latest work

[stephanfowler]

lemme know what you think

I recently build a 2x72 grinder and have been trying all kinds of new stuff


the dovetail bolsters worked out decently well, the fit of the slabs to the bolster isn't as tight as i would like but its hardly noticable (i did cabinetry grade wood work for many years, im a picky SOB)

the tapered tang went surprisingly smoothly, i put in all the angles and bevels at the forge and did a really pretty good job, didn't have much grinding to clean up at all

a "loveless" style handle. I've been looking at a LOT of pictures lately and felt the need to try a new handle shape, this being the first one its a smidge tight for a reversed inside grip (especially with my big hands) but is really comfortable in other grips,

also i have been making a concerted effort to slim down my handles, i went through a bunch of my older blades and realized that i made some big handles......









I feel like I pushed myself and am happy with the results.
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[Jamey Saunders]

Looks good from here.

It looks like your tang taper stops at the back of the bolster, where the bolster and handle material meet. I've always run my taper from the butt to just ahead of the front of the bolster. Then I kind of round over the front of the taper, so there's not a taper line between the plunge and the bolster. Doing it this way allows me to set the angle for the dovetail on my grinder, and not change it between the bolster and handle material. The angles will match perfectly. In your case, you have one angle for the bolster, and another for the front of the handle material.

Looks like you did a good job, though.

[stephanfowler]

wow, good eye jamey, ya caught me :-)

that is actually exactly what happened, im working on one now where i didn't make that mistake.

and surprise of surprises, its going much smoother

[Jamey Saunders]

Don't worry, my first tapered tang with dovetailed bolsters was a bear, because I did it the way you did this one.

I've never done cabinet-grade work, so getting the scales to fit nearly gave me a fit.

[first twin]

Stephen, I sent you a private message involving Trackrock.

[Carey Quinn]

Looks good Steve, now you know why I don't care anything about doing bolsters. Ya done good especially for the first time.

Carey

[Jpeterman]

Good looking knife you got there.

To me dovetailed bolsters are just easier to do than straight bolsters. Once you get em down pat there's really nothing to em.