I thought you might be interested in how I arrange the Micarta slabs to make a handle. It might seem a little backwards, but this works for me. Most Micarta is found in slab form and sometimes I want to end up with a block.
So I cut my 3/8 inch slabs up into pieces, in this case, 3 pieces 2 X 5. I sand the layers to be mated and glue and clamp them taking care to make them as even as I can. I use a good quality super glue. Here's a picture of the end showing the layers.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5067/5607733571_16bb5f543b_z.jpg)
I then slant the end toward the blade to make it work with my handle drop and scribe an outline of the tang on the outside of the block.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5608317404_598ca0481d_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5608317584_2bbd4eceed_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5030/5607734255_3a14f018e1_z.jpg)
As you see, I milled out the slot, half into one side and half into the other. Then I cut the pencil line with my band saw to split the block. I then reverse their positions since I have a flat smooth surface to glue back to make the completed block with the mortise in place. All of the slab pieces need to be oriented the same from the parent slab. This system works due to the fact that the material does not need to be book matched, however, since I am working from the center out, as it were, It still looks the same from side to side.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5101/5608317914_06765ccb5e_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5305/5608318460_b84b50b3c6_z.jpg)
The photos were not the best, but they might give the idea of where I was going.
Dang Lin, the handle is sweet, and the knife is double sweet.
dana
QuoteOriginally posted by DANA HOLMAN:
Dang Lin, the handle is sweet, and the knife is double sweet.
dana
x2
I love the shape of your pig-sticker blades!
That's a beauty for sure, great job. Thanks for the run down on your methods
Fin
Wow, super sweet! Lin thanks so much for taken the time to do things like this for us! I really do get a lot out of seeing how and what you do in your shop. Thanks Jim Reeves
One Question Lin do you use bolts or pins ?
You sure make a nice knife. Ive liked all of your work.
You make it look easy Lin.
THATS NICE.
TXCP.
Nice....VERY NICE!!!!!!
Thanks guys.
J Reeves, I use a two part bolt that requires a step drill. This provides inward pressure on the material which is something that always is better in my view. They screw together in the middle. The inner part is 3/16 and steps up to 1/4 which is the size of the area you see.
Lin that is real nice! And different than ive ever seen anyone do a mortise tang... as you say kind of "reversed". Sure solves the problem of finding thick enough micarta for mortise tangs. Ive had to "split" some of hte 1-1/4" blocks to do mortise tangs. I may try your way in the future.
That's a really nice knife
Lin, Any tips on how you grind in your clip and keep it so even?
Lin,
I really like Micarta when it is done right -- and you do it right! I would never have thought of the method you showed here. That is brilliant.
Allan
Canmanstan usually has lots of thicker blocks on his fleabay store.
Nice Lin, learn something new every day...
If I'm not mistaken the bolts/pins are called Corby bolts...
Man, that grip looks very comfortable.
Thanks for sharing.
Very nice knife, thanks for that tutorial Lin.
Dan
They just think different in Arkansaw, don't they?
Yep. Shore do.
:)
Good Info Lin, and an interesting technique. I'm finishing a hunter with green canvas micarta, my two 3/8 slabs worked well for my size knife, I can see how that would work well for a large knife.
That is a great looking Bowie!
What is that Micarta called? I like the color.
Steve
--------
Potomac Forge
Ivory Paper is the color. Thanks
Nice Lin ,good imformation,I just finished one with that material,mine was in block form .It certainly does work different than other stuff doesn't it? Mine was kinda like chalk
(the kind on chalk board)while shaping and very soft.
Question Lin ,When handle is finished what do you think would work to put high gloss finish on it?
Kinda looks like Ivory after a couple of weeks.LOL
The only thing I do is buff it a little. Mine was not chalky but worked nice.
Very nice, Lin. I was wondering about the technique you had mentioned for this aplication. I may try it on one. Thanks for the tutorial. I love that knife. Can't wait to build a Bowie. I have a couple new files just for it. Not confident enough to try to grind one that size.
Thanks Chris.
Guys, Chris (akaboomer) acted as my striker when I forged this blade. It's all forged by hand from a 1 inch X 6 inch W-1 round bar. I held it with tongs and struck with my 2 lb hammer and he followed in cadence with a 8 or 10 lb sledge on a 400 lb anvil. We reduced the round bar to a rectangular bar and proceded to forge the blade as I normally would.
Well hats off to Chris as well, lot of hard work in that striking!
Lin is the master, i just hit where he showed me. It was a true pleasure getting to watch as he forged a round bar into an amazing blade. He forged it so close to final shape that even my beginer eye could see the diamond in the rough. I hope that before long I will have some that make me feel good enough about to show here.
Chris
Jeff,
The clip is something I also do a little different than most. I grind and file it by eye. Having a straight blade to start with is the only way to get it looking right. Remember gentle curves. Some of the curves are not the same throughout it's length. The rate of curve changes. So I like to file and look, file and look, etc. This clip is sharp, so I hardened that area and this made the filing pretty tough.
Lin:
There is a reason you have the title of Master Smith. That knife is simply amazing. Thank you for sharing this with us.
TBRA
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5107/5650388198_0885e85479_z.jpg)
Looks like you know what you were doing there, Lin.
Inspiring, indeed.