All About Pocket Knives

It looks good, the both of them. I'm working on a Klein hawkbill right now. the filework on that electricians is nice.

Very nice work Johnnie!
What kind of wood did you use?
The file work is really good.
I has wondering, how did you do the bail, with a file or Dremel?

I have a bail on an upcoming project & was thinking about doing some file work on it.

Good job,
Dale

hey dale, thanks. those were some blanks of i think heartwood from jeff,(jones cutlery). the file work was fun, trying to make the curves in mirror image. i have some new wood from my oregon connection(thanks) thats goin on my klein one arm. only one problem.....choosing which one.
diligence wanted the bail so ot was my first attempt. started out with a small triangular and made cuts on face of bail all around for spacing. continued on outside following the first cuts and connected. then on to back side till they all connected. left the interior polished so it would not abrade. it's the worst part of my work imo but i did'nt think i could control a dremmel well enough so .....files for me.
i polish a lot of stuff with one though.

I am the same way with a Dremel. I don't trust my ability to control it. My hands lock up sometimes & If I was trying to do detail cutting with a Dremel, I am afraid it would be a disaster.

I am with you on the files.
I also use the Dremel for polishing and for light cutting. My local Ace Hardware has another brand that fits a Dremel & has a larger cutting wheel that lasts a lot longer than the large Dremel. They are about the same price also, so that is my cutting wheel. The brand name is Gyros. It has sure made it easier to cut pieces of nickle silver to make bolsters.

Dale

VERY impressive work!
And Thanks for walking us through the whole project.

Dave

thanks dave, it's a great way to see and show what goes in to knife modification. and it's fun!

Looks great Johnnie!!

Nice looking work there johnnie f...

Bill

Very nice work Johnnie.

The purple wood is Purple Heart or Amaranth

Trade or Common Name: Purpleheart, amaranth, violetwood
Local Name: Nazareno
Botanical Name: Peltogyne spp.
Family: Caesalpiniaceae

The Tree: Purpleheart is a very tall, handsome canopy tree, averaging 120 to 150 feet in height in the natural rainforest, with diameters of 2 to 4 feet, and a clear, straight, cylindrical bole of 60 to 90 feet, above a moderately buttressed base. Nazareno is leguminous or nitrogen-fixing.

Status: Purpleheart has been exploited extensively for years because of its high strength and durability as well as its unusual color and beauty. It is increasingly rare, and is nearing extinction in parts of its original range. Purpleheart is listed as threatened in "Arboles Maderables en Peligro de Extinción en Costa Rica."

The Wood: One of the most distinctive woods in the world, purpleheart is prized for its very unusual deep purple color. When freshly cut, this dense hardwood is light brown. Within minutes the surface turns an astonishing bright purple. Upon prolonged exposure to sunlight, the color gradually changes to a chocolate-purple color. This beautiful wood is straight to wavy grained, fine and uniform textured and fairly smooth with a medium to high luster. Purpleheart turns smoothly, is easy to glue, takes finishes well and is highly durable.

Uses: Purpleheart reaches the world market only in small quantities. It is prized for fine inlay work, turnery, fine furniture and cabinetry, parquet flooring, decorative and figured veneer, and many specialty items such as handles, billiard cue butts and carving.

Wow I don't know how I missed this Johnnie, exquisite work...I may have to trade you hog, deer, alligator and turkey hunting expeditions for a little knife restoration 101 to teach me the basics of the trade..

Sunburst

thanks johnnie, jeff, and ralph. it means a lot coming from you guys.
thanks for the wood and education jeff. it really is beautiful wood. i have enough for several more knives. sunburst, if there is anything i can help you with, just ask. i'm an amateur, but we have some experts lurking as well.

I've been gone for a while, but I'm back now. Just had to say "thanks" for actually fluting that bail. I wouldn't have thought it was possible!

Great job all around.

Jaye

thanks bill, that means a lot!

hey diligence, it was harder than i thought as well. but i like it - my work is kinda hillbilly(no offence) but it sparkles! and i am happy with the finished knife, after all it was for me.

When I view it from the top and side the brass pins add a nice touch of class to the knife's brass liner....