Rat Tail Brute

[Lin Rhea]

   

   

   

[akaboomer]

Very nice Lin. I like the way you anchor the tail.

Chris

[Track]

Another great little Rat Tail knife. Really liked your last one and this one too.

[tippit]

Lin,
You are a true inspiration.  Some of your designs are just simple eloquence!  Thanks for all that you share.

[ron w]

That is so cool......well done!!!!!      

[Lin Rhea]

Thank you guys.

Jeff, I really appreciate that. Simple eloquence. Thank you Jeff. It is something I try to impart in my work even if its something simple like this knife. This is accomplished better in some than others, of course. But, I really try to take something simple and give it some natural flow. The natural creation around us is the real source of inspiration. A blade of grass is so simple but taken by itself, it's still beautiful.

[KSCATTRAPR]

Love the looks of these, you do a heck of a job. Hope you have one with you in KC in a few weeks. I would love to see one in person.

[gudspelr]

Sooooooo cool, Lin. Did you file that "rivet"? I think some may look at that knife and incorrectly think it's more simple to make. I think it's like watching golf or or something on TV-the pros make it look so easy. To get the forging that smooth and close to finished so you can grind and finish the blade is a big feat of incredible skill. Not to mention the really nice design....love getting to see your stuff   .


Jeremy

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks gentlemen.      

Jeremy,
         In the first picture above, you can see the rivet, actually a tenon, has been filed roughly to shape. It's sort of octagonal. I then took a bolster ( a piece of stock with a round hole in it) with the corresponding hole size and drove it over the tenon while the tenon was at a bright orange heat. The bolster smooths the tenon and forms a seat on the stand off ( the little hump that the tenon sits on). The bolster needs to be held at the desired angle that flows with the guard curve.

Keep in mind that this whole thing is small in mass. You have to work quickly, going to and from the vise, and have your tools laid out near at hand.

The next picture shows the tail fit over the tenon and bradded over. To brad it requires the entire piece to be heated evenly (medium to bright red), placed in a smooth jaw vise, and use very light accumulative blows with a small ball peen. (Don't even think about using your forging hammer.) This will take a few short heats.  

With the tail held securely, you can refine the handle shape and straightness of the entire knife. Even, low red is good for this.

Thermo cycle. Never cool any parts of this type of knife in the slack tub. Just wait on it to cool.

[Fallguy]

Very Nice Lin, and to add Jeremy's thread. Many things that look very simple in design require a great deal of attention to detail to achieve that natural beauty. Your were definitely firing on all cylinders that day.  

[gudspelr]

Lin-

Your description is fantastic. Anyone who has ever hammered hot steel will have a serious appreciation for the design concept and the skillful technique to complete that. For some reason it made me grin as I read your post and imagined you at work in the shop. With the wonderful variety of knives you make, I vote that your shop gets wired for a whole herd of cameras for us to tune into for live feeds   .

Jeremy

[Roughcountry]

That blade is a homerun Lin. The way you use the coal forge is really a inspiration.
I like Jeremy's idea of a herd of camera's, I'd love to be the cowboy ridin herd on them.

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks Jeremy and Robin. You're welcome in my shop any time . Just park your horse outside.

[Doug Campbell]

I've had the pleasure and honor to visit Lin a few times in his shop. With his smooth southern drawl as he explains what he's doing and the well timed movements... it's poetry in motion guys. I could spend hours mesmerized there but the wife generally drags me off to eat or something...    Looking fwd to the next visit...

Thanks for taking the time Lin.

[Thadbow]

Wow... I really like this one,  that tenon attachment is superb! Thank you for sharing!

[Lin Rhea]

Here are a few shots of the tenon area being shaped. I use a 1/2 inch round bar to serve as a fuller and knock it into the back of the ricasso.
   

Then I knock it into the bottom of the ricasso.
     

I may have to alternate from the back to the bottom till the shape looks right.
     

Each time you drive the round bar into the blade bar, it will push up a wave of steel, upsetting it if you will. I have to forge this wave toward the rivet with quick, light blows using the cross peen, thus utilizing that extra material where it needs it. This is a very small area so you have to move quick and heat often.

If you use the same measurements and the same techniques,  the result should be similar if not exactly the same.
       

I hardly ever make something like this without making several. I am working on the process instead of just one single knife. Once the process is clear, the information learned can be used in future projects. Learning to move the metal takes practice and this is a good project to get some practice.

[Thadbow]

Thanks a bunch for sharing this Lin, these photos really help a newbie like myself!

[4est trekker]

As always, Lin, fantastic work and thanks for sharing it with us! You always have some special touch to your knives that eliminates all wonder (if there ever was any) why they desrvingly bear the "MS".