Willie71
Warren J. Krywko
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2013
- Messages
- 12,214
I have received a couple PMs regarding some of the history of the KITH, and will try to make this a great experience for everyone. I would like to be able to include as many people as possible, and make it fun and fair for people at different skill levels. To do this, I will have two categories (2rd added on request.) Instead of having people class themselves, I will make two categories of knives, that require different skill levels to complete. People can enter either or both as they please. There will be some ground rules, and minimum expectations so everyone will receive a serviceable knife.
The basic rules will be the same for both groups:
1. All steel must be a known steel. No recycled steel (excepting category 3), including tested reclaimed steels. We will not have any stress fractures or failures due to previous uses.
2. You must have some way of verifying your heat treat, or send it out for heat treat. No torch/magnet/goop quenching here. I would suggest a minimum of a 2 brick forge with a pyrometer to know what your temps are, or limit yourself to 1084 and templistix. The expectation in the intermediate and up group will be verifiable RC#, and an approved heat treat recipe for the beginner group (excepting category 3.)
3. Handle materials must be professional quality. No homemade micarta or the like. (Excepting category 3.)
OK, on to the two groups of knives.
GROUP 1: Mid to large blades (hunters,fighters,tomahawks, swords etc. Anything except the basic knives found in the small blades group. Sorry for not thinking about these additional types of items.
The first group is the Mid to large blades and up group. The minimums will be hidden tang, guard or integral (kehole accepted as well,) natural handle materials (stabilizing needed depending on the wood choice) which should be at minimum a mildly figured wood such as Black Walnut with a nice grain pattern or any exotic wood, horn or antler, bone etc. Do not use a plain piece of maple or oak from the local hardware. Blade length will be 5-7" tip to guard (if you want to make it larger, that is fine, I am just making suggestions to maintain equity.) For newer members, the guards should have no more than a hairline gap, and grinds should be at least "eyeball" even. There should be no left over sanding scratches, and there should be a verifiable Rc hardness. If you can't have it tested yourself or locally, send it out to a pro. If you want to see examples of knives of the caliber I am referring to, look in the exchange and see some of the hunters and small bowies for $300.00 and up. Daggers are fine. Sheath/display box/stand must be of reasonable quality. Tooled leather, burnished edges, boxes with no gaps etc. All folders except friction folders will be in this category, regardless of size. Folders do not require a sheath.
GROUP 2: Small knives.
The second group will be for those with less experience, time restrictions, or material/ equipment restrictions.This will be the Small knife group. The knives will be full tang, known steel, and professional handle materials. Micarta/G10/hardwood/stabilized wood or equivalent will be acceptable. Blade should be 3-4" long. Again known steels, and liners are optional. No paracord. Basic sheath is required and must be functional if not pretty. Friction folders will go here as well (No sheath needed on folders.)
Group 3: Scrap Steel/no restrictions (as per request.)
No restrictions on steel, or handle materials. No restrictions on heat treat quality. Run what ya brung!!! No expectations on sheath or case. Completely at your discretion.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
To enter, please PM me with your name, address, e-mail, if you are right or left handed and let me know which category you will be entered in. There is no obligation until the completion date, and the knife must be ready for shipping on 24 November 2013. The sheath can be completed in the week following, and the package must be in the mail with tracking by 01 December 2013. The delay is to verify right or left handed sheath, and accommodating that preference. Of course if you have a display box or stand handedness does not apply, and finish on your schedule. If you do not post a picture of the completed knife on the 24th of November, you will be removed from the list NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
Since we have a diverse group of makers here, I would like people to focus on the fact that they are giving a gift. You might not receive something of equal value to what you made, but each knife should be a personal best for the newer makers. I would ask that more experienced makers be willing to provide a constructive critique of the knife they receive as part of their "gift."
Post your category preference here, and PM me. You may enter both categories if you like. Lets take a lot of pictures, and show our progress. The timeline may be a bit tight, but we should all receive a package by Christmas with this timeline.
Here's the current list:
Group1: Mid to large sized and other blade type objects.
Willie1971
leifjl
Group 2: Small knives
Willie1971
NJJ
Quint (tentative)
Zcd
Weebus
Zaph1
Group 3: free for all:
Zcd
rwn2000
Salolan
The basic rules will be the same for both groups:
1. All steel must be a known steel. No recycled steel (excepting category 3), including tested reclaimed steels. We will not have any stress fractures or failures due to previous uses.
2. You must have some way of verifying your heat treat, or send it out for heat treat. No torch/magnet/goop quenching here. I would suggest a minimum of a 2 brick forge with a pyrometer to know what your temps are, or limit yourself to 1084 and templistix. The expectation in the intermediate and up group will be verifiable RC#, and an approved heat treat recipe for the beginner group (excepting category 3.)
3. Handle materials must be professional quality. No homemade micarta or the like. (Excepting category 3.)
OK, on to the two groups of knives.
GROUP 1: Mid to large blades (hunters,fighters,tomahawks, swords etc. Anything except the basic knives found in the small blades group. Sorry for not thinking about these additional types of items.
The first group is the Mid to large blades and up group. The minimums will be hidden tang, guard or integral (kehole accepted as well,) natural handle materials (stabilizing needed depending on the wood choice) which should be at minimum a mildly figured wood such as Black Walnut with a nice grain pattern or any exotic wood, horn or antler, bone etc. Do not use a plain piece of maple or oak from the local hardware. Blade length will be 5-7" tip to guard (if you want to make it larger, that is fine, I am just making suggestions to maintain equity.) For newer members, the guards should have no more than a hairline gap, and grinds should be at least "eyeball" even. There should be no left over sanding scratches, and there should be a verifiable Rc hardness. If you can't have it tested yourself or locally, send it out to a pro. If you want to see examples of knives of the caliber I am referring to, look in the exchange and see some of the hunters and small bowies for $300.00 and up. Daggers are fine. Sheath/display box/stand must be of reasonable quality. Tooled leather, burnished edges, boxes with no gaps etc. All folders except friction folders will be in this category, regardless of size. Folders do not require a sheath.
GROUP 2: Small knives.
The second group will be for those with less experience, time restrictions, or material/ equipment restrictions.This will be the Small knife group. The knives will be full tang, known steel, and professional handle materials. Micarta/G10/hardwood/stabilized wood or equivalent will be acceptable. Blade should be 3-4" long. Again known steels, and liners are optional. No paracord. Basic sheath is required and must be functional if not pretty. Friction folders will go here as well (No sheath needed on folders.)
Group 3: Scrap Steel/no restrictions (as per request.)
No restrictions on steel, or handle materials. No restrictions on heat treat quality. Run what ya brung!!! No expectations on sheath or case. Completely at your discretion.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
To enter, please PM me with your name, address, e-mail, if you are right or left handed and let me know which category you will be entered in. There is no obligation until the completion date, and the knife must be ready for shipping on 24 November 2013. The sheath can be completed in the week following, and the package must be in the mail with tracking by 01 December 2013. The delay is to verify right or left handed sheath, and accommodating that preference. Of course if you have a display box or stand handedness does not apply, and finish on your schedule. If you do not post a picture of the completed knife on the 24th of November, you will be removed from the list NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
Since we have a diverse group of makers here, I would like people to focus on the fact that they are giving a gift. You might not receive something of equal value to what you made, but each knife should be a personal best for the newer makers. I would ask that more experienced makers be willing to provide a constructive critique of the knife they receive as part of their "gift."
Post your category preference here, and PM me. You may enter both categories if you like. Lets take a lot of pictures, and show our progress. The timeline may be a bit tight, but we should all receive a package by Christmas with this timeline.
Here's the current list:
Group1: Mid to large sized and other blade type objects.
Willie1971
leifjl
Group 2: Small knives
Willie1971
NJJ
Quint (tentative)
Zcd
Weebus
Zaph1
Group 3: free for all:
Zcd
rwn2000
Salolan
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