All About Pocket Knives

The randall model 19 bushmaster has long been a favorite of mine, but the prices keep my buying at bay. I was looking at an overpriced schrade model 171UH at a flea market and it spoke to me, I did a little visualizing and knew this would be the donor knife for my project. A few months later I came across this, a 171UH that someone found stashed in the attic of an old house (why was it stashed, I don't know-use your imagination ) So anyway Here is some progress thus far. It will be slow going but I think the end product will be a nice knife.

The knife as I bought it:




A little reprofiling


diassembled (lots of oil and a hammer)


the new bevels and false edge are taking shape, still have some pits to clean out and am wondering if I will polish the flats or leave the rustic pit's and patina.

oh boy. I cant wait to see the finished piece

On a forged knife I like to see some area's deliberately left alone. But on this knife, I kind of look at it like it's getting a second life. I think I'd grind her down and see what I get.

Second life, I'd probably make the choil a bit bigger play with a new guard, big exaggerated S out of brass or blued wrought iron and butt cap. Sorry just dreaming about what I'd like to be trying to do.

Just not good at sitting on the side lines........waiting for the doc's full release. A little work here and there while fun, can be a BIG tease and I end up wanting to do more than I should.

nice. i'm waiting for a randal 15 airman to find its way too me
are you hand filing or using a belt sander

If we get to vote on the finish, I'd say scrub it all the way. Bo would never have let a rusty blade leave the shop !

I agree with Hukk - take the choil all the way to the edge. And, also daydreaming, like the Hukkster - I'd grind the spine, to match the Model 19.

I'd minimize the guard tho', and that might not work, overall - but that's the way I'd start. Shoot, try the big guard and the little guard - it won't hurt to compare 'em !

What handle material do you have in mind, Kaleb ? Personally, I'd vote for African blackwood, but heck, there's a jillion possibilities !

Keep us posted, as that one progresses...I already like this one.

JR

(why was it stashed, I don't know-use your imagination)...

OK I think the wife said she goes because I do NOT want my kids around a weapon or you go make up your mind now....

.......OR.....

He packed them in a box with some bad Celluloids in the HOT Attic and for got about them.

my vote satin finish the blade with dessert iron wood handles and stainless furinture
leaving the choil alone and going with the barest minimum of a gaurd.

MM, I have a Schrade that looks to be in the same condition as yours and thought about trying to restore in myself. (wouldn't lose anything if I messed it up) Is the correct way to restore the pitted blade to file it down with a flat file by hand?

Still working on this one guys.

you can either flat ile by hand or be darned careful with a sander.

muskrat man wrote:Still working on this one guys.

you can either flat ile by hand or be darned careful with a sander.

Yeah, that's so true. It does show that the extra money spent on a DC variable speed control, is money VERY WELL spent. Doesn't matter whether it's a Bader or KMG, or any other grinder. I will say I'm a very happy camper with my 220v Bader with the DC variable speed control. Slow it down and it gives you that extra care.

Best place to get one new, POP's if you pay by cashiers check or money order. Great guy to work with, he will tell you straight up what you need and he has some good deals on belts also.

I am also thinking of lengthening the tang and doing a stocked leather handle. Guard needs to be downsized too.

O.K.....so since this is sort of developing into a "if it were mine, I'd want it done this way" kind of thread, I'll chime in. Here's what I'd like to see as a finished product. Definitely a smaller guard, blade totally reground (satin finish on the hollow ground edge, shiney on flat surfaces, flame file work on spine, choil dimisions left as is other than squaring it off, bone or very gnarly antler/stag scales that show a lot of gray , and 1/4" (engraved with a vine pattern) symetrical butt.

How is this one coming along MM? The suspence is killing me!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry useem I haven't had any free time to work on it I believe I will flatgrind the flats to remove the pitting. I'm anxious to get it done, but other things are ahead of it on my to do list.

can't wait to see it. However you do it, i know it will look good.

Don't mean to rush you MM, but the suspence is KILLING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see what you turn it into!!!!!!!!!!

useem wrote: Don't mean to rush you MM, but the suspence is KILLING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see what you turn it into!!!!!!!!!!

If he's been busy, he won't have time to work on it. I have a Barlow on the boards that I desined a few months ago. It's still there on paper. At first, I was booked until Spring, then 9 months and I WASN"T going to take anymore. Well, somehow I am now backlogged a year. A friend went hunting last week with one of my knives, his buddies and their sons are on the books. OH - WELL. Shouldn't complain, I'm busy.

OH, BTW, I will be having 2 more knee surgeries, starting on my right on Halloween. I will have a bunch of sheaths, welts, and belt loops cut out. I can sit on my butt and still get something done.

Been moving shop, so everything is on hold right now, and probably will be until the end of next week. Still got clients that need thier work done, so the 19 goes on the backburner for a while.

Well I do envy you guys that can do that kind of great work! But, like a person who goes into an art museum, i don't know how to paint one myself, but i can sure appreciate the beauty. I definetly look forward to seeing what comes out of your shops!!!

Kaleb did you ever get this one finished ? if you did do
you have pictures

________
Don

well I was out there digging around in t he shop the other day and dug this knife out aof a box of unfinished fixed blade projects. Since doing the schrade fixed blades lately, I plan to work some more on it in the coming weeks as I have time and will post progress reports on it.

another thing I was looking at. I was wanting to englarge the choil, but the handle is a little short actually (could be the ungodly thickness too though) and was thinking of scooting the guard up to allow a longer handle length. may try to grind down the original guard but will probably end up making a new one from some thick bronze I have laid back. Still thinking real hard on the stacked leather but the angle of the buttcap has be worried so I may go with one solid material, micarta or some real nice wood. or heck buffalo horn might even look good. Handle profile will be narrower like a randall if all goes as planned.

MM, I am patiently waiting to see the end results also. I like your work and I know this one will be a nice one.

well with all this pressure I guess i'm gonna have to go out there and do some grindin

I haven't been teased this much since a high school cheerleader made me a driveling mess. LOL
Don't let us rush you, everything has its own time