Homemade knife

[collierboy]

I received an unexpected gift today when a friend of mine's father gave me a knife and sheath
he'd made in his little garden shed. Excellent workmanship and all self taught.

 

[Half cocked]

I received an unexpected gift today when a friend of mine's father gave me a knife and sheath
he'd made in his little garden shed. Excellent workmanship and all self taught.

That's the kind of thing I wish I could have had the chance to do.
There's nothing better than making an object that tests your patience, ability, and determination.
Well done that man.

 

[collierboy]

Yes, It's simple but beautiful, all made from scratch, not from blanks. Sharp as a razor too.

 

[RWS Excalibre]

Wow that is one hell of a knife, looks like the design is based on a Texas skinner

 

[sarfarm]

That is one lovely hand made knife,last time I had one was in the early 70s and was made by an old African chap in Zambia,he told me the steel came from an old car leaf spring,boy it kept its edge well until some B,stard stole it.

 

[collierboy]

Wow that is one hell of a knife, looks like the design is based on a Texas skinner

He has just a tiny shed, a self built gas furnace and uses old steel from leaf springs / old files /saws etc. The swords
he makes are real works of art especially the Katanas. It's a bit of an honour to to receive one of his knives because
they aren't for sale. You say it's based on a Texas Skinner, so I'll call this one the a Clydach Squirrel Skinner.

 

[collierboy]

That is one lovely hand made knife, an old car leaf spring,

Yes it is, I dread to think how many hours it took, but he obviously loves making them. The pic doesn't show it but either side
of the tang there's a tiny red spacer then the two grips fixed by copper rivets by the look. He also carves wood as well.

 

[Coypu Hunter]

The swords he makes are real works of art especially the Katanas.

It's a very nice knife, but unless he uses a high-temperature forge to fold and weld carbon steel, he isn't making katanas, he's making katana-shaped swords. There's a big difference.

Not dissing the guy, jes' sayin'.

 

[collierboy]

Not sure how he makes them CH, I just know they're pretty good. My son in law knows him better than I do as
they're from the same village so he's going to ask for a few more pics.

 

[Half cocked]

It's a very nice knife, but unless he uses a high-temperature forge to fold and weld carbon steel, he isn't making katanas, he's making katana-shaped swords. There's a big difference.

Not dissing the guy, jes' sayin'.

I have seen in a two-hour-long documentary about the way a true Katana sword is forged,
the sword-smith was 90+ years old.
He had three men with him, one was the apprentice, and the other two were the muscle to
hammer the billet.
The billet is folded and forged welded between 10 and 14 times to this smiths' requirement.
The amount of carbon in the steel is done by the Master burning dried straw and pushing it against
the billet while it was hammered.
After about six months the blade is finished to the masters' standards, and the blade then goes to the Master polisher,
who can take another six months or more to finish.
A joy to watch.

 

[Manthing]

I remember watching Highlander and his Katana is "folded over 400 times"

 

[Half cocked]

I remember watching Highlander and his Katana is "folded over 400 times"

That's a load of bollo*s Manny, I think 10 folds is over a 1000 layers.

 

[Manthing]

Soz matey, just checked and the woman claims its over 200 times.
But hay, it's Ollywud init.

10 folds is 1024 layers.

 

[Half cocked]

Soz matey, just checked and the woman claims its over 200 times.
But hay, it's Ollywud init.

Very true my friend, holly has a lot to answer for.

 

[collierboy]

And it could cut through the reinforced concrete pillars in the multistory carpark.

 

[RWS Excalibre]

Forget Hollywood,
The most perfect Katana & Wakizashi ever, the "HOJO Masamune Katana", which is now a national treasure by famous sword maker himself Masamune.
The only person to come close to his craftmanship and perfection was Muramasa, a mysterious craftsman, thought more to work for the dark side , these craftsman weren`t in competition as were in different time frames.
If you`re ever down that way, is the Kyoto Samurai & Ninja museum, you need a good day + there. The other is a festival on 14th December every year, many people from the world over visit "Sengakuji Temple" Tokyo, to pay homage at the grave of the "Ako Roshi" (47 Ronin).

 

[Half cocked]

Forget Hollywood,
The most perfect Katana & Wakizashi ever, the "HOJO Masamune Katana", which is now a national treasure by famous sword maker himself Masamune.
The only person to come close to his craftmanship and perfection was Muramasa, a mysterious craftsman, thought more to work for the dark side , these craftsman weren`t in competition as were in different time frames.
If you`re ever down that way, is the Kyoto Samurai & Ninja museum, you need a good day + there. The other is a festival on 14th December every year, many people from the world over visit "Sengakuji Temple" Tokyo, to pay homage at the grave of the "Ako Roshi" (47 Ronin).

Anorak fact, no traditional Katana is forged with a curved blade.
You have 30 seconds to tell why and no Googling.

 

[RWS Excalibre]

Know they are tempered in cast in clay, don`t know if that`s anything to do with it holding in the heat ? Gis a clue

 

[Half cocked]

Know they are tempered in cast in clay, don`t know if that`s anything to do with it holding in the heat ? Gis a clue

The curve in the blade comes from the clay but it's not cast.
The clay is to stop the heat from tempering the top of the blade, from the heat that's needed to harden the edge,
and the difference in heat draws the iron crystals tighter at the top, thus curving the blade

 

[Waltherfan]

Lovely knife! Lucky man!