April's latest mount knives

[D.IVO]

New work

The bigger one is a further development of a design I started in december 2017, made from spring steel with paulo santo and cedar wood, edge quenched and tempered 1 hour around 210 cº.

Spent  three  hours just fitting the mortises, it's the most difficult part of this knive and I havent figured out how fit them perfectly without epoxy... yet.

Did  a bit of choping and it kept an edge really well. 

 

The other is a stainless X48 ( 440a equivalent) blade with aluminium guard, paulo santo and blood wood for the handle . HT is done by heating to 1040 cº and air cooling temper around 180 cº, I dont have fancy Ht oven so I quenched in veg oil after reaching vivid yellow and tempered twice for 30 mins to straw color in the oven. I've used this methods few time before and they work just gotta test the blade for flexibility because this steel wont hardened like simple high carbon does.

I've also got new leather stamps and went with a basket weave effect on the small sheath.

Cheers

 

[(M)]

Nice knives! 

First one: 

What is the purpose of the choil-like thing on the spine? Is that for your thumb? 

The joints look really smooth, and with a blade that thick it should be pretty much invincible! 

Second one is not my personal style, but the fit and finish are spot on! 

I only have 1 knife under my belt, and i hope to move up to some bigger ones like your first one.  How much forging did you do untill you started grinding? 

[D.IVO]

Yes, the top finger groove is for the thumb, it gives more grip for thrusting.

None of these were forged, just true up the  steel on the anvil and straight to grinding.

 

Thanks