A special Platypus model

[Terry Primos]

This is a Platypus with bone handle and premium India Sambar stag inlay.

Though it may not look like it at first glance, this one is unique in a couple of ways. This was the first (and maybe last) time I tried a stag inlay. Boy, did I open up a can of worms there.

After cutting and shaping the inlay to fit the hole, I realized that this natural irregularly dome shaped piece was going to be a real booger. You can't just poke it in there and have it sticking up above the surface of the handle like a big ugly wart. You also can't just inlay it and sand it down because you lose the texture. I wanted 100% texture and color.

Sure, the way you take it down is by taking material off the bottom side, but with all the little hills and valleys you end up with one edge being flush with the handle, another edge below the surface, and yet another area above the surface. It took a couple of hours of filing a thousandth off here, dry fitting, knocking the piece back out and filing a bit off there, etc. The thing is, the piece has to be a perfect fit. There's no tweaking once it's inlaid for the final time.

Anyway, enough rambling about that. The second unique thing about this one is that instead of being forged from 1/4" 1084 which is my normal thing, it is a stock removal blade from 3/16" 1084. You don't see too many stock removal knives coming from me. Not because I have any problem with it, but because I'm known for forging blades, not grinding them.

The way this came about was that I had a couple knives in various phases of completion. One was annealing in the HT oven, and on another, I was waiting for the bonding agent to cure on the handle. The weather outside wouldn't allow for forging another blade. Time is money, so to stay busy I picked up a piece of 3/16" stock laying on the bench and started grinding.

I'm rather pleased with the results, but I'm not in a hurry to do another one.

[Bwitty]

absolutely beautiful!

[Jerry Shorter]

Nice, but I can see what a P.I.A. that stag inlay would be. You got patience thats for sure. I'da just found sumthin else for the inlay.

Jerry

[Jason Cutter]

Interesting how you chose the "means" to an end. But doesn't matter what method you used - it looks like it turned out superbly. Platypus model, means this is one with the super-flat handles ? Beautiful finish on the handles. Jason.

[SKIVIE]

She's a beauty ! Nice Nice work Terry as always.

Shane

[B. Buxton]

nicely done Terry. Whats the bone used, it looks more like a big chunk of pearl like material then bone. Did you dye it to turn out that white? :cool:

Bill

[Robert Dark]

Dr. Primos:

I have never replied to one of your post, but I can't let it go on any longer.............You make me want to throw up my hands and quit.

Its like learning to play golf............I asked a friend what I needed to do in order to improve my game. He said "Maybe you are trying to hard.......If I were you, I would lay-off for a couple of weeks and then just quit".

You are amazing...........Absolutely beautiful.........Keep it up.

Robert

[rhrocker]

Terry, this knife is absolutely beautiful. Outstanding work, and special for the reasons mentioned in your explaination.

[DC KNIVES]

Super knife Terry.Your knives always make me smile, and while the inlay was a bear it looks awesome.Dave

[Nalis]

As a newbie... the only words that come to mind is, "WOW!! Im glad it was ranning that day!!!!" That is the kind of beauty that inspires us newbies to keep on trying harder. Thank you....really!

p.s.
Hope it rains again real soon. lol

[Gabe Newell]

This knife reminds me of a question I've had for a while, which is how do makers decide where to differentially harden their blades?

As a percentage of the blade, this Platypus (gorgeous!) probably has more hardened than just about any knife I can remember. Visually it's great, but doesn't this structurally act pretty much like a completely hardened blade?

Has anyone done bending or impact tests to decide how much of the edge to "completely" harden versus how much of the spine to be less hardened?

Also, metallurgically I can't think of any reason that the boundary between the hardened area and the less hardened areas would be fragile. But my monkey brain always assumes that if the knife is going to break, it would break along this junction as if the two "pieces" were "glued" together. Could someone confirm that this is nonsense?

[fitzo]

Boy, that's a pretty knife, Terry! Beautiful work.

I love how you do your temper lines! ( I HAD to say that!) Seriously, I prefer that type of hardening of most of the blade as opposed to too shallow of an edge quench. It's a personal preference, as we've discussed elsewhere. I did that damascus bowie, recently, like yours, but won't do it again because I don't like the line and odd color differences it produces in damascus. It looks beautiful in regular steel, obviously! I'll go back to a full quench and final spine/torch temper next time with damascus and see what that does.

I wouldn't mind having one like this Platypus some day.....

[rhrocker]

Mike, as a quick side, this Platypus is my wifes. Terry made it for Carrie for her birthday. She got to see the photo last night, and is still excited about it. Can't wait till she has it! You ought to order one!

[fitzo]

Oh, my, Robert! A trip to the coast and this beauty? Yer trying to buy her off to stay in her good graces, aren't you? ...... must be some big piece of equipment in your plans, yeah, that must be it!

[David Johansen]

Terry,

That is a beauty as always!! Thanks for mentioning that that one is ground. That is cool to see the exact same platypus style (from earlier posts) both ground and forged. And I think they both look awesome!! Just cool to see you can get the same result with either method.