Brian Dougherty 1,307 Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 This is kind of getting addictive. my 2nd and 3rd attempts at a slip-joint. I'm still pretty much just using Culver's design, but have been experimenting with using a pivot bushing, and how much clearance to leave to allow for a nice snappy action. I'll probably start taking more liberties with the overall design now. Both have blades from a mosaic bar I made for this purpose a few weeks ago, and nickel silver pins and bolsters. I still have much to learn, but each of these has been a significant improvement over the previous one. The first has stag scales and will be a birthday gift for my daughter's boyfriend. (Yeah I know, but he is a good guy and I really like him in spite of my fatherly instincts ) The second has jigged bone scales (I just bought the slabs already jigged), and is now my new EDC pocket knife. 6 Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Longmire 3,391 Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 Lookin' good! I'm almost through with my first one, and it will not be the last either. Same design, just 0-1 and jigged bone. Not stag bone, Catalina from Culpepper & sons. It will be my KITH knife. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Dougherty 1,307 Posted June 24, 2019 Author Share Posted June 24, 2019 Thanks Alan. I hope you plan to post some in-progress shots of your KITH Link to post Share on other sites
MikeDT 90 Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 Brian, definitely impressive work for your 2nd and 3rd attempts - very clean and precise looking... as well as attractive over all. While I have made friction folders before, I have never tackled a slip joint. Looking at Steve Culver's website tutorials he uses some high end equipment. From what I have read, making decent slip joints seem to necessitate precision equipment and has thus delayed me taking the plunge. I don't believe that lacking fancy equipment prevents one from making good knives (overwhelming evidence of this by many talented smiths), but precision equipment seem to be pretty common for making quality folders. Brian, is Steve's book helpful if you are limited to a grinder and drill press as the most high end equipment in your shop? Is there a good book out there that shows how to make good slip joints without anything fancier than a drill press? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Longmire 3,391 Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 With Steve's method all you need is a drill press and a couple of reamers. You just have to buy precision ground bar stock to avoid having to get a surface grinder. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Dougherty 1,307 Posted June 24, 2019 Author Share Posted June 24, 2019 1 hour ago, MikeDT said: Brian, is Steve's book helpful if you are limited to a grinder and drill press as the most high end equipment in your shop? Alan is right. Steve assumes all you have is a drill press. Reamers help, but aren't absolutely necessary. I've built all of these with just a crappy benchtop drill press other than the time I borrowed on a friend's surface grinder to get my initial bar an even thickness. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Longmire 3,391 Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 1 hour ago, Brian Dougherty said: Thanks Alan. I hope you plan to post some in-progress shots of your KITH Too late for that, sorry. I didn't want to do another fail blog. . And it's not too late to fail! Final assembly is this weekend ! Link to post Share on other sites
clint c 185 Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 Very nice work on those folders and the steel looks fantastic! I envy your patience and skills! Clint 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Alex Middleton 789 Posted June 25, 2019 Share Posted June 25, 2019 Very nice Brian! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Gary LT 199 Posted June 25, 2019 Share Posted June 25, 2019 Brian, I like what your doing with these folders. It looks like you have found a niche in you talent stream! Gary LT 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Gerhard Gerber 404 Posted June 25, 2019 Share Posted June 25, 2019 Very nice Brian, I would be proud to own any one of them. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Stuart Johnson 5 Posted June 28, 2019 Share Posted June 28, 2019 Very nice! I have slip joints on my radar, any chance you could post a link to the book of Steve's you are talking about? Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Dougherty 1,307 Posted June 28, 2019 Author Share Posted June 28, 2019 4 hours ago, Stuart Johnson said: Very nice! I have slip joints on my radar, any chance you could post a link to the book of Steve's you are talking about? Sure! https://www.amazon.com/Slip-joint-Folder-Designing-Building-Culver/dp/1545388326/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=steve+culver&qid=1561722053&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Link to post Share on other sites
Stuart Johnson 5 Posted June 28, 2019 Share Posted June 28, 2019 Awesome! Thank you very much. Link to post Share on other sites
Joshua States 2,287 Posted June 30, 2019 Share Posted June 30, 2019 These are most impressive for you initial couple of knives. I do have one suggestion to make regarding pin placement. (I know, I'm a nit-noid about pins) IMNSHO: The rear pin is too close to the edge and the center pins need to be aligned with the point in the belly of the handle. One more suggestion is to move the nail nick closer to the point to provide more leverage when opening the blade. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Dougherty 1,307 Posted July 1, 2019 Author Share Posted July 1, 2019 Thanks for the input Josh. I definitely get where you are coming from. Link to post Share on other sites
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