forged copper handle no spring folder

[Gene Chapman]

Played today, not finished yet.

[hammerdownnow]

That is one cool little Wharncliff. That is art.

[rhrocker]

Originally Posted by hammerdownnow

That is one cool little Wharncliff. That is art.

What Roc said!

[Gene Chapman]

Next heat treat, finish grind, and see if the handle thing works with the blade. Been an interesting fun day.

[Gene Chapman]

The finished folder, this is a trial for a metal handled folder that I've been kicking around in my head for a while. Making the handle out of tubing really made it easy.



Type "K" 3/4" copper tubing is used for the handle, 1095 spring steel for the blade.

[Ice Tigre]

That is SO cool Gene! cute too...

Gary

[Gene Chapman]

Thanks, this was a fun one.

[nifeman]

Wow Gene, and it even comes with a pic-tutorial !!! Thanks, Bud

[B.Finnigan]

Gene, that is one neat little knife. Simple projects like this one are cool because I am guessing that it's a one day knife? I have annealed alot of non-ferrous metals but does anyone know how to harden them?

[hammerdownnow]

I think because the pipe is extruded it is already work hardened. Futher forming makes it even more so. In the small channel configuration of Gene's knife handle, it has more than enough strength to support itself. Correct me if I am wrong, but I have noticed how very strong it is from working with the pipe. Good sourse of free copper, cut offs from a plumbing job. Lucky for me the lanlord for my shop is is a heating and air conditioning company in the same building. Plenty of scrap laying around.


I gotta try one of those.

[B.Finnigan]

I had to give one of these a try so I finished it up last night. The blade is 1/8" 1084 and 100% hammer forged except the edge which I stone filed. I did not have any copper rivets so I just used brass rod. The bolsters are 100 yr old wrought iron that I cold hammered for the fish scale look. They got an overnight etch in 20% vinegar to just bring out a little bit of the grain. Drawing out that rat tail to over twice the distance of the starting stock is a very good smithing exercise.

Gene, thanks for the inspiration! Does this qualify me as a geoduck yet? I like how mine turned out but I still like yours better, you can't beat copper for color. These little folders are very fun to make. You can HT the blade just with a propane torch since they are so small.

[Gene Chapman]

Hey B. great folder, they are fun to make. Ya, sure you betcha, you a Goeduk. I did the same for heat treating, just a torch. That back pin is a good idea, I assume it keeps the blade from going too deep in the handle.

[B.Finnigan]

I thought the one you posted had a back pin and you put some stamping around it to integrate/disguise it in. The pins on mine are brass so the rear one doesn't hurt the edge any when folded.

I want to do another one with two slices of elk antler and maybe a cast bronze one to.

Thanks again for posting it, very cool idea! The two reasons I log into these forums is for information and inspiration.

[B.Finnigan]

Hammer forged from 1084 with blacktail deer antler and wrought iron pins. I found a simple way to lock the blade open by using the pins and the handle tension. If you have not made one of these yet you really should give it a try. Simple, quick and fun!

[hammerdownnow]

Cool one! I was comming to this post to say that I noticed that the one inch copper pipe is almost twice as thick as the 3/4". I see how you made the lock. Great idea.