Newbie-1st post-pic

[nc_cooter]

In October i had a heart attack ,and having time on my hands, I decided to try knife making. Tools on hand:3x36 belt sander,drill press,6" bench grinder,bench vise,borrowed anvil,dremmil tool. Clay pit with small blower for heat. Scrounged materialsld files,broken crosscut saw,brass fire hose couplings,small leaf springs:deer antler,ash,maple,cherry. First knife was5" skinner with antler,OAL 9 1/2",old file as stock. Second was made from a piece of crosscut saw blade,7" with ash handle. Sold both as soon as they were finished. I am HOOKED!
Below is a pic of the next 4.(not a good photo)



Hawk head was made by friend who owns anvil.Handle is ash and leather by me.
Left to right:
11" from leaf spring,some forging
16" OAL
mule deer antler(old mount salvaged from dumpster)
Brass trim

3 1/2" from file
8" OAL
whitetail antler(from neighbor)
brass guard and pommel

8" from cross cut saw
13" OAL
ash
brass cap

6" from cross cut saw
11" OAL
whitetail antler
brass guard

These knives have some flaws(still way down on the learning curve), but they hold an edge well. They are all SOLD with two more orders left to fill.

I am resource limited (aren't we all) and will continue as is for now, but selling or not i will make more. I am more relaxed than i have ever been and on the mend as far as my heart.

Thanks for your time and I welcome your comments/critique.

[Don Cowles]

Looks like you are off to a fine start- and an ambitious one as well! Excellent beginnings!

[george tichbour]

Good start, there is nothing like a little heart trouble to get you focused on what really counts to your own well being. Knifemaking is the best therapy that I could recommend.

I think that I have become more focussed since my little episode with heart trouble a hear and a half ago.

[Ray Rogers]

You are doing remarkably well considering the equipment you have and the short time you've been at it. It just gets better from here!

Wecome to our world.........

[cactusforge]

Hooked, I guess so, You are off to a great start. Gib

[TJ Smith]

Those look very good. Gotta try a axe or hawk as soon as I get my forge done.
I feel for you on the heart attack and send my best wishes for a speedy recovery.
I didn't have an attack but feeling a little tightness across my chest, I went in for some tests and am getting scheduled for a bypass today. Good thing we caught it.
Take Care
TJ

[nc_cooter]

Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement. I still have a lot to learn and will no doubt be asking for your advice from time to time.

[MixonKnives]

I have to congratulate you man. I've been making knives since March, and I have yet to finish one. Always to many things wrong with one and I just refuse to finsh them.

You're doing great. Especially if you're doing your own heat treating.

I'm glad you found a hobby to keep you busy, keep having fun

Michael

[cactusforge]

Michael, Just a word of advise what I find is when this happens is I need to learn how to correct what is wrong or has happened to a knife that I am building. This is what we all do, it is part of the process. I also have a policy to finish EVERY knife I start and you know sometimes you end up with a better knife than you had before the defect showed up. Gib

[nc_cooter]

Michael,
what Gib said is right. The first knife i made , i broke the tip off about1/4" after it was finished.(dropped on concrete floor. I thought the handle was already too long and almost threw the thing away. I very slowly reground the tip and another finish hand sanding. Even made a sheath for it. A friend saw it and fell in love.
Finish them all,hang them in your work area where you and others can see them. For you it will remind you to be careful and who knows someone might like them.

Mike

[MixonKnives]

Thanx for the advise guys.

Gib, I've read in one of your other posts about your "finish every knife" philosophy. Maybe thats the only way I'll ever finish one is to follow that rule. I think my main problem is I always try to go past my abilitys. My first several atemps were a through tang with a butt cap. Well the fit between the guard and handle was never good enough, or the gaurd didn't look right. My point is I haven't even finished a simple full tang knife with simple wood handles. My last full tang I tried bolsters, and no luck, pinning isn't any fun when you don't know what your doing, and have little patience that night.

So I'll try to finish the one I'm working on now, and I'll let you know.


Thanks again guys.

Michael

[Jason Cutter]

Congrats on a magnificent start. And theres no treatment for this addiction ! I commend you on your use of old cross cut saws. I use that material for my kitchen knife line and the thin stock and flexibility gives it uncommon cutting ability. I really like that old-timey look on the works you have done so far. They look nicely finished and have heaps of character. Jason.