Knife Build-along

[blacktail]

Gonna try to show some of the steps involved in building a knife

First step is to map a knife out on paper

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get into the shop and grind out some steel

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WE need some handle material

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Protect the blade from abuse and fit and attach a brass guard
Drill and test fit all the pieces of the puzzle





If you are gonna do one you might as well do two

[blacktail]

next step today was to grind and fit both the steel tang areas of the blades,clean the blades and guards up some more and protect them with some layers of tape.

Mix the epoxy

[blacktail]

after mixing the epoxy and fitting the tangs some more

Tape the shit out of the antler handles to protect from the epoxy and clamp them up



Now all that is need is to wait for the epoxy to dry
Used up the last of my brass flat stock so ordered some from ranger original
Gonna use it for brass end cap on the droppoint and might cut up some buffalo horn for an end cap for the bullnose

[powderburns]

What a great post, with pic's and instructions. You should win your knife. Do you have any problems in getting antler's for the handles? Do you use shed antler's or shoot your own? when you hold an antler in your hand, do you visualize what a knife would look like out of a piece of it?

[blacktail]

Originally Posted by powderburns

What a great post, with pic's and instructions. You should win your knife. Do you have any problems in getting antler's for the handles? Do you use shed antler's or shoot your own? when you hold an antler in your hand, do you visualize what a knife would look like out of a piece of it?

I have some antler here from elk antlers that friends have given me
I have used sheds as well as ones I have shot

I look at an antler and cut out what I think would make a good handle and go from there,They have to be the right size and diameter for certain knives,as not all pieces are suitable
I have found that the best elk antler size wise is the raghorn 3 or 4 point and for antlers with a base nothing beats a nice thick base 3 point blacktail rack

[blacktail]

a little more evening up and trimming the handle





next was to epoxy and pin the end cap and wait for it to set

[blacktail]

now after being gone for work up north for a couple weeks

I got to work on this one again

triimed up the end cap and buffed up the handle
now all that is needed is a sheath




And it even fits in the hand good too

[blacktail]

Making a sheath starts with laying it out on leather




cut it a little bigger to allow for stiching




stamp out the elk on the face and cut a spacer piece




glue it on the seams and clamp it till it sets
also cut a piece for the belt loop

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After the glue dries,put the stiching groove in,mark the stitches and make the holes




then you stitch with waxed thread





install the snaps,wet the leather and stretch it closed over the knife for a tight fit
work the leather to stretch and contour it into the shape of the knife





set it aside and let it dry

[BCHunter]

great post!

thakn again Roy...the knife is awesome

would you be into making a Ulu?



but with a sheath like this..



and a single bar like this for easy wrist movement

[blacktail]

the apron style ulus like the last picture are great for wrist movement but have a flaw in that the thin shank that is weld on the blade is split in half to go on either side of the blade.
They have a tendency to snap right at the point of where the shank meets the blade.
You can get the same great wrist movement with the apron style and maintaining handle strength by combining the two styles and putting a smaller handle at the top of the apron after you taper it up some more.

did you get your knife yet?

[BCHunter]

thakn again Roy...the knife is awesome

i did man..i love it!