THE ACCURATERELOADING.COM KNIVES AND KNIFE MAKING FORUM


Moderators: Saeed
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
WIP. Curve backed bolsters
 Login/Join
 
One of Us
Picture of Von Gruff
posted
I started on a very secial knife today for Henry, a repeat customer. Fireball damascus for the Old Western with very rare fancy Swamp Kauri scales (will use carbon fiber pins) and stainless curve backed bolster with the 3 pin mark in brass for a subtle contrast. With the bar being hardened to its final state the waste is removed initially with a cutoff disc on the angle grinder with the finished profile being done on the grinder with frequent dipping in the water bucket.



Von Gruff.

http://www.vongruffknives.com/

Gen 12: 1-3

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12


 
Posts: 2681 | Location: South Otago New Zealand. | Registered: 08 February 2009Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Von Gruff
posted Hide Post
Made some progress on this one today with the blade ground and handsanded but will not etch it till next session.

First stage is to clamp the blade to the stainless bar and with the drill, mark the first pin hole. The blade is removed and the hole drilled in the bar and the blade returned with a tempory pin in place with the clamp back in place to allw the marking of the second hole. The process is repaeated and then with two pins in place the clamp is no longer needed for the marking of the third hole.
I have a slice off a 2 inch pipe that is my marking template and in this pic it is placed to show where it will go on the bar for the front of the bolster.


I grind the front curve while the bar has some length to it but this advantage goes as the bar gets used up

Next step is to cut the remaining two sides of the pattern on the bandsaw.


Von Gruff.

http://www.vongruffknives.com/

Gen 12: 1-3

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12


 
Posts: 2681 | Location: South Otago New Zealand. | Registered: 08 February 2009Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Von Gruff
posted Hide Post
From the bandsaw It goes to the grinder to tidy up the majority of the curves


With this one close to shape it is used to repeat the process for the other side of the pair

and when the second one is cut out they are held together with the tempory pins for the clean up. Be advised that you WILL get hot fingers doing this

As a pair I concentrate on the front face first and go through the grits and finish with 1000grit hand sand


Von Gruff.

http://www.vongruffknives.com/

Gen 12: 1-3

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12


 
Posts: 2681 | Location: South Otago New Zealand. | Registered: 08 February 2009Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Von Gruff
posted Hide Post
Next the curve back needs attending to and again hot fingers require a number of dips in the water bucket.

Finish shaping is done on the 2 inch mandrel I had made so it was time to replace the 80 grit paper

I have this block clamped to the drill press table as it allows for 2 inches of wind up adjustment before I have to add another block under it but with a 6 inch tall mandrel it allows a reasonable ammount of sanding before the paper needs changing. I get quite a few bolster sets out of the paper for the horn bolsters but for the metal ones I still get three sets and it dosent take much to shange the paper. The spray adhesinve holds well and is reasnably simple to remove with thinners and a rag with a bit of a rub.

With pins removed I have a set of bolsters ready to fix in place. These ones will be done wit brass pins to have my 3 dot mark subtly visible in the stainless bolster. Customers have made this request on a number of the curve backed bolstered knives when discussing upgrades


Von Gruff.

http://www.vongruffknives.com/

Gen 12: 1-3

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12


 
Posts: 2681 | Location: South Otago New Zealand. | Registered: 08 February 2009Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Von Gruff
posted Hide Post
Back in the shed this morning I got the hydrochloric acid heated and etched Henry's blade.

With that taken care of the bolsters were pined and epoxied in place, which allowed the handle scales to be cut to a more convenient size

The knife is placed on the scale and a scribe marks the top and botom of where the curve of the bolster ends are so the 2 inch curve can be marked in


The curve is cut on the bandsaw which is only a close aproximation of what it needs to be so there is some fitting to be done from here.


Von Gruff.

http://www.vongruffknives.com/

Gen 12: 1-3

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12


 
Posts: 2681 | Location: South Otago New Zealand. | Registered: 08 February 2009Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Von Gruff
posted Hide Post
It is hard to get a good pic but with carefull touch and go on the grinder it comes in very close even if the shadows do not show it as close as it is.


From here it is marked and draw filed "round the curve" by only taking off the thickness of the pen mark at any one stroke.

After a couple of "file and fits" it is exceptable with no gaps showing

This first scale is then used to mark the second scale and the process is repeated

With both sides fitted one side can be clamped in the special jig I made for this purpose and the holes for the pins can be drilled.


he profile of the tang can be marked on the scale once the holes are drilled



Von Gruff.

http://www.vongruffknives.com/

Gen 12: 1-3

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12


 
Posts: 2681 | Location: South Otago New Zealand. | Registered: 08 February 2009Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Von Gruff
posted Hide Post
From there the scales can be epoxied on and in this case I used black carbon fiber pins. The folling day I was able to get the handle shaped and the finishing oil mix applied over a 1/2 dozen coats.



I did a short video to send to the customer before shipping it off to him
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...e6c&feature=youtu.be


Von Gruff.

http://www.vongruffknives.com/

Gen 12: 1-3

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12


 
Posts: 2681 | Location: South Otago New Zealand. | Registered: 08 February 2009Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Use Enough Gun
posted Hide Post
Nice!
 
Posts: 18517 | Registered: 04 April 2005Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
Yes,very nice!
 
Posts: 157 | Location: san francisco bay area | Registered: 23 November 2007Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
Thank you for the lesson. Very nice Smiler
 
Posts: 756 | Registered: 08 December 2009Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
I'm not a knife collector but appreciate craftsmanship.

Dave
 
Posts: 2086 | Location: Seattle Washington, USA | Registered: 19 January 2004Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Von Gruff
posted Hide Post
Thanks for the kind words. I didn't note that I used brass pins in the SS bolsters to show my 3 pin makers mark mark. I always mark the blade but for the curve back bolsters I will do the pins in contrasting material to show there as well. This is a camp knife/bowie with paper micarta CB bolsters and pearwood handles


Von Gruff.

http://www.vongruffknives.com/

Gen 12: 1-3

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12


 
Posts: 2681 | Location: South Otago New Zealand. | Registered: 08 February 2009Reply With Quote
one of us
Picture of Bill/Oregon
posted Hide Post
Garry, tremendous workmanship from your bench, as usual. Don't know how I missed this!


There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author
 
Posts: 16306 | Location: Sweetwater, TX | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Von Gruff
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Garry, tremendous workmanship from your bench, as usual. Don't know how I missed this!

Thanks Bill. I post most of my work on this forum https://www.bladesmithsforum.c...ments#comment-387477


Von Gruff.

http://www.vongruffknives.com/

Gen 12: 1-3

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12


 
Posts: 2681 | Location: South Otago New Zealand. | Registered: 08 February 2009Reply With Quote
  Powered by Social Strata  
 


Copyright December 1997-2023 Accuratereloading.com


Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia