Cooking & Smashing Steel….. ah such a rewarding feeling!!!

[civilsmoker]

Tonight’s task after dinner was to get the handle and guard rough shaped and ready for hand sanding…….

I like to knock off the corners with the belt sander, I mark a line on the edge of the handle so I can sand them nice and even all around. This makes the hand sanding a lot easier and it also helps make it more uniform……

The goal with the hand sanding will be to soften all the hard lines so they match the soft lines of the blade and probably most important is to smooth any hard edges so it is “soft” in the hand, especially all around the guard…….

 

[civilsmoker]

I forgot to add this pic, but this is one of the most invaluable attachments for knife making there is….. the small wheel holder

For the micro wheels like this 1/4inch you use a “J-Flex” belt at low speed and it allows you to do all kinds of fine grinding, particularly on handles and guards…..it excels and making the interface between metal and wood in arcs seamless…..prior to the hand sanding I fine tuned the guard and the interface up to 800 grit……..

I was looking at the overall lines and thought this was a cool pic……this pic wasn’t just for the pic but to see the lines in the silhouette for symmetry…..

If you look really close just to the right of the red strip into the white you can see a slight dip….I could also feel it running my fingers along is as well…..however it’s not a dip but actually a high point to the right of the “visual” low point…… so tomorrows tasks will be to fine tune this spot and then buff it to see the full results…..with any luck it will be unveiled tomorrow!!!!!!!

 

[civilsmoker]

You can see the micro high spot just below the pin….compared to the other side ……

So I couldn’t go to bed with it unfinished…..out to the shop and few passes with 600 then 800…. Bingo!

It’s buffing time!!!!! After a good nights sleep

 

[Chris_in_SoCal]

Very nice. The fit and finish is the hardest part to have patience with. You definitely have the patience.

 

[02ebz06]

I'm guessing that with all your hard work and expertise making that, it's a $3,000 knife.
Beautiful!!!

 

[civilsmoker]

Very nice. The fit and finish is the hardest part to have patience with. You definitely have the patience.

Thanks 90, what you call patience my wife calls obsession….. lol

I'm guessing that with all your hard work and expertise making that, it's a $3,000 knife.
Beautiful!!!

Many thanks 02! I haven’t put a value on it yet…..going to let it set in after I get the sheath done….

 

[civilsmoker]

Ok so you guys have been beyond patience in indulging me with this build so after all the wait, here is the final product…..these aren’t the presentation pics for the auction but they do it some justice……..

In the sunlight…..

Claro Walnut, Stabilized

The coffin shaped guard, as Bowies traditionally have a coffin handle so the guard is a tribute to that….

Looking down on the top of the spine….

The copper mirror…….

Needless to say I’m very pleased with this one!!!

The next tasks it to build the sheath…. It will be out of a blackened hickory, fingers crossed it comes out to match the blade……

 

[pineywoods]

That is a beautiful knife I like everything you've done with it. Awesome work

 

[DRKsmoking]

The Patience and the Skill = Fantastically beautiful piece of work

That is one pretty and great lines knife, and the finish shows it also.

David

 

[civilsmoker]

That is a beautiful knife I like everything you've done with it. Awesome work

Many thanks piney! I have to say, I’m going to be a little sad to see this one sent off to it’s new owner…… I do have a smaller piece of this billet for another knife that I will keep for myself!

The Patience and the Skill = Fantastically beautiful piece of work

That is one pretty and great lines knife, and the finish shows it also.

David

Much appreciated David! It was a really enjoyable build, it has my boy all jazzed up to start on his, he got it cut out yesterday……he has more fishhooks in his billet so it will have a more dark “swirly freckles” in it

 

[JIMSMOKES]

Beautiful knife

 

[civilsmoker]

Beautiful knife

Thanks Jim, much appreciated!

 

[Retired Spook]

That is one beautiful knife. I am not big on Damascus but that is one of the few that I like.

A1 Top Shelf.

 

[civilsmoker]

That is one beautiful knife. I am not big on Damascus but that is one of the few that I like.

A1 Top Shelf.

Thanks RS! I can understand the view on Damascus, I see a lot of high layer count Damascus that to me becomes muted and lost…. I love San mai’s, but I can say I will be using this single step San mai canister lots in the future! I have a couple more variations up my sleeve….

Just so you know…..making it is just way way way addicting!!!

 

[Gonna Smoke]

Beautiful knife!!

 

[civilsmoker]

Beautiful knife!!

Thanks Charles, I appreciate it!

 

[civilsmoker]

Bingo, it's all done and live auction ready!!!

The conference theme is ROAD-EO.... They are doing a "western BBQ" dinner and bringing a mechanical bull in for the auction night for peps to experience the cowboy way. The live auction is two weeks from today....

Just a few more pictures of it in its final show ready state..... I am very happy with the way this one turned out!

 

[ifitsdeadsmokeit]

That is some amazing work. My barber won forged in fire and I love looking at all his fine work he has on display in his shop. He is raising money for an amazing autistic kid that works in his shop so he can finish his schooling. He got several other past winners to donate knives for auction. It is great to see people giving back to those that really need it. Imagine how much people could be helped if they donated to the kids and families that really need it instead of the politicians that waste and steal hundreds of millions every year. But i digress, sorry. Well done.

 

[civilsmoker]

That is some amazing work. My barber won forged in fire and I love looking at all his fine work he has on display in his shop. He is raising money for an amazing autistic kid that works in his shop so he can finish his schooling. He got several other past winners to donate knives for auction. It is great to see people giving back to those that really need it. Imagine how much people could be helped if they donated to the kids and families that really need it instead of the politicians that waste and steal hundreds of millions every year. But i digress, sorry. Well done.

That’s pretty cool about your barber, I’m guessing his scissors are sharp! Yes paying it forward is how real change happens! It’s called the good fight!

 

[Retired Spook]

Bingo, it's all done and live auction ready!!!
View attachment 678806

The conference theme is ROAD-EO.... They are doing a "western BBQ" dinner and bringing a mechanical bull in for the auction night for peps to experience the cowboy way. The live auction is two weeks from today....

Just a few more pictures on it in its final show ready state..... I am very happy with the way this one turned out!
View attachment 678807View attachment 678808View attachment 678809View attachment 678810

That is a beautiful knife and some beautiful work!