Brokenolmarine Report post Posted May 17, 2022 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brokenolmarine Report post Posted May 17, 2022 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brokenolmarine Report post Posted May 17, 2022 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brokenolmarine Report post Posted May 17, 2022 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tsunkasapa Report post Posted May 17, 2022 Very nice! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisash Report post Posted May 17, 2022 Great job, one question what is the purpose or use of the notched part on the top of the blade often wondered Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samalan Report post Posted May 17, 2022 Nice work ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuck123wapati Report post Posted May 17, 2022 thats some nice steel and nice leather glad you are getting healed up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PastorBob Report post Posted May 17, 2022 Nice work. glad you are on the mend. PT works wonders, if the patient is willing. Glad to see you are. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brokenolmarine Report post Posted May 17, 2022 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisash Report post Posted May 17, 2022 6 minutes ago, Brokenolmarine said: 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. Many Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bert03241 Report post Posted May 18, 2022 I'm familiar with wrist surgery I have 3 screws in my right wrist, plus a whole bunch metal in various other parts of my body Love the Blades and leather you do nice work Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leescustomleather Report post Posted May 18, 2022 The notched part on the spine of the blade is called a choil, not that anyone asked. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brokenolmarine Report post Posted May 18, 2022 45 minutes ago, Leescustomleather said: The notched part on the spine of the blade is called a choil, not that anyone asked. Cool, new to knife making, did I explain the use correctly? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted May 18, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, Leescustomleather said: The notched part on the spine of the blade is called a choil, not that anyone asked. The choil is on the edged side of the blade not the back 1 hour ago, Brokenolmarine said: Cool, new to knife making, did I explain the use correctly? The back side notches are derived from older knives where the notches were deeper. They were called blade breakers. In double handed sword/knife fighting, called ;main gauche' fighting the knife is used defensively and you try to catch your opponents sword or knife in one of those notches and if you are skilled or just plain lucky a twist of your knife with the captured blade will break that blade [ I broke a few good sword blades in some fights doing this ] More modern knives have more shallower notches which are often slightly sharp and they can be used for de-scaling fish, cleaning fat off the meat or skin of killed prey/food or even as a saw for cutting fire wood Edited May 18, 2022 by fredk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brokenolmarine Report post Posted May 18, 2022 I have knives with the sharp saw teeth on the back, in fact we often carried one in flight vest with massive teeth on the back. Those on the skinning knife are flat and dull and I do ride my finger there when cleaning. Thanks for the input... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuck123wapati Report post Posted May 18, 2022 40 minutes ago, Brokenolmarine said: I have knives with the sharp saw teeth on the back, in fact we often carried one in flight vest with massive teeth on the back. Those on the skinning knife are flat and dull and I do ride my finger there when cleaning. Thanks for the input... they can be any of the four things a thumb rest usually rounded to fit the thumb, They can be really sharop and used for sawing lioke the ones on survival knives or as fred says there are knives made with the purpose of catching the blade and on some just decorations. on these i would have to say thumb rests. 7 hours ago, fredk said: The choil is on the edged side of the blade not the back The back side notches are derived from older knives where the notches were deeper. They were called blade breakers. In double handed sword/knife fighting, called ;main gauche' fighting the knife is used defensively and you try to catch your opponents sword or knife in one of those notches and if you are skilled or just plain lucky a twist of your knife with the captured blade will break that blade [ I broke a few good sword blades in some fights doing this ] More modern knives have more shallower notches which are often slightly sharp and they can be used for de-scaling fish, cleaning fat off the meat or skin of killed prey/food or even as a saw for cutting fire wood On 5/17/2022 at 6:51 AM, chrisash said: Many Thanks they can be any of the four things a thumb rest usually rounded to fit the thumb, They can be really sharop and used for sawing lioke the ones on survival knives or as fred says there are knives made with the purpose of catching the blade and on some just decorations like these on mine. on these i would have to say thumb rests. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
