Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => At the Forge => Topic started by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 05:49:48 pm

Title: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 05:49:48 pm
I have enough pictures saved to do a build along from stock material, not forging though...This is a knife shape my Dad designed for me called the "Moccasin" due to the blade shape imitating the moccasin head...Raw stock pictured here...
   The fiberglass templet was laid out and knife cut from 154cm which is annealed...I use a flat grind on all my blades...The blade here is rough ground 80 grit to keep heat down on a variable speed sander...
                                                                                                                                                  Don
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: osage outlaw on March 03, 2018, 05:58:35 pm
I am loving all of this forge and knife work on here.  That's a cool design Don.  I'm jealous of that grinder. 
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 06:00:20 pm
 I then place a "ricasso guide" on the blade to guide my file and allow me to blend the ricasso into the blade...These things are handy and will help you make an excellent cut that meets on both sides of the blade...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 06:03:13 pm
 Clint, that is a mean machine buddy...Variable speed helps me in so many ways...It will slow to a crawl or you can put a 60 grit on to hog off some steel...
                                                                         Don
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: osage outlaw on March 03, 2018, 06:04:40 pm
That looks like a handy little gizmo.  Is it aluminum?  I might try to make one. 

What brand is that grinder?
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: Danzn Bar on March 03, 2018, 06:08:25 pm
Beautiful blade design Don,  looks to be a good skinner...
DBar
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 06:11:21 pm
Next, I will mark the pinning holes for the drill, I use one eight brass rod to pin handles...USE LOW SPEED here or you will heat up the blade handle and sometimes fuse a drill bit...This steel is hardened by heat and then air quenched...We are still annealed here...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 06:17:31 pm
  Thanks DBar...

  Clint, that is a Burr king grinder...And the ricasso guide is harder than a drill bit so my file cant cut into it...I have cut a lot of knives using that extremely hard tool...Your file actually slides up against it...
                                                                                                                                                 Don
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 06:26:09 pm
Next I will sand the blade starting with 180, 220, 320, 400 and finally 600 grit...I will then tape to protect for the rest of the build...After this I heat treat the steel to 1900 degrees in a preheated kiln and then allow to cool...This is air hardened steel 154cm...I do not temper these knives but you can if you want to...I like to leave them very hard...
                                       Don
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 06:36:59 pm
    Next, it's time for brass bolsters...Look closely and you will see the bolsters under the handle, handle being used as a drill guide...Again slow speed and cut clean air tight holes for the brass rod fit up...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 06:38:40 pm
more...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: Danzn Bar on March 03, 2018, 06:43:04 pm
Look'n good........
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 06:50:37 pm
  Next, I use an electric etching machine to put my name on the blade...Then it's time to glue the brass bolsters and rods...This is where "fit" comes into play, always take time to assemble first if you can, then glue or pin...I like to do a test run...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 06:55:51 pm
 Glued and pinned with a hammer...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 07:02:13 pm
 Thanks again DBar...I'm probably going to fast here but I don't want to post to many pictures during the build and take up PA's space...
  Any questions between steps will gladly be answered folks...
                                                                                            Don
                                                               
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: osage outlaw on March 03, 2018, 07:15:53 pm
That is some awesome work!
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 07:36:09 pm
    Time for scales!  I had some deer antler scales ground and cut in half on a ban saw then ground flat...As said earlier "fit" is important...I make sure my drill bit and platen are exactly 90 degrees here to match my bolsters...The scales were marked by laying the handle on and tracing...I cut the excess off and then sanded the ends 90 degrees...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 07:42:39 pm
Now a test run on fit before drilling...Look closely at lines and fit to make sure everything is a go before drilling...I can always make minor adjustments here if needed...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 07:58:34 pm
 Next, scales are clamped to the handle and double checked for fit...Again the handle is used as a drill guide...Time to drill  (A) A drill press was used here, the handle was set on a block of wood during drilling not pictured...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 08:10:40 pm
Time for glue up now...Center pins on handle were premeasured and rounded because this area of the handle will not be sanded...The but and bolsters will be shaped later...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 08:11:37 pm
more...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: KHalverson on March 03, 2018, 08:18:40 pm
excellent build.
love the design of that knife.
now I got tool envy that grinder is the bomb,
making 1 of those file guides is on my lit of thing to do.
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 08:48:14 pm
Thanks Kevin! Glad to hear from you...

        I skipped some pictures awhile back on heat treating so lets talk about that and post them up...This is 154cm air cooled steel... The blade  is wrapped in stainless foil to keep carbon build up to a minimum. I heat treated it to 1900 degrees for 15 minutes and allowed it to cool...I did not temper this build, I wanted it very hard...This was done right after the finished 600 grit blade...I apologize for the confusion but couldn't find the pictures...
                                                                       Don
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 08:49:46 pm
more...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 09:04:36 pm
OK, back to the handle...I used a 4" and a 1" 80 grit drum sander for shaping...Went with finer grit drums to achieve a smoother finish to prepare for the buffer...Hand sanding also...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 09:21:08 pm
   Like I said earlier I skipped a lot of detail work and would gladly add anything someone would like to know about...Here is the knife buffed out and hand made case...Want to keep "the Forge" jumping  (=)
                                                                                                                   Don
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 03, 2018, 09:22:24 pm
One more...
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: bubby on March 03, 2018, 10:52:06 pm
Saweet conclusion of that build. Came out great!
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: chamookman on March 04, 2018, 02:05:41 am
Thanks for the time and effort You put into this post - GREATLY appreciated  :OK ! Beautiful Knife - Bob.
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 04, 2018, 05:50:36 am
  Thanks bubby...

  Thanks Bob, I enjoyed it and hope it helps someone in the future...
                                                                                                      Don
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: Aaron H on March 04, 2018, 06:33:26 am
Wow, very nice
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: selfbow joe on March 04, 2018, 08:08:39 am
Beautiful knife
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: DC on March 04, 2018, 11:10:33 am
Very nice! I'm a bit confused about the heat treat. You took an annealed blade, heated it to 1900 and let it cool. No quenching? It just sounds like you took an annealed blade and annealed it some more.  Is this because of the type of steel?
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: half eye on March 04, 2018, 03:49:32 pm
Don,
    That looks a like the one you made for me. If so then I can attest to "working" characteristics. I field dressed and skinned 2 white-tails with it and it is every bit as sharp and polished as when I got it. The best knife I ever owned.
    When Don makes a knife, it looks like art but acts tough as nails. In case ya wonder, I like it, more than a little. Thank you for it my friend.
rich
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: S.C. hunter on March 04, 2018, 04:09:21 pm
Don,
  That is one beautiful knife, A lot of talent went into that build. I'm very impressed.
    Steve
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 04, 2018, 06:27:32 pm
 
   Thank you Aaron

   Thank you Selfbow
   
   DC,
          Don't be confused Sir, there are many different steels out there...154cm is a super steel. it is heat treated to 1900 degrees and simply cools in air for its quench, no oil quench...To anneal 154cm I would bring it to 1900 degrees and leave the door shut over night allowing a slow cool down...

   Rich,
           Thought you would recognize that one buddy...As we discussed no temper on that build because it was only for skinning Michigan Whitetail...I know you wouldn't use it on a can of beans  ;) If it was going somewhere else I would have tempered it... Glad you like it man...Proud to know you are using it also...

  Steve,
             Thanks buddy, it was some fun down time...Takes your mind away...
                                                                                                                               Don
   
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: Parnell on March 04, 2018, 07:53:43 pm
Gotta hand it to you with this knife, build, pictures, etc.

Wow.
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: Will B on March 05, 2018, 08:59:05 am
That is a great looking knife!  Thanks for taking the time to photograph and explain the process.  Outstanding work!
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 05, 2018, 01:05:17 pm
 Thanks Parnell, I had a lot of pictures but tried to condense it as much as possible...

 Will, thanks for checking in and glad you enjoyed it...
                                                                                    Don
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: Bone pile on March 13, 2018, 10:07:07 am
Very well done,might have to try a metal knife.
Bone pile
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: mullet on March 13, 2018, 02:23:58 pm
Everything about this build along as excellent, beautiful knife, Don. Thank you.
Title: Re: "Moccasin"
Post by: burchett.donald on March 13, 2018, 03:43:01 pm
 Thank you Eddie and Bone for the kind words...
                                                                        Don