rawcustom

I really like those patterns, did you make them?

The non dyslexic version. Plus my new maker stamp from Phillips Engraving arrived yesterday just in time to use.

I was planning on giving myself a Fight Club style beating, maybe beer would be better.

Butte Montana was a huge copper mining town and now there is an enormous pit where a mountain once stood. From accounts I read and heard was that back before we dug it all out, the copper was so plentiful and common that chunks were strewn about all over the mountain side. I bet in the right areas enough copper for an awl was very likely to be found on the surface.

Just needed to vent my frustrations and highlight my stupidity on my latest project. I guess it hasn't helped that work has been extremely stressful and demanding the past couple weeks to the point where I'm unsure of future employment, but that would only be an excuse. Started off with a couple knife orders to fill by hunting season and have been working steady on the one needed rush rush. Had to order in special handle material for the order and boy did I make great time as I roughed out the 2 pieces I ordered... for the same side. Reorder handle material, fill the wait time with leatherworking to keep the project moving ahead, employed a local laser marking company to burn a requested logo on the sheath, carved in initials and got everything ready to sew just in time to get the new handle material and finish the knife. Packaged everything up and dropped in the mail this morning. Walking back from the post office, I go to text the customer and notice his prior text messages spelling out the initials, that I cleverly transposed when I carved them on the sheath. I doubted that the initials were to be dyslexic friendly so back to the post office and was surprised that I was actually able to get the package back. Now I've cut the logo off the sheath, figuring a way to place it as an inlay or similar on new sheath (otherwise more time and more $ to burn another logo) and hopefully I will put the initials on correctly this time around. I guess when it rains it pours, or maybe I need a less stressful job like flipping burgers to fill the 9-5 gig.

Nice work! Did you airbrush the edge on yours?

Well I did listen to your complaints on the heavier leather so went a couple ounces lighter. I wish I would've tried for that beautiful light red finish you got on yours. The leg did come from Springfield. I had looked at some other sources but needed a couple basic items so I avoided extra shipping.

Thanks, it was my the first exotic leather I have worked with, along with my first inlay. The ostrich leg was thicker and tougher than I would have guessed, but I sure liked working with it. I can see a few more of these projects down the road, although I think a set of pricking irons would be a major help.

I'm starting to experiment more with my adjustable creaser and am seeing that hot creasing seems to be the accepted method. I've read over the debate on heat sources, but I haven't seen much as to exactly how hot you want your creaser. The only thing I saw was "warm to the touch" which doesn't sound like it would do much of anything. Also if the ideal heat is something in the 100-150F range (?), why not use a hot water bath in place of direct flame? Obviously you would need to wipe off the water before starting, but you wouldn't risk overheating and burning.

I use my head knife and a trim knife for most all of my cutting without issue. I will use an hobby knife in some tight spots, but that isn't very often for my work. It sounds to me like you have a dull headknife.

Diamonds are great for moving material fast, but I doubt you would really need one for maintaining a head knife. I prefer diamonds in the coarse grits, but switch to Spyderco synthetic stones for the final steps before a strop. Not sure availability of them in Europe, but I would think you have some choices of maybe different brands. The method mentioned above using sandpaper is a inexpensive and effective solution. Plus you may use it to find what grit you are really in search of, i.e., if 2000 grit is removing the scratches and making your edges more strop ready, then you don't need to overshoot the fine grit on your stone or diamond.

Excellent craftsmanship! You won't misplace or abuse an awl like that. Glad I inspired your effort but you take full credit of those skills.

Just had to improvise a smaller thread and turned to my archery tackle box. Center serving seems to be a great alternative and I would doubt you'd find a tougher thread.

If you have MS Office you should be able to bring up your pics in MS Office Picture Manager. Once there, click on 'Picture' at the top and select 'Resize'. If you don't have MS Office, Irfanview is a free software that you can download and use to resize pics.

I love that closure, fine work.

I have to blame Monica's snakeskin inlayed wallet here. Looked so nice I thought I should make something similar for my wife's anniversary present. Turned out to be way more stitching than I expected and the lightweight leather is sure a change from the triple thick 10/12oz seams on my knife sheaths and not in a good way. In short I don't see myself doing another. Used ostrich leg for the inlay in 4 oz tooling and pig skin lining. The rest of the interior is calfskin.

Thats great carving and detail. Although by the title I was hoping for a holster to carry your own zombie. It would need to be fairly large.

I have a suggestion about the bags. You can't post that much hand stitching that looks that good. It gives me no room to complain about the comparable small amount I've had to do. Otherwise, excellent work, and I won't be tricked into trying to match your efforts ever again!

Excellent work. Love that gator. How do you like working horse hide? I'm thinking of switching to horse butt for knife sheaths.

That looks great, and hard to believe it's your second attempt.

Thanks Monica, and yes I made the knife. I was in the process of making another similar one, but to be honest after viewing that beautiful snakeskin inlaid wallet you posted I have been derailed from knifemaking and am currently attempting to make my wife something similar. Of course it is proving to be a much bigger PITA than I expected. Never would've guessed that I prefer to sew leather 1/2" thick or more compared to the 4oz stuff. And the wood is a stabilized dyed quilted maple.

Thanks, it was my first using the sam browne button and a departure from my normal pouch style sheath. A lot more stitching but it seemed to turn out alright. Already used a gun the last two times I went so I guess I'm looking for a change. Besides, sounds like good advertising for a knifemaker.

This is obviously a matter of opinion so what is "better" lies in the eye of the beholder. I would caution against writing off the detail work as meaningless or labeling it strictly a bells and whistle feature. Fine embellishment is what most of us are in it for or at least gravitate towards. First steps are learning to make something functional and durable, at least for me, but fine embellishment has always set apart the craftsman from the commercial alternative. If you throw the boning under the buss then so you should stamping, carving, dying (especially in pattern), inlays, creasing, and most any other work that goes beyond simple function.

Currently making a pair of bowies for a future knife hog hunt. Here is the first, tried to keep a theme for the planned hunt.

Already stated that it sounds like a dull knife, and in self interest I would be happy to recommend upgrading. Before you do I suggest you sharpen it well, use, sharpen, and repeat a couple times so in the event you upgrade you will understand the increased edge performance and you will also be adept at sharpening a round knife having gotten all the practice out of the way on the cheaper one.