Sanch Report post Posted August 31, 2014 here are my head knives. the cherry wood handled one is my first try it was made 3 years ago out of 304 SS plate not properly heat treated and not properly pinned. I was my 1st try at a head knife and I still use it, it needs a good stropping at every use but I still get use out of it! the second one (purple/blue) is 1/4" thick (yea way thick!) A2 that was ground to shape even though it was hardened and tempered (never again whew!) it stays scary sharp! and the third is currently my go to knife it is SMS (saw mill steel) either L6, or 15N20 very high nickel content and scalpel sharp and stays that way! it is triple heat treated and triple tempered in a comfortable medium for the L6 and 15N20 steels they are vey similar. The thickness is 1/8" and the handle material is hand layered duck canvas micarta (wife made!) as you can see I didn't spend a lot of time on finish work as these knives were needed to be used "like right away" enjoy and comments are welcomed! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MonicaJacobson Report post Posted August 31, 2014 Really cool! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sanch Report post Posted August 31, 2014 thanks monica they work that's all that matters! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rawcustom Report post Posted September 1, 2014 Definitely showing progress in the end product and suitable material to start with. You have more patience than I do to cold grind 1/4" thick A2 for a head knife. I'm sure you found that the thinner stock saw blade works better than driving that big wedge through leather. I understand the skip on finish work for your own blades, that seems quite common with knifemakers and I'm guilty as well. I finally got around this year to upgrading my old beat up hunting knife to something I wasn't embarrassed to show someone else, and I've been working on upgrading my leather tools to all incorporate bocote into the handles so they look more of a set, but I have to squeeze my projects in between work that I will actually get paid for. Hard to justify spending more time than needed to produce a usable tool on something that will stay in your shop. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sanch Report post Posted September 1, 2014 Rawcustom, you said it customer products always get ALL the attention to detail and maybe my next round knife will get more I have a blank cut for the next one Black and Red. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites