Some recently finished stuff. More will follow, but the camera went out of batteries. Tomorrow maybe.
All these things I somehow started in June/July 2007. Took me some time, but here they are, finally :
A simple folder :
The blade is from the same batch as the group of friction folders/full metal folder from a few pages ago. 1075 steel, diff quench - this time not etched much ; the faitn line is visible on the lower right part of the pic above. I couldn't catch it well with the lighting conditons here, it's more visible - though quite subtle - in real life.
Handle is stabilized elm (all the woods I use are 'stabilized' - the word sounds cool and technical, but it basically generally means the wood has been dipped in linseed oil....). Brass thingies, etc etc like the others.
Overall dimensions : 1007/175 mm (fodled/unfolded), blade thickness 2.5 mm, handle13 mm thick.
A thin-handled, crude baselard :
I say 'crude' because there are quite visible file marks here and there on the blade and handle, but the blade finish is usual quality (ie hand-finished, stone-sharpened/sanded, etc, etc) ; in fact, this baselard looks a lot like what you would have bought from the lower average cutler, which is weird for me as I generally try to do high-end stuff. But I decided to work on this one using the most basic tools available. The blade itself has been given a 'rough' patina - it's not as shiny or finely satin-finished as some of my other productions.
It has been ispired obviously by this model from he RA:
http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=13173
http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=13056
The H-shaped handle has been drawn from the original stock (6*60 mm 1075 steel bar). It's quite thin, almost the same thickness as the handle of an eating knife. This is not unknown however, thouhg it places this one at the thinner end of the spectrum. But with a thick glove on, it's quite OK.
The blade itself belies the apparent frailty of the handle
. I haven't given it the final sharpenings, yet my left middle finger can attest it does cut. POB is at about 2" before the lower bar, which gives it lot of presence. Brass tubular 2 mm dia. rivets, oak scales.
Oh, and full quench, tempered to purple.
The scabbard is of sub-par quailty leather (gives it its rough appearance), naturally coloured, hand-stitched, with mild steel hand-made fittings.
Dimensions : OAL 428*90mm, blade is 310*38*4.5mm
A Marwie knife (sort of Marwood-designed Bowie knife) :
Same steel as above (forged from a 6*45 mm 1075 steel bar), clay-quenched (the activity looks better IRL), tempered to blue.
Made according to the directions given by the most honourable James Marwood : point in line with the handle, 10" long blade, false edge about half the length of the blade, but not sharp for all its length and many other things ; I hope he will find it pleasing.
Boxwood handle, mild steel fittings (with a brass thingie for the rivet). PoB is about 1 cm before the Spanish notch. Haven't weighed it yet.
OAL 365*66 mm, blade is 248*36.6*5.6 mm. False edge is sharp on 2" down from the point.
And man this knife is sharp. It scares me.
Scabbard is as above. Not too happy with it, next will be better. Problems came from the steel sheet I used, which shown roller marks after final polishing. Better materials next time.
And like I said : more to come. Tomorrow maybe.
Posted: 10 Feb 2009 01:27
), based on Genovese dirks quite liked in the mediteranean area at the time
