portion is far tougher than if that area was simply pearlitic tool steel.

Anyway, yes, thank you for the observation, regardless of what knife I make, whether it be a Brute de Forge or a Stag Damascus Bowie, I can not bring myself to finish it if I know that blade is not the best that it can be.
And you are one of those I respect, as I know you feel the same about the knives you make.

See you in Little Rock.

[Ray Hammond]

Karl,
I want to echo everything Lin said....and I carry a bowie/fighter when hog hunting so it's a "hunting" knife and so are yours.

The san mai koa is off the charts...I like them all but that one really trips my trigger!!!!

[KSCATTRAPR]

Wow, all are beyond excellent knives in my opinion. I really like the last one, blade design and especially the handle. I always enjoy looking at your knives, thanks for posting.

[Track]

Great work on all, but I really like that first Koa small fighter.

[tippit]

Beautiful Knives and Craftsmanship!

[ron w]

I would carry any one of them on a hunt......anytime!!!!!!!