Doug Lester

That handle almost looks like darkened bone.  Great job.

Doug

You could have something there.  That guard could be upside down on the anvil which would make the longer of the two guards a a knuckle guard.

Doug

I'm not sure that I understand the idea behind take down knives but that knife is first rate and this is from someone who generally does not like bowies.

Doug

The longer guard, I'm assuming that's what it is,  seems like it would catch an opponent's blade deflected by the spine of the attached blade.  The shorter guard with the ring seems like it would set too close  to the handle.  I will watch this with interest.

Doug

Spectacular sir!

Doug

Another thing that you could try is a brine solution.  It breaks up the vapor jacket that can cause uneven quenching.  Still another thing is a fast quenching oil like Parks #50.  It's a bit on the pricey side but it is designed for shallow hardening steels.  Also a deeper hardening steel like 8760 and warm canola oil might give better results.  Despite what you might read in some books, 1095 is not really a beginner's steel.

Doug

At least your heart was in the right place.  Good on ya.

Doug

Nice looking piece of horn there.

Doug

SANDING horn has a nasty smell, I can't imagine burning it in.

Doug

I've done it with a drill press.   I made a jig that is nothing but a board with a hole drilled in the middle and then one drill right near the edge.  The hole in the middle is used to punch flat leather and the one at the edge is used for folded leather so that the edge of the sheath can be laid flat.

Doug

Just an aside, does metal fume fever include heavy metal poisoning that one can get from welding without a respirator or working with molten lead?

Doug

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who is totally lost.

Doug

If you are dealing with burning oil, like a quench tank full of burning. do not use water.  I you think that the tank of oil is burning  high wait until you spray it with that garden hose.  Smither it with a lid or cover it in dirt or use CO2.

Doug.

Nice little piece of work for the ladies of the evening to protect themselves from some rough customers.  Outstanding work.

Doug

As mentioned, sun light will play heck with forging and especially heat treating.  My forge building is an open air shed  with lattice panels over the windows.  Even at that I like to do my heat treating after sunset..

Doug

Looking good, Geoff.  Will be happy to see it finished.

Doug

And Cutler was such an appropriate name for someone who makes knives.

Doug

Keep trying.  You will get it worked out.

Doug

Todd Cutler did about a 20 minute video where he made a leather knife sheath from scratch with some simple tooling.  He stated that the middle age sheath makers didn't do a better job because he wasn't going to get anything for the added work.  I think that if more leather sheaths had survived more would have looked "good enough".

Doug

I recommend infrared filtering protective eye glasses for working with a forge.  I'm wondering that if I had used them more I wouldn't be facing cataract surgery next month but it's at the point of having the surgery or going blind.  Wish me luck.

Doug

Sort of like a retaining ring on the handle of a khurkuri.  Try it as you have it and see if it gives you any comfort problems.  You can always round it off later if it doesn't work.

Doug

Best of health to you, Jim.  Though at our age that's relative.

Doug

Files do help you have more control.  Slower is sometimes better.  I still think that it is going to be as beast as far as weight goes.  I understand that shipping to Canada can be a bear if you can't find a local supplier.  Maybe one of the Canadian knifemakers on this board could help you find a source for thinner stock of an appropriate alloy for your next one.  You've come a long way on that sword and I'll love to see it finished.

Doug

Very nice simple knife.  Love the look of the "fossilized bovine ivory".

Doug

Very nice.  You should be well on your way for sitting your Masters test.

Doug