My Darrell Ralph Knifekit Knives

[logem]

Knives are shown in order of completion.

Click images for full resolution JPG's.

First Knife: DDR-II (BL605 mini).

Corian "Black Quartz" scales with Mosaic Pins, Filework on Spine, Hand polished blade

It's fairly scratched because it is my daily carry knife.








Second Knife: DDR3-BL

Carbon Fiber Scales, Filework on Back Spine






Third Knife: Delta 5 Chute Knife

Corian "Natural Pearl" scales, Dovetailed Bolsters, Spacers, Mosaic Pins,
Braided Lanyard using Kangaroo Lace, Polished blade & Bolsters, Reshaped Handle

The counterbored holes are a bit oversized due to the fact that my wife ordered this for me, and an incorrectly sized step drill was either ordered or shipped. You can see the epoxy around the Corby Rivets.

Regarding the braided lanyard: In hindsight, I think a natural colored kangaroo lace would have looked better with this knife, but I put enough time into it that it is going to stay just like it is.





I've really enjoyed these kits. I'm hooked now. I got a KMG grinder in January and now I'm working on grinding my own blades. I think I'll continue to build some folders from Darrell Ralph & Knifekits until I have my shop set up enough to build my own. At this rate, it will be years.

Comments welcome.

Take care,

Mike L.

[JediOkie]

Welcome to the addiction Mike! Those are some beautiful knives. I can't wait to see what you grind out.

[Darrel Ralph]

Very nice work!

[derek parker]

love the filework, all great knives.

[jim graham]

Mike, Very nice. My favorite is the chute knife. That's alsome!

Question- Where did you get your carbon fiber. on the DDRIIIBL.

Keep em coming, Thanks Jim

[logem]

Originally Posted by jim graham

. . . Where did you get your carbon fiber. on the DDRIIIBL.

That was the one knife in which I ordered the scales with the knife.

They were pre-drilled & countersunk, and rough cut to shape when I got them from knifekits.com.

Mike L.

[Alberto]

Very nice work!!
Alberto

[spickett]

I have a newbie question here. I've read several posts on here and read about the file work. They all seem to be awesome work. Do you use a template to make a backspline or is it from imagination. I ordered my first 2 kits and am waiting delivery so I can begin with this awesome hobby.

Steve

[derek parker]

steve, for me filework is very thought out and predetermined. i use a scribe and mark where each design will go before i start filing. then i use my dremel with a carbide cutting bit for my rough work, alot of people dont have hands that are steady enough to do it with a dremel, cause one slip and your work can be ruined.
practice, practice, practice........in my two plus years making knives, first from kits, and now im getting ready to make a forge, i have gone from making scratches on metal that look offensive, to doing this in about ten minutes with my dremel only.......


try simple stuff at first.......if i could give you one tip for a first filework design----get a set of the small files and take the small round one and just try to make even (consistency is the key) marks, even in the space between them, but also even with the depth....try it on a backspine or frame.
from there the pattern in that picture i posted is a breeze and i would be happy to help with any problems you might have.
good luck, and welcome to the forums, and addiction
derek

[spickett]

Thanks Derek, your work is really nice. I'll take your advice and give it a try. You'll probably be seeing me ask alot of questions on here in the future. I've already got the small file set from knife.com along with several other tools and such from the same place. Cant wait for the kits to get here and get started.

Thanks

Steve

[Gunslinger454]

Steve, you might want to buy the video of Dwayne Dushane on fileworking, it's the one i used as reference to learn filework, i found it to be very helpful. Knifekits.com has the video so you can order it from them. Good Luck!

[logem]

There' a couple of tutorials right here on this website.

Tutorials

These are what I used to learn.

My vine patterns have become much more crisp and defined since I did the work posted above.

In my opinion, the most important files to have are the half-round, round, and three square (triangular). I've purchased a large variety of 6" Nicholson needle files from MSC at $14 apiece. I've spent a lot of money on files, when I now know that the three files listed above could do 99% of everything I need.

Good luck, and show us your work.

Mike L.

[KNAdmin]

Wow ... killer filework, Derek!!!!

Alex