Doug Lester

Take a look at Coote grinders. You will have to purchase a separate motor and they're not quite as flexible as a KMG but I have one and it works well for me. Doug

I usually mention burnishing the edges of the sheath with Gum Tragacanth when a noob asks how to make a sheath. I feel that it gives a more finished look to the sheath than to have the raw cut edges showing. I just need to find my boars tooth burnisher. I think that the cats might have hid it on me. Doug

Glad that you made the sale, Patrick. I think that you are right in that CruForgV was made in a single large melt to see how well it sold and it didn't. As Jerrod said, it wasn't that it made a bad blade it was just that it wasn't the easiest alloy to work with, As you pointed out, it got the reputation of not moving well under the hammer and I also read reports that it really went through grinding belts due to the carbide content and there were just more maker friendly alloys out there. Doug

What is the thickness of the spine on the hunting knife? It seems a little thick to me. Other than that they are looking good. Doug

A very nice job on that langsmesser. Doug

Those sheaths are outstanding. I especially like the Mexican loop sheath with the coffin handle knife. They just go together. I second the advice on making or buying (they'er not that expensive) a stitching pony. They give you that third hand that you need when stitching up the sheath. You're tooling is top notch too. Doug

If you sell it you're not going to be able to find another at that price to replace it. If it were me, which it isn't, I'd hold onto it it at least until I was certain of what I wanted to do. It is a little light for bladesmithing but my first anvil was smaller and I had one that weight that I used for my hardy tools until someone relieved me of it. Doug

I would say that it's just a fancy maker's mark. I would agree that it's an amateurish early try at making a knife, though better than my early knives, especially being that I cracked most of my early blades. He/she might need a lesson in sheath making too but that picture didn't give a good look at it. Doug

How ya gettin it ta Florida? Doug

Heat treating in your basement! I hope that you are using an electric high temperature oven. Even then you're risking an oil fire from your quenchant, unless you are using water or brine which are totally wrong for O1. I feel badly enough about grinding in my basement. After I get my forge set back up I'm going to look to moving my grinder out to the garage. Just say'n Doug

I'm trying to picture the handle after the Osage Orange oxidizes. It may not have much contrast with the Walnut but, then again, I got out my knife with an Osage handle and the two browns might not be that bad together. Doug

If you have means to re-cut your wood into scales and blocks take a look at wood turning supply houses for spindle blanks. For not much more than what some knife supply houses ask for ready cut blocks and scales you can re-cut a spindle blank into several scales and blocks, depending on how you want to cut them up. You can save money by purchasing damaged blanks. I once got a African blackwood in a spindle blank that had a defect on one corner. I still got some good blocks and scales out of it. Doug

One problem in using a wet belt is that they tend to throw water at you. If you are wanting to keep the blade from overheating while grinding, grind holding the blade with you bare hands and cool in water when it starts to be uncomfortable to hold. Doug

If you practice on structural steel what are you going to do if you get you're bevels about where you want them what are you going to do? You can't harden the blade and test out the blade in practical use or abusive test to destruction. You won't really know how those bevels are performing. Doug

Just from thumbing trough it I would say that it's a must have for anyone's library. Doug