I think I got it right!

[#goldpan]

Like most of us around here I have a pile of Electricians knives! I can't help help it, I keep buying the damn things... A couple of years ago I made a TL conversion. Kept the spear blade and trashed the screwdriver blade. I reused the liners and bolsters. It was OK but I just didn't feel the love for the little knife. It had issues but was a usable knife. It has long since found a new home.

Lately I have been wanting to try making my own parts only using the blade and back spring from a Camillus TL. What I lacked was motivation! In the last 14 months I have the carpometacarpal bones removed from both hands. These are for the thumb pivots near the wrist. Needless to say I have had some sore hands. Well I returned to work over the summer and found that I had a new boss. The school I work at had hired a new principal. Brent is a really nice guy to work for, he is very involved with the kids on many levels. He is also a scout leader and he coaches several sports.

Well as fate would have it my motivation to build a knife was forthcoming! We were both trying unlock a stuck restroom door (one of our younger students was "trapped" inside) when I discovered that Brent did not have a pocket knife to jimmie the door slide with, and had started to climb over the partition to unlock the door. I said:" I got this!" and I took out my CRKT folding stubby razzel and jimmied the stuck door open. I decided right there that our new leader needed a pocket knife!

You can see here that I have cut my own brass liners and just to be different. Aluminum bolsters!

For handle material I chose a black phenolic resin material called black paper. You may notice by now the extra liner...

I was going make a dual blade knife but decide that a single blade would look more pleasing.

I drilled the holes for the anchor pin, the rocker pin and pivot pin. Then some light finishing before pinning the knife together.

Before trimming and peening the pins I pinned a mock up together to make sure that it functioned smoothly. Then trimmed the pins, peened them. Then I shaped and sanded the bolsters and scales. and hand polished it till I was happy!

And the finished knife!

I was very happy to give this knife to Brent. I almost kept it for myself But I did the right thing Brent is happy with his new custom knife. I am as just a pleased my self. My first custom I think I got it right!

[0078]

Nice job, the knife looks great.

[jerryd6818]

By golly, I believe you did get it right. Nice Job.

[royal0014]

Not too shabby....

And Welcome to AAPK!!

[b1k3hobo]

Something about shiny silver bolsters and black scales and pins. So classy. Great job!

[TripleF]

Looks good to me!!

[glennbad]

I imagine that would be fairly light with the aluminum bolsters.

Looks good, and I'm sure your boss will like it. There's nothing more rewarding than making something for someone, and knowing they will enjoy and use it.

Keep up the good work.

[orvet]

That's a nice job.
The knife has good clean lines.

[muskrat man]

well done

[Miller Bro's]

Great job Randy!

[#goldpan]

Thanks everyone! My next project is an all aluminum handled jack using a TL-29 blade and back spring. I am using a Russell all aluminum barlow as my inspiration. I have some of the parts laid out already. I'll post it to a new thread soon! I appreciate the thumbs up from you folks. You guys inspire me!