January 6, 20197 yr I was trying for a feather pattern but it didn’t quite work out like I was hoping. The handle is zebra wood and a homemade sheath. Steel is 15N20 and 1084. I’m pretty happy with it although there’s plenty of room for improvement.
January 6, 20197 yr Ooh, NICE pattern I LIKE it! So call it a "ruffled feather" pattern and tell folk how long it took to perfect. Remember, BlackSmith and Bull Shooter are abbreviated exactly the same way for good reason. Frosty The Lucky.
January 7, 20197 yr Hello: Well I for one don't see a problem with the pattern at all...but then again..what do I know anyway?? I am just and old man working in his front yard...I don't see any bad welds or inclusions so...you done a really decent job on the steel.. FAB JPH
January 7, 20197 yr Author JPH thank you sir. The only problem is it didn't turn out like expected but then I kinda expected that!
January 7, 20197 yr I'd call that a win. What did you use to make the center cut? The only nit-pick I'd throw out is that the handle doesn't quite live up to the steel. Great looking piece of work none the less.
January 8, 20197 yr 15 hours ago, Zachary said: The only problem is it didn't turn out like expected but then I kinda expected that! Then it DID turn out as expected! Frosty The Lucky.
January 8, 20197 yr Author I used a handled hot cut to cut. That’s the only wood I have that was big enough to do the handle. I’m trying to find some more nicer wood. Frosty I try to manage my expectations!
January 11, 20197 yr Very nice work. I absolutely think the feather pattern turned out wonderfully, but I can certainly relate to that feeling when something doesn’t necessarily match the picture that was in your head beforehand. I think the zebrawood is fantastic. I used to use it occasionally when building fretboards for electric basses and guitars. There’s a bit of a glare on the handle in most of the pics which detracts from what I’m sure is a much deeper and bolder grain display and contrast.
January 23, 20197 yr On 1/7/2019 at 5:45 PM, Zachary said: That’s the only wood I have that was big enough to do the handle. I’m trying to find some more nicer wood. I hope this is an OK post, if not, Glenn, Steve, I apologize and feel free to remove. I'm just trying to help out a fellow knife maker. Zachary, if you really can't find any acceptable handle material, I'd suggest checking out https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/for-sale-knifemaking-supplies-tools.765/ And no, I'm not merely trying to drum up business.
January 24, 20197 yr On 1/7/2019 at 2:30 PM, rhitee93 said: I'd call that a win. What did you use to make the center cut? The only nit-pick I'd throw out is that the handle doesn't quite live up to the steel. Great looking piece of work none the less. I believe the handle perfectly compliments the blade, doesn't overshadow or detract. Very nice work.
January 24, 20197 yr I, too, like the look of that pattern. In trying to figure out how you did that, I'm wondering how you cut and stacked the layers before splitting. It looks to me like you stacked them with the layers lined up longitudinally with the blade instead of perpendicular to the blade, which is how the standard feather pattern is done. as always peace and love billyO
January 27, 20197 yr Author I split them like your standard picture. I'm not sure that I had everything standard before that though! That's pry why the pattern turned out that way.
January 27, 20197 yr Very nice, and that's why we're craftspeople first with some scientist secondary, we're allowed to let things go unexpectedly.
January 28, 20197 yr I'm still trying to figure out how that happened, so my other thought is... Did you forge this by hand? My guess is yes, and if you've noticed, while drawing out a billet, because of loss of material due to scale top view the bar ends up looking something like this: So when stacking for the chisel cut, you wouldn't get the exact alignment I showed in the 'standard' above, which could cause what you ended up with. When using power, there is less loss of material, so it's easier to keep the layers aligned like the 'standard' pattern. I'd appreciate some input from those smiths who have been doing this longer than I have. as always peace and love billyO
January 29, 20197 yr Author I used a press and a power hammer. I think what happened is I forged the bar on edge a little to keep it from getting to wide and in so doing rolled the edges over to look like your picture.
January 29, 20197 yr Hmmm...I don't use a press, but do use a #250 chambersburg with big flat dyes and haven't had that happen on the 3 billets I've made yet.... sigh - I guess I have to keep trying.. as always peace and love billyO PS- whereabouts in norther IN are you? I'm from the Chicago area and thinking about moving back to somewhere on the south side
January 30, 20197 yr Steve - I grew up in the Chicago area, have lived in Washington for 25 years, and am thinking about moving back to the South Side, like I said.
January 30, 20197 yr Billy, don't do it! At least not this week! -20ish tomorrow. -15ish Thursday. Won't see "normal" winter weather until February.
January 30, 20197 yr I hear ya, Maxwell. My brother is expecting -40 in Minnesota.... But to be honest, I'm more concerned about the 95 deg summers with 90% humidity that cools down to 90 deg with 90% humidity at night. You can always put more clothes on, but only take so much off. Stay warm and safe. As always peace and love billyO
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.