All About Pocket Knives

This would not fall under wood carving exactly, but you do need razor sharp lathe turning tools and a mini lathe to make pocket watches. And a razor sharp low angle block plane to bevel the edges. This one is local walnut with the state quarter inlaid flush into the back. I have made pocket watches for many years, but now days people don't wear wrist watches let alone carry pocket watches so I now make these desk pocket watch holders so they can be used as a desk clock (or be removed from the stand and carried like a pocket watch if desired).
The back showing the state quarter.

STUNNING! Absolutely beautiful!!

I go back and forth about carrying a pocket watch.
Always have on a wrist watch. Just doesn't feel right without it.

True story - years ago my wife and I were walking through the mall when a teenage boy noticed my watch and asked me the time. I took a glance and said, "quarter to six." He said thanks, and went on his way with his buddies. I did overhear him ask them, "What time is that?"

Great job on that OC. Great looking walnut, and all the little extra details, that really looks good. Carried a pocket watch up through the mid 70's and then gave up and went with the trend. Great work.

I just realized that you said you made pocket watches as well. Would love to see some pic's of them.

Absolutely beautiful ! And looks so well finished. I am very impressed.
kj

Steve Warden wrote:STUNNING! Absolutely beautiful!!

I go back and forth about carrying a pocket watch.
Always have on a wrist watch. Just doesn't feel right without it.

True story - years ago my wife and I were walking through the mall when a teenage boy noticed my watch and asked me the time. I took a glance and said, "quarter to six." He said thanks, and went on his way with his buddies. I did overhear him ask them, "What time is that?"

Funny story Steve.

Very Nice OC! Although I usually don't carry a pocket watch, I really like them! I have one. We have a local "Dicken's On Main", at Christmas, here in Boerne, Texas every year. My wife and I have our old Dicken's-type clothes we wear...and I carry my pocket watch, with chain dangling out.

Steve Warden wrote:STUNNING! Absolutely beautiful!!

I go back and forth about carrying a pocket watch.
Always have on a wrist watch. Just doesn't feel right without it.

True story - years ago my wife and I were walking through the mall when a teenage boy noticed my watch and asked me the time. I took a glance and said, "quarter to six." He said thanks, and went on his way with his buddies. I did overhear him ask them, "What time is that?"

Reminds me of a story from before I retired, I worked in a shop at a contractors supply where I set up new power tools like table saws. One day there was a call for me from a young customer with a woodworking shop that had just bought a new Saw Stop table saw that I had set up for him. His question was that he had put a different blade on the saw and the safety system needed an adjustment. I told him what he needed to do was to turn the yellow painted head on the adjustment bolt clockwise one quarter turn and that would do it. There was a long silence, then the additional question, "which way is that?"
I should have said, "so the top edge goes to the right" to a generation that grew up with digital clocks.

doglegg wrote:Great job on that OC. Great looking walnut, and all the little extra details, that really looks good. Carried a pocket watch up through the mid 70's and then gave up and went with the trend. Great work.

I just realized that you said you made pocket watches as well. Would love to see some pic's of them.

I am kind of low on inventory of wooden pocket watches right now. Need to make up a new batch when it warms up enough to work in the garage. I have shown the walnut one above with the state quarter on the back, and the one below is made from Padauk (an African wood) with a plain back. I have also used lacewood (Australian), Bocote (South American), birds eye maple, cherry, purple heart, and Corian (counter top material).
Another walnut one with plain back. Real hard to beat a nice piece of local walnut for something like this.

You sure do nice work OC.

Those are pretty fabulous OC. And yes the walnut does it for me. I built our bedroom set out of walnut. There used to be a company out of Tennessee that sold kits in walnut and cedar. We have one of each.
But those pocket watches are great. Thanks.

I'm 22, and have almost always had a watch on me. It's a pain in the rear trying to drag my phone out of my pocket just to see what time it is, when I can just look at a watch. Prefer analog--I don't have to drag out the manual whenever the time changes. Used to carry a cheap pocket watch with a train on it as a kid--it never kept time--lost like a half-hour a week. I have two (both mechanical/wind-up) that were my great-grandfathers. Neither work. Guessing the springs need replacing. And they may have never worked--horology was a hobby of his, and these might have been parts watches; I found them in the box with the watchmaking tools.


That watch is a thing of beauty. I especially like the wood grain.

I love your work, OC! Have you shown your pens and ducks?

tongueriver wrote:I love your work, OC! Have you shown your pens and ducks?

A few mini duck decoys.
Pintail Long tailed duck Canvasback Twist pens.
Purpleheart top, and lacewood Stick pens, from top-walnut, maple, cherry, cedar

You just keep showing us great stuff OC. Those decoys are awesome. I have one of your pens and value it. Thanks for showing.

Simply wonderful work OC. And the decoys are magical.

Very nice work, OC.
The watches are really nice. I have a couple of pocket watches I like to carry from time to time when I remember them.

Those deeks are beautiful.

The pens are also very nice.

Loving those ducks!

Very nice. i agree very sharp lathe tools and don't attempt this on an off day."

mrwatch wrote:Very nice. i agree very sharp lathe tools and don't attempt this on an off day."

Wow, that is nice. What kind of burl is that? Looks like it has some "birds eyes"in it.

OLDE CUTLER wrote:

mrwatch wrote:Very nice. i agree very sharp lathe tools and don't attempt this on an off day."

Wow, that is nice. What kind of burl is that? Looks like it has some "birds eyes"in it.

Broad leaf maple burl. Can't say how many types of maple trees their are. A man brought a bunch to a carving show years ago. Still have a few pieces. As said, use a face shield as one slip into the outer edge it could shatter at that speed. Used the large Rockwell lathe at the seniors center wood shop. Around 2002-2004. No lessons involved. Then several men were learning to glue up and turn segmented bowels.

Pretty and pretty amazing Mr. Watch. Beautiful wood and great work.

I have had one of these stainless steel insert kits to make turned wooden coffee mugs for awhile, but had not gotten around to it until last week. This one is some South Dakota apple wood with 6 coats of Birchwood Casey Gunstock finish on it.

Wow! That's nice OC!!! I'd drink coffee from that!!!

OC the quality of your work is as knice as that wood is pretty. And that wood is fabulous. What a great idea!