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Kentucky Toothpick


Wes Detrick
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My latest. The client is from Kentucky, hence the name. I thought it sounded mean too :)

It is a harpoon point fighter that he commissioned. Some knives are a struggle and fight you ever step of the way. This one didn't. I mean, there were moments that it pissed me off, but it was never a struggle. The steel is differentially heat treated W2, so there is a hamon. Too bad the pictures are garbage for showing it. It was etched very lightly, so the hamon is frosty. Guard is of course, rust blued mild steel, which I never use :lol: Seppa is bronze, and so is the pin. The spacer is polished bone, and the handle is stabilized maple burl.

 

Anyhow, here are some stats. Let me know what you think.

 

Blade Length: 8.75" (22.2 cm)

OAL: 14"

 

knifeandsheath.jpg

 

burl.jpg

 

laidout.jpg

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“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer."  -Albert Camus

http://www.krakenforge.net/

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Great knife! Love the fitting. Any tips / steps you recommend to do a spacer like that?

I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he first forms a good plan....

- Benjamin Franklin

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Thanks everyone! Glad you all like it. I am happy with how it turned out.

 

 

Great knife! Love the fitting. Any tips / steps you recommend to do a spacer like that?

 

The bone? I sanded it out to 800 grit and then buffed it on a clean wheel so no polishing compound gets in it. I always rub black ink into the bone so that it adds some contrast. It sinks down into pores and adds some contrast. Then I seal with oil. Seems to do alright.

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer."  -Albert Camus

http://www.krakenforge.net/

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Beautiful man! I love the rounded details, like the finger notch and the bone spacer! they contrast so nicely with the sharp angles in the guard seppa and blade before the ricasso! How do you drill your pins by the way? When it's all still blocky and the tang is fit?

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How do you go about the fitting? I like the rounded edge effect

 

 

 

 

 

The bone? I sanded it out to 800 grit and then buffed it on a clean wheel so no polishing compound gets in it. I always rub black ink into the bone so that it adds some contrast. It sinks down into pores and adds some contrast. Then I seal with oil. Seems to do alright.

I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he first forms a good plan....

- Benjamin Franklin

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Again, thank you everyone for the great comments; it is humbling and flattering :)

 

 

This knife is everything I want to be as a knife maker.
Damn nice Wes!

 

That is incredibly flattering JJ. I don't know quite what to say other than thank you.

 

 

 

Beautiful man! I love the rounded details, like the finger notch and the bone spacer! they contrast so nicely with the sharp angles in the guard seppa and blade before the ricasso! How do you drill your pins by the way? When it's all still blocky and the tang is fit?

 

Thanks Emiliano! Yep, I finished the seppa, guard, and bone spacer first and make sure that they are fit up as tight as can be. Then I bore out the mortis in the wood block for the tang, and then clamp all of it together. Drill the hole, unclamp it and then finish the handle.

 

 

 

How do you go about the fitting? I like the rounded edge effect

 

 

So I finished the guard first and then used the tang slot to trace out where the slot would be on the bone spacer. Drill some pilot holes, then use a jewelers saw to cut the slot. I then trued up the slot with some needle files. Once the bone piece fits the tang and has a tight fit with the guard, I used the bottom of the guard to scribe a line in the bone so that the inside of the guard and the bone spacer would have the same outline. Cut and ground away the material to just before the line. Then I carefully crowned the entire thing on my grinder. That leaves just the apex of the roundness standing proud. Here, I drew an ugly ass picture for you! in the ugly picture, you are looking at the guard and knife from the side.

 

crap.jpg

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer."  -Albert Camus

http://www.krakenforge.net/

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Smokin' hot knife Wes.

“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.”

The only bad experience is the one from which you learn nothing.  

 

Josh

http://www.dosgatosdesignsllc.com/#!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg

J.States Bladesmith | Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith

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that knife is just about ideal. I love it. Outstanding job.

please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/

 

“Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs

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Great job Wes, really nice overall package! It's evident you are thoughtful in you design process.

Guy Thomas

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