few things in life provide such a showcase of ones steadily increasing skill like knifemaking does. what seemed completely impossible yesterday will be routine by tomorrow.
i make almost exclusively lockback folders, figured you guys might fancy a viewing and maybe share some ways to continue improving. i think this is numbers 5 and 6. they take a while, as i make everything right from scrap
the bolsters are made from a bushing i replaced in a caterpillar 906 loader
the liners are a big bandsaw blade
the aluminum was a handlebar riser off a skidoo
the blade is a waferizer knife from an osb production mill (i got like 2 boxes of the things 3' x 3" x 1/4" times 10 per box, crazy hard steel ive never seen anything like it)
it was pretty annoying to find out that even though the bolsters looked brass or at least bronze, solder wont stick to them what so ever. this was found out after i spend a full day working them down to shape...so i figured i would try something different. everything is peened, theres not a drop of solder. 24 rivets total, 3 small ones 1 big one in each piece. if it holds up time will tell. was fun though.
tools used:
disc grinder
angle grinder
drill press
files
heres some unfinished pictures and the finished piece assuming they go in proper order
and a bonus picture of my the next victim. sorry for the potato quality, all i can manage right now.