Knives took more than a year

[Brokenolmarine]

I started these knives back in March of 2021.  I was working on them for Christmas presents for my daughter and Son in Law in Southern Oklahoma.  My daughter has the little knife she carried daily, but wanted a slightly bigger one for skinning goats, among other things.  Farm Gals, what cha gonna do?  So, one for her, one for him, and an extra Tanto for me.  I wanted it to match the Cocobolo grips on my Match .45.  I got as far as shaping with 100 grit when I fell working on the range and broke my wrist in two places requiring surgery.  The knives lay dormant on the bench for a year.

 

[Brokenolmarine]

So, surgery to have the wrist repaired and a metal prosthetic inserted.  Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.  A type of Nerve Damage.  No movement in the fingers at first, then limited range of motion.  Over a year later, I have about 85-90% of the range of motion back and about 40% of the strength back.  It can continue to improve for two years post surgery.  I have been in Physical Therapy for a year.  But, by February, I felt like starting work on the knives.

 

I installed the brass pins, cutting and fitting each individually from brass rod.  

 

[Brokenolmarine]

I then worked my way up thru the grits until the shape and finish was to my liking.  Then stained and waxed the knives and buffed them out.

[Brokenolmarine]

My daughter didn't receive the knife for Christmas obviously, since it wasn't completed until March of this year.  However it was still Her's and she chose a feather to accent the new sheath.  I hadn't done one yet, and didn't like the first attempt.  The second turned out better and she seemed happy with it.  I went back and reapplied the antique and added another coat of sealer prior to the second picture.  I was much happier with the sheath at that point.  She'll probably beat it to death, not oil it, and I'll make another in a year.

 

 

[tsunkasapa]

Very nice!

[chrisash]

Great job, one question what is the purpose or use of the notched part on the top of the blade often wondered

[Samalan]

Nice work !

[chuck123wapati]

thats some nice steel and nice leather glad you are getting healed up.

[PastorBob]

Nice  work.  glad you are on the mend.  PT works wonders, if the patient is willing.  Glad to see you are.

[Brokenolmarine]

5 hours ago, chrisash said:

Great job, one question what is the purpose or use of the notched part on the top of the blade often wondered

As this is a skinner, the forefinger rests on those cutouts as the user guides the blade while skinning the deer, goat, rabbit.  As the hands are most likely "wet" this helps insure continued contact with / accurate control of the blade while separating the skin from the carcass.