I learned here that this sort of thing is called a cheat or cheaters knife because I don't make the blades. Oh well. He goes anyway. Im making a hunting knife and sheath.

I took another Chicago Cutlery blank which was a kitchen or butcher knife and I want to turn it into a hunting knife.



This is the thickest blank I have ever worked with. The back is at least an 1/8 of an inch thick. It is very stiff. I had to ad a top edge bevel to this blade as well



I cut out the shape for a 4 inch drop point blade with the Dremmel tool.



With a little grinding and polishing, it is starting to take shape. I'm still kicking around what to make the handle out of.

I want to try and make a laminated knife handle. I picked up some Maple veneer and cut it into strips that are just slightly larger than the knife's tang.



I want each layer to be a different color so I am using Rit dye to stain the wood.



I decided to use camo colors. Black, Brown, Green and tan.



The three batches that I dyed curled so I dried them with a rag and now have them pressed between two boards to dry over the next day or so.



I will later glue all the layers together to make the two side of the handle.

Had a little time to work on the laminated knife handle. I glued it up before I went out of town for the weekend.



I cut them down to the rough size and now need to mount them to the knife tang.

next I added the laminated handle sides.  I did some rough sanding as well. So far, Im getting the results I had hoped for. I hope to finish it tomorrow night. I need to make a sheath for it as well.

I started making the sheath of the knife tonight. I went back to the thick dark piece of tanned buffalo shoulder. It's stiff and strong and it has a nice color.



I cut out a rough shape for the sheath, the welt and a belt loop.



Next I stitched the belt loop in place because it would be hard to do after the sheath is folded. I am using a waxed sinew.



To make stitching easier. I use rubber contact cement to hold all the layers in place and to keep them from shifting.



After gluing all the sides together, I took the sheath to the belt sander to get rid of the glue that squeezed out along the edge.



I then used a forked punch to equally space the holes for the stitching which I will do later.

I stitched the sheath tonight and added brass rivets. In order to shape the sheath to the handle, I soaked it in rubbing alcohol because it evaporates quickly.





The last step is to dip the whole thing into a pot of melted wax and mink oil but I need it to be completely dry first.

It's looking pretty good so far.

To waterproof the sheath I heated neats foot oil and paraffin wax to the point that it began to smoke. I then placed the sheath in and when the bubbles stopped I removed it and drained it.

 

When it finally cooled, I gave it a good rubdown/polish. The sheath is done. A    few more coats of tung oil on the knife handle and this project will be done. The sheath is sitting on the same piece of leather it was cut from. It got much darker from the waterproofing.

RGK, great idea dyeing the woods different colors. Looks as good as the stuff you buy. Nice design flair on the sheath too.

You make it look so easy!Nice.

       

I like it      

Thats a dandy...I got try that one day!  

very nice job

thats GOT to be harder than it looked!

No, not really. A good belt sander is a must.

hey that is awesome.dont matter if you use a knife blank in stead of forgeing it. i like to forge mine but imay even give that a go. a lot less messy than the forge plus it wont upset the people next door LOL!!!! any way i have some blanks comming from the states in a week or two. now that should be fun. keep it up mate nice job      

I have a question concerning the sheath. After sewing a bolster in the sheath, why put rivets in between the bolster and the knfe ? The rivets will dull the blade, the bolster is to keep the knife fron cutting the stitches.

That is a great looking knife!  I really dig the different colors in the handle.

That handle is awesome!!!! great choice of stains!!

Thanks for sharing

Jake

Artistic liberty.      

QuoteOriginally posted by Biff:
I have a question concerning the sheath. After sewing a bolster in the sheath, why put rivets in between the bolster and the knfe ? The rivets will dull the blade, the bolster is to keep the knife fron cutting the stitches.