# 4 little utility

[john smith]

Just finished this one this weekend with the last of my steel I had.
1095, ironwood, stainless pins. The blade is 2 1/16" tip to ricasso. 4 7/8" OAL, 1/8" thick, 7/8" wide. The ring is 3/4 Dia. 1/4" thong tubing for pins.
I heat treated with oxy/acetylene torch to none magnetic,quench in warm tranny oil.
tempered in oven at 400* twice. It's a flat grind with files and wet sanded to 600 grit.
It did not turn out to bad except for one MAJOR flaw. I cracked one of the scales on the right side by the rear pin when I was gluing and clamping. I think I had the pin off one or two degrees from plumb and the stress did it in when I put it together. I did not notice until everything was glued and clamped so I just went ahead an finished.
Please give your honest comments good and bad.

[Brad Johnson]

Greetings,

I love ironwood and have worked with it for the last 20 yrs. Your pins may have been ok, but ironwood does not like to be forced into position. Your handle material and mating surface must be dead flat, you cannot make ironwood flat by clamping. With ironwood the clamps are just to keep it from moving while the adhesive cures. My two cents.

[huntforlife]

That is an awesome piece! Prolly one of th coolest little knives Ive seen in a while. Great job on it!

As for the Ironwood, Ive had the same thing happen.

[Ray Rogers]

Interesting concept and you seem to have done a fine job on finishing the wood. I would worry about using wood in a design that had such a thin area to it as in the outside part of the ring, looks easy to break it out. For this design, a synthetic handle material might have been a better choice for durability even though it wouldn't have looked as good.

OK, you've done very well on the knife. Now, make a nice little sheath for it ....

[Recurve]

That is what knifemaking is all about,keeping designs fresh and new, I really like where your head is at. Keep up the good work!! -Jim-



www.shullhandforgedknives.com/

[Frankallen]

Nice little Knife!! Good job making it. Shame it cracked on you!!


Frank

[john smith]

Thank you for your comments and suggestions.
Brad I'm pretty sure it was from my pin being off just that little bit. I sanded my scales flat and my tang was flat, each side mated up nice. I think I added to the problem by keeping my pins to long. I had them long so I could pull them in an out while I did the rough fit.
Thy were extremely tight and I did not notice that it must of pushed the scale away from the tang when I clamped it up.
Ray I agree I think a macarta or similar scale would be stronger, but I like the ironwood and figured I would use this pc of steel and wood up while I wait for more material. I greatly appreciate everyones comments and have learn a lot from all the knifemakers and information on this network