Stick Tang KITH

[Ray Rogers]

It's about time for the next KITH. As most of you know, the purpose of these KITHs is to help new makers get over the start up hump and maybe even encourage the more experienced makers to try something new.

This time around we will hopefully have some new makers who may be doing their first or second knife as well as some guys who have been doing this for a year or two (and anyone else who cares to jump in). In hopes of making the KITH interesting for both groups I have come up with a KITH with two levels.

This will be a Stick Tang KITH. Most new makers get stuck on full tangs and often don't try anything different for a very long time, maybe even years. For them, the challenge is to make a stick tang knife of any type or style with any handle material you choose, including a stacked leather handle if you wish.

For the more advanced makers who have already made stick tangs the challenge is a little different. Of course, you may make any style and use any handle materials just like the beginners if you wish but what I challenge you to do is to make a stacked leather handle using some new approach or method or construction of your own. Anybody can stack pieces of leather - what can you do to improve on the usual way of doing this or improve the end result?

For those of you new to knife making who may not be clear on the exact details of stick tang construction I have attached a couple of pictures that I borrowed from knifekits,com of a couple of kit knife blades that illustrate two popular ways these knives are constructed. One shows the tang cut from the same bar of steel as the blade with the last half inch or so threaded so that the butt cap can be screwed on. The other picture shows a piece of allthread welded to the rear of the blade. Either way is fine.

Slotting a guard is one of the most difficult things for a new maker to do. Don't sweat it - just go to knifekits.com and buy a blank guard with the slot already in it. You can buy blank butt caps too, already tapped. You still have to shape these pieces and fit them to your blade .

So, the KITH challenge is to build a stick tang knife of any design or style using any materials you wish. If you are up for an extra challenge then build a stacked leather handle using some new method or technique that you dream up that will make an original use of the leather or, possibly, result in a more durable handle than leather usually provides.

This KITH will run until Thanksgiving so you have plenty of time. If you are a new maker and haven't done a KITH before be sure to check out the Heat Treat Preparation thread in the Stickies at the top of the forum.

I'll be doing the leather handle because I never did one before and because I think I figured a cool way to do one. Please sound off here and let us know if you plan to participate ...

[Kevster]

I'm in, I'm not looking forward to it, but I'm in. Lol.

[Ray Rogers]

QUOTE: I'm not looking forward to it, but I'm in. Lol.

Education is painful sometimes but then you learn something you might really be glad for in the future ...

[Kevster]

Originally Posted by Ray Rogers

QUOTE: I'm not looking forward to it, but I'm in. Lol.

Education is painful sometimes but then you learn something you might really be glad for in the future ...

I agree, just don't expect perfection.

[jmccustomknives]

Ray, you found my kryptonite. Leather. Challenge accepted.

[Ray Rogers]

Kevin,

I wouldn't ask you to do anything I can't do and I don't do perfection.

James,

Leather kind of been kryptonite to me too. Been wanting to do a leather handle for the whole 20 years I've been making knives but never felt satisfied with the durability that I could put into the handle. Then a few nights ago I was thinking about what to do for this KITH and I think I may finally have a solution that will satisfy me ...

[Icho]

Stick gangs are a pain in my........but I love the way they show off the wood. I've done a couple and am working on a stick tang dagger which is actually my first dagger. Unless something unforseen comes up I am in.

[damon]

is there a size requirement/limit?

*put me in

[PoolQs]

Way out of my league .... But, I'm in !!!
As damon asked, is there a blade or handle size or material restriction?
Does the handle need to be removable?
And mine will NOT be leather
Troy

[Ray Rogers]

No size or material restriction and you don't have to use leather. Any style, any grind. And no, the handle doesn't need to be removable - in fact, unless you have a specific reason to make it removable, it shouldn't be.

If you are new to knife making though I do need for you to submit a test blade according to the specs in the Sticky thread at the top of the forum. These blades require no finish, no handle - just make them to the pattern shown in the thread. The purpose is to verify that you're getting your heat treatment right so that everyone can be sure the knife they receive will actually perform as it should ....

[Hempish]

I'm in might get ugly before it gets good but why not try it.

[MikeT]

Sounds like fun. Count me in.

[SVanderkolff]

Ray
What is the expected completion date for these knives? This may just get me to make my first ever stacked leather handle.
Thanks
Steve

[Ray Rogers]

Thanksgiving is the target date for the end of the KITH ....

[NorCal Nate]

Originally Posted by SVanderkolff

Ray
What is the expected completion date for these knives? This may just get me to make my first ever stacked leather handle.
Thanks
Steve

Steve we are gonna have to ask that you submit a test blade to Ray so we can be sure of proper heat treating.. See the heat treat sticky...

.....ok. I've had my laugh for the day..
~Nate