NPR

I found an amazing human being who also happens to be a knifemaker. I have been building him up to a katana, which is a long term project. He has made some amazing blades for me in the past which I will share. Both functional as in regular use chef knives and multi purpose camping knives.
He made a traditional Japanese chef knife for my wifes shop and I was loving the tanto blade. That tip is just so functional and gets right into fine spots. As a valued customer he offered me a 2 for a great price deal. Now I had to make some decisions. I have lovely hunting knives. A magnificent tracker which for me is the most practical multi purpose camp knife. Insanely impressive chefs knives. So what would I go for. I don't have a dagger. But can't see myself ever using it. So it would end up a display. Not ideal. With two growing young boys that is a recipe for disaster so I lock the " never used " blades in a safe and we go through them now and again just to get the feeling again. So I searched and there are various families of a dagger ( ceremonial, fantasy and tactical. ). I happened on a tanto point tactical dagger/knife. Then a picture of a tanto chopper popped out and caught my interest. My choices were made. It was just down to the details. For the chopper I am going for a farriers rasp. If you look closely it has a nice detail on the back of the blade. I also like a bit of a rough look on my hard working blades. They are there to take a beating. Not look beautiful. For the tactical I decided on a high carbon treated to a blue finish. It adds protection to the blade so not so much maintenance. For the handles I decided on the same finish on both. Red and black G10 with a black liner. Can't wait to get these in my hands. Normally takes a month. See the idea pictures below

New project

Some of the blades I have had made by the Smith

Tracker


A tracker I had made
Not keen on the sheath. I had given him free reign over the color . Just wanted it for cross carry or drop down carry. Goes either way on the belt.

But love the handle.

A tracker can skin, chop , saw

A must have in Knightsbridge..

So got the design of the blades from the Smith.
Happy with it.
We decided to go for a camo G10 on the chopper and the red and black G10 on the tactical. ( handle materiaI ) . I always enjoy following the build. We haven't discussed the sheath of each yet , but there is time. This Smith likes big blades. So I can just imagine that the tactical is going to have some decent weight on it similar to the chopper

Out of heat treatment

My Smith was busy with a knife show so only got to heat treat my 2 blades today.
The file Chopper and the tactical blade below it.
Still a way to go. Next it is sharpening and polishing the blades, and then fitting the handles.

I bought a mass produced Kukri a short while ago and the tip rolled over in no time. That's why it's better to get a proper blade from a smith. No chance of that chopper taking damage

Zombie heads are going to be like slicing through a melon

yermum wrote: Thu Sep 22, 2022 6:26 am

Lol..Tools, tools, I must have to have my tools.

[media] [/media]

Edges done

Edges ground

Edge 3

I am thinking a rustic handle on the chopper.

Something like Mad max ...

Sticking with red and black micarta on the tactical

Christ.

I almost took my own finger off with my Leatherman, I'd lose a limb with one of those bastards.

inactionman wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 12:01 pm Christ.

I almost took my own finger off with my Leatherman, I'd lose a limb with one of those bastards.

I love the double edge on the chopper. Cut both sides.

My theme with these two blades was to have Tanto tips

Apocalyptic

My Smith sent this

It's like beaten metal wrapped in leather cordage with knick knacks dangling from leather strings.

The cool thing about that is I get to look for cool Knick knacks ...........like skulls, pukka beads and Sharks teeth

Handle material

All the ingredients plus copper wire and some knick knacks

TB63 wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 3:48 pm

Enjoyed that . Thankfully I am not doing it

Needs more attitude


There is enough there for me to take it further. I don't think he has the imagination to take it to apocalyptic level. So I will add the rest. I was surprised when he made the wooden element so smooth and shiny. The rest is perfect. He aged the blade . So it look old. Then makes the handle shiny and new. Maybe he is afraid to make it look real apocalyptic steampunk. I will cover that handle with cloth bound by copper wire. Drill some holes in the horn to dangle some fossil Sharks teeth. Push a large ring through the back hole and dangle some trinkets off leather string. Blade is perfect. That's heat treated and hard.

Jihadi John got started on a thread like this.

Sards wrote: Wed Jan 04, 2023 5:16 am Needs more attitude


There is enough there for me to take it further. I don't think he has the imagination to take it to apocalyptic level. So I will add the rest. I was surprised when he made the wooden element so smooth and shiny. The rest is perfect. He aged the blade . So it look old. Then makes the handle shiny and new. Maybe he is afraid to make it look real apocalyptic steampunk. I will cover that handle with cloth bound by copper wire. Drill some holes in the horn to dangle some fossil Sharks teeth. Push a large ring through the back hole and dangle some trinkets off leather string. Blade is perfect. That's heat treated and hard.

I really am trying to like it Sards. Will you be using during the weekly satanic rituals, or is this one more for the family mantel piece above the coffin in the living room?

This feels like a call-out thread!

LoveOfTheGame wrote: Wed Jan 04, 2023 8:30 am

Sards wrote: Wed Jan 04, 2023 5:16 am Needs more attitude


There is enough there for me to take it further. I don't think he has the imagination to take it to apocalyptic level. So I will add the rest. I was surprised when he made the wooden element so smooth and shiny. The rest is perfect. He aged the blade . So it look old. Then makes the handle shiny and new. Maybe he is afraid to make it look real apocalyptic steampunk. I will cover that handle with cloth bound by copper wire. Drill some holes in the horn to dangle some fossil Sharks teeth. Push a large ring through the back hole and dangle some trinkets off leather string. Blade is perfect. That's heat treated and hard.

I really am trying to like it Sards. Will you be using during the weekly satanic rituals, or is this one more for the family mantel piece above the coffin in the living room?

Nothing like I want on the handle. I will sort that out. I am in Oudtshoorn. Looking for some ostrich leather to wrap the handle. Let me get it and once I have pimped it up you will see my vision

Want Some of her work so much...

EnergiseR2 wrote: Wed Jan 04, 2023 9:00 am Will we all get interviewed or just ASMO when Sards starts wearing his neighbour like a hat? This will be the first of many appearances in a netflix documentary

"It rubs the lotion on its skin"..

Apocalyptic and tactical

Ok I know the apocalyptic needs work to make it " apocalyptic ". But I love the tactical blade. That's a chunk of metal. I saw a video of it in the Smiths hands. Can't wait to feel it in my hands. Still needs to polish the handle.

The sheath for the chopper is a bit kitch......I have leather work tools so will modify the shit out of that.
Very happy with the tactical sheath.

These are updated pics I get from the smith

The handle of the rasp looks a bit uncomfortable

Calculon wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 8:47 am The handle of the rasp looks a bit uncomfortable

Not what I wanted at all. But I will sort out when I get it.

I just hope the Tang is not hardened so I can drill through it.
I am also chopping that horn off shorter and using the end piece to hang from a leather strip. Not that plastic shit

Ready for collection

He finished photographing and posting on his page. I can now collect. You can see how he blued the tactical blade. It's a chemical process which penetrates the material. It's an additional cost but well worth it. It will help with corrosion.
Also when on a mission to slit the throats of the security you won't have it glinting off the moonlight.
Not everyone's cup of tea, but it's about the collection and varying styles and blades. I had no tantos and now I have 2 bad ass bladee

Best way to sharpen a knife? Metal file or stone?

Kawazaki wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 11:59 am Best way to sharpen a knife? Metal file or stone?

Don't waste your time on stones, strops ets.

This baby is so easy . Slide your blade against the upright post through the crossed sharpener edges ( which are spring loaded ) 10 times and it's a perfect edge. You can adjust to 15 degrees, 20 and 30 depending on the thickness of your blade. It's just so easy and convenient. And cheap as chips

Best sharpener

https://www.facebook.com/WarthogSharpen ... tid=ZbWKwL

Local South African company based in George. Uses diamond chips.

All the other types of home sharpeners actually chip and damage your blade. And are hard to use , hold , stick etc.
With a stone you just cannot get the angle right . And you need to wet the stone constantly which is messy.

With this you pull out of the cupboard. And just slide your blade through. It's quick so you can pull out all your knives and sharpen in one session.

R635.00 is nothing.

Get a broken sink and use the ceramic edge

Sards wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 11:54 am Ready for collection

He finished photographing and posting on his page. I can now collect. You can see how he blued the tactical blade. It's a chemical process which penetrates the material. It's an additional cost but well worth it. It will help with corrosion.
Also when on a mission to slit the throats of the security you won't have it glinting off the moonlight.
Not everyone's cup of tea, but it's about the collection and varying styles and blades. I had no tantos and now I have 2 bad ass bladee

I sawed that horn off as soon as I got home. Filed to nice points and drilled a hole through the tooth looking end and hung it from the shortest strand weaving it back into the common weave. I did explain to the Smith what I was going to do so he wouldnt get offended and he showed me where I could cut without hitting a hollow. I couldn't stop playing with it thereafter.....it took all my restraint to not chop down one of my trees with it.
I tried to wrap the handle with a leather strap but no piece I had was long enough. So need to source that.

I use a 15 inch round sandstone, mounted in the lathe, running in a pan of water...

Apocalyptic


Hoping to find some leather strips to wrap the handle as I have some time today. The handle moves in the hand because it's too smooth so the leather will fix that.

Much prefer the horn point cut off and used as a dingle dongle.

Not completely happy with where my index finger fits below the horn guard. I will have to grind that till it's comfortable. It's a big blade and heavy so the small details are important

If you grind it down will it work better? What do you use it for btw?

Sards wrote: Sat Jan 21, 2023 6:31 am Apocalyptic

Looks like a file, not a knife.

Sandstorm wrote: Sun Jan 22, 2023 9:46 am

Sards wrote: Sat Jan 21, 2023 6:31 am Apocalyptic

Looks like a file, not a knife.

Farriers file to be exact. But that was the point. If you have a beautiful looking knife you are a lot more reluctant to really work it. Besides. Farrier file blades are in vogue currently. Even for little skinners.

I kept the file edge on the back of the blade so I can saw with it. Zoom in on the back edge and you will see it.So it not designed for a thrust and the slice upwards. More for chopping.

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jan 21, 2023 7:05 am If you grind it down will it work better? What do you use it for btw?

Just for a better fit for my hand. Your index finger slots in behind the guard and if , like the horn, it's too round it pushes your whole hand back down the handle. Remember it's a heavy blade so you don't want to lose your grip. Everyone's hands are different. Once I adjusted it the grip felt perfect. Still struggling to find long leather strips to wrap. Been watching tutorials on how to wrap it.

Its just another tick in my collection.