Round Knife

S

Salolan

Joined
Feb 27, 2013
Messages
730
So I decided I wanted to try out a round knife in my leather work. I figured since I am aspiring to be a hobbyist knife maker, I should make my own.

It's not nearly as nice as the one Josh Fields makes that Paul showed us a while back, but it's shaving sharp all the way around...

I cut the blank out of a colter (I know it's not as good as known knife steel, but it hardened quite well for me) as it was the only stock I had large enough for the knife. It is just over 1/8" thick at the tang, with a convex edge. I used osage orange for the scales with copper pins and of course I made the sheath to go with it.

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Thanks for looking,
Chris
 
Awesome brother! I really like that. How do you like it? I typically use a box cutter for long, low detail cuts and a snap off razor for curves. Works well enough, but I've certainly considered a head/round knife. I've also thought about buying a rotary knife, but I'm not sure how I'll like any of them. Seems like the big knives would lack the ability to make tight detail cuts but I really don't know.

Love that Osage. Good choice. The sheath looks proper too. Nice work. :thumbup:
 
Very nice job. It's a little thick for what I'm used to . I like my blades total thickness at or about .040 to .045 and then taper to zero at the edge. I now have 9 round knives/head knives and the newest, the Josh Fields is about .045. Please let us know how you get along with your new knife. I'm betting you'll never go back to the pull cut.

Paul
 
To be honest I haven't used it yet. This is the last work I've finished and had the sheath cut out and mostly finished prior to final finishes on the blade.

Paul, I agree it is on the thick side for that kind of knife. If I were to do another I would likely use 15n20 in .065 or thinner, but as I said, I didn't have any large enough for the project.

Thanks for the comments. I have set a 2 week deadline for myself on my next couple projects so you should see some more work from me quite soon.

Chris
 
Very nice work! Having made a couple round knives I know how difficult it is to get the grind symmetrical and it looks like you sure did a good job of that. I really like the shape of the handle in the front and how you incorporated that into the sheath, very eye catching. Alpha Knife Supply has thinner stock (.052) in 4 inch wide pieces for $12 to $20 bucks. This is 13C26 stainless and it makes a rocking blade. I've got 4 laid out on a sheet right now awaiting cutting. Since I can't beat them I'm gonna join them and try the asymmetrical approach this time. I want to see your next one. I agree with Paul, once you get the hang of the roundknife you won't look back.
 
Thanks fellas. I did most of the grinding with the flat platen, evened everything out with files, then convexed the edge with a slack belt. It wasn't a very symmetrical grind straight off the flat platen. :eek: But that is part of the reason I made it, to challenge myself.

Thanks again,
Chris
 
Finished a few more knives and made some more sheaths this week. I finally tried out my round knife as well. It cut through the knife like butter but dug in to the plywood I have been using a cutting bored. It made for difficulty in smooth cuts so I finished the project with my box cutter blade. I really need to get an actual cutting board to cut on so I can use my round knife. Do you guys have any recommendations for a good backing board to cut on?

Here are the sheaths I made this week.
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Thanks for looking,
Chris
 
Google hydroma (and search here too). It's industrial clicker press board. I'd like to pick some up myself, but I've read enough good to recommend you look at it. One guy here (Jason) bought a chunk and did a little review.

The problem you're having sounds familiar. I believe Dave (Horsewright) had the exact same problem with the head knives he's made. Might ask him what he's using to back up his leather.

Your work looks nice. I'd really like to see the knives outside of the sheaths as well.
 
Well, since you twisted my arm! :D I posted the middle one over in shop talk also. That one and the birch bark knife I had the pleasure of being critiqued on by Steve Culver today!

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Thanks for the info as well!
Chris
 
I'd used Osborne and other brands of round knives for years. Always got by with either a poly or a plywood cutting board. When I made my own as referenced by Strig it was just too sharp for those boards. Same deal the knife would just get stuck in the cutting board. I went with a bamboo cutting board I stole out of the kitchen. That worked pretty well but I got caught so she bought me my own. The bamboo worked well but wore quickly. I've had the hydroma for several months now. Works great and solved the problem. Thinking about buying more. Highly recommend it. Pricey though. Nice work on those other knives and sheaths. The four round knives I had laid out are now ground and winging their way to Peters for heat treat.
 
Dave, you should send me one of those for testing.

I keed I keed :D

Chris, I've always liked your knives. Those are no exception. Very nice. I may try birch bark on my next knife. :)

What are you using to whack your stamps? I don't see anything wrong with your stamping but I had to switch from my crappy Tandy poly mallet to something heavier. I need to upgrade eventually but I bought a 1.5lb dead blow and it helped a lot to keep my tooling from washing out on bends.
 
Dang you trying to take all the fun out of just sending you one?
 
Damn Dave!, that was some enjoyable looking right there. I recognized my friend Bob Douglas on the announcer's stand and it looked like Wilfred Brimley in one of the other group photos.

Jonny Coxon is a master at action photos. Those loop shots are incredible.

Huge loops, looonnngg ropes and some mighty fine horses. I'd love to have seen it in person, but your link was next best.

Thanks

Paul
 
You bet Paul. I was grinding a blade today and thought I'd hadn't sent Paul any cowboy'n pics lately. Bob was one of the judges. Ernie Morris was another and I didn't know the other. Didn't see Wilfred but this was in Santa Yanez so lots of those folks in the neighborhood. My son and I came in 13 th out of 60 so we didn't make the finals. Only the top ten teams came back for the finals. Be 100 teams this year. Getting bigger. I been practicing. Guys if ya ain't doing anything that weekend you want to see this. There is a renaissance going on in this world not only in the roping and horsemanship but particularly in the gear too. There will be leather work being used, on display and for sale that will leave you drooling for days.
 
Man that is tempting.

Other than the kids Gymkhana, I haven't been around horses much since I sold my paints. :( My spine is toast for things like riding, even though I find riding the steel horse therapeutic. Being tall is great except that the length of your spine and weight of being tall plus years of manual labor can polish that sucker off right quick. Sorry for straying, I just had another round of mri's today. Ain't lookin good.

Would sure love to ride down there and check it all out. Especially if you're buying the steak! ;)
 
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