My new knife

[interceptor]

Well after months of stuffing around I finally finished my new knife. It's a big brute I started with 440c stainless (annealed), the only thing I did not do myself was the heat treating.

O/all length - 10 3/8"
Blade legth - 6", 440c hardened to around 58 rockwell, 7mm thick with file work to the spine
Handle - Eucalyptus Root Buryl with Buffalo Horn, Stainless and Black Fibre spacers
Stainless pins, guard and bolsters, Nickel Silver lanyard tube

The final fit and finish around the guard and bolsters is less than perfect but I did learn alot so I am sure to improve.

Hope you enjoy the pics

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/interceptor429/Firstknife019.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/interceptor429/Firstknife010.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/interceptor429/Firstknife021.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/interceptor429/Firstknife009.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/interceptor429/Firstknife013.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/interceptor429/Firstknife015.jpg

Cheers Noel

[Wareagle]

SMICK :D

[jindydiver]

You have got to be happy with that hey :D

Good job on the dovetailed bolster too.

How thick is that hey :D near use it as an axe. It will sure do the job on pigs jaws :lol:

[Nathan]

wow man that is really nice. i got a couple of questions if you dont mind me asking. Where did you get the material? how expencive is it? and what tools did u use?

you either gonna be busting to use it or not gonna want to get it dirty :D cuse it just looks soo good and it must feel good knowing that you made it, and that you just didnt get it from a random store

[johnno]

Interceptor I'm the first to admit I know bugga all about knives..but I do know what I like and to me thats a top effort.. particularly like the wood you've used for handle..what is it ??

but I did learn alot so I am sure to improve

If thats the case can't wait to see the next one...when are you taking orders ?? :D

[Luke]

Handle - Eucalyptus Root Buryl with Buffalo Horn, Stainless and Black Fibre spacers

:lol:

Very damned nice Noel!

I haven't really seen a knife of such profile before...not that I look around too much but really do like it.

So, when are you taking orders? ;)

Luke :D

[Dave]

Noel I think you are being hard on yourself, that looks like a fantastic job to me. Looks strong, like Mick asked, will you be busting jaws with it.

[interceptor]

Thanks for the positive comments Lads,

I started with an idea for a tusk remover, I went through about ten different drawings, constantly changing and improving on my idea. I started with 64mm x 7.5mm stainless, I wanted plenty of weight towards the end of the blade for smashing the jaws. I always wanted it to be nice to look at as well. I added several features that I think will be handy in the field, all I have to do now is go out and test it.

All up I suppose there is $100.00 to $150.00 in materials and a truck load of hours, although most of that was working out how to do it with out stuffing it up.

As for orders ,,,,,,, maybe one day.

As for tools, I now have a belt linisher, about twenty files, buffing wheels, drill press and the usual stuff.

Thanks again,,,,,,,,,

Cheers Noel

[Luke]

, will you be busting jaws with it

If I know Noel, he'll be kicking arse and taking names :lol: 8)

Luke :D

[aussiehunter]

noel,very impressive work,especially first time...

well done

pat :)

[PeterM]

Yes very impressive mate, well done.

[XTfreak]

Very nice Noel.
I'll take 2 thanks.
Bill

[Howling Dog]

Excellent results! :D
Ken :D

[interceptor]

Thanks again Lads,

Sorry Nathan,

I forgot to mention where I got the materials, the blade stock, pins and fibre spacers came from Keith Spencer at

http://www.knivesaustralia.com.au/akc-homepage.html

Very helpful as well, they have everything you need and then some.

The timber for the handle came from

http://www.vwa.org.au/des_rareaus.htm

As for getting it dirty, I hope to get out this week end to knock a buff over, I want to get some buff hide to make a nice pouch for this knife.

Jindy,

How do you come up with ideas for knives, I new what I wanted for this one so now I am a little stumped as to what to try next????????????????

Cheers Noel

[aussiehunter]

noel,ud be right just using the knife for the buff wouldnt ya..loooks tough enough :D

isnt there an easier way to get a foot squre of leather then to take a whole buff :D

now seriously...when u do get a buff,hows the meat? do u take any or the lot. is it same deal as say with scrubbers,the bulls are good for mincing and sausages etc and the younger ones are good for steaks???

good luck with ur hunt and again good job on the knife.

ive actually have one of jindys knifes,,bloody good piece of gear..

pat :)

[jindydiver]

Noel

We live on game meat in our house, have for a lot of years, and so I chop up a lot of animals in the field. I started with bought knives and they all seemed like a compromise and so I started to make some with different ideas I had to make the job go better for me.

It turned out I haven’t been able to remove the compromises in the knives that have a few jobs but I have found patterns that suit (mostly) the type of jobs I do and how I do them.

A good start to designing a knife is to look at what else is out there. I am a member of some great sites that have other makers on them and we share our ideas and help each other with the technical details so we can all grow.

Whenever I am out hunting with others I check out their knives and ask the owners what it is about the shape they like and how is it helpful to them.

I have found that there are thousands of variations on the theme and that there is almost nothing new in knives when it comes to the shape of the blades, and that there is always another shape I want to try making so I can use it and see what is so good about it.
Find a few knife shops on the internet and check out their knives and save a bunch of the pictures on your computer ( I also have a huge pile of knife mags and books). Then when you feel like designing a new knife you can just flip through all the pics for inspiration. I do that and then I go sit down with some paper, a pencil, a flexible curve and an eraser and just doodle away.
After I come up with an idea I cut it out and trace it onto my steel and then as I am cutting out the profile on the grinder the texta burns away and I just end up making what feels good in my hand. I rock the edge on a table top to test it and I often have a blank I have made earlier there so I can compare the spine curve. When the shape speaks to me and shows me it is good to go I move to the next step. That is why you would be hard pressed to find two of my knives that are exactly alike.

I am currently working on 2 projects. They are a little different to what I have been doing lately and they are making me think, but that is after all why I make knives and don’t just buy them.
Now that the bug has bitten you will find yourself making way more than you “need” too. :lol:



Do you know of someone that has a knife you really like the shape of, but maybe the handle doesn’t fit you well, or maybe you know of a knife that fits your hand well but the blade doesn’t suit your jobs well? You could just have a go at combining the two into a knife that suits you better and see how it turns out.

[jindydiver]

And don’t you just love the confidence of the man

“I hope to get out this week end to knock a buff over”

A lot of other people never get past dreaming of it. :lol:

I hope you do well mate :D

[interceptor]

Thanks for the tips Jindy,

I will send you a PM for more gold later on.

Cheers Noel

[Scott]

Really good job Noel! Good luck with the buff mate!

[interceptor]

Hi lads,

I finally finshed the sheath and put on the final edge, here are a couple more pics,,,,,,,,,,,last ones I promise :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/interceptor429/My%20first%20knife/finished012.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/interceptor429/My%20first%20knife/finished001.jpg

Cheers Noel

[robbbo]

Noel great looking knife and sheath well done
Andrew :)

[mayall]

very nice knife mate . it would have taken a lot of hours hay. i like it a lot you designed with a perpose