Hi everyone. My name is David, and I am humbled to be here. I cannot be compared to the amazingly talented craftsmanship and industry that I see all throughout the forum. I merely came along for the trip when years ago I failed to find a maker for "my perfect small EDC knife". I thought I knew that meant 4 mm thick stock full flat ground wharncliffe/reverse tanto. So I bought a Damascus blank from eBay that was close, and made my first knife out of it. I also ordered a larger blank because what if something went wrong...
But I profiled them, and made them. I was not happy with them, and the one managed to undergo all kinds of tranformations before it was "done". It was like all kinds of mistakes that the more I fixed them the worse they were and the design of the knife further from initial intention, rather than closer, in function, in feel, in aesthetics!!
Needless to say, neither one ended up being what I had originally envisioned in an EDC knife.
But by then I was hooked to the hobby, and continued to sort of stumble through it at a pace that could have been smoothed out and shortened with a bit better patience and research, faster equipment, and a place to set up a "real" shop... But I learned some of those lessons, and now have a small work space, and some materials to work my way through in my rare time off work. At least my hands will be busy making something useful and enjoyable...
My third knife, from another eBay blank, was a good feeling to make up for the first two. I had made a knife I really like the look and feel of, though it was not a wharncliffe.
I carried it for a while, but it didn't cut like my Manix 2 XL, the first folding knife I ever bought as an adult. I almost didn't get it over a Para 2, but I went with what was at that time the less expensive option, and I like the idea of having a bigger blade. But I have since made it into a "Paramanix", and I like it better like this after all, and the handle is more comfortable, too. I would EDC and use this in public without worrying too much about people freaking out.
Anyway, since that time, I have gotten a lot of practice. I made quite a few knives from eBay blanks, including many blanks also seen on USAKnifemaker, for example. 9Cr14Mov stuff, which has impressed me in use and testing. I have bought blanks and used them as is, and sometimes have modified them. I also designed blanks, and had some makers send them to me to be finished (or in some cases modified, and then finished). I used to try to sell them with varying degrees of success on local classifieds, and used pics like this one with bad lighting and backdrop. Is there a facepalm smiley?
The two on the left are blanks from Premium Knife Supply, the Ontario Skinner (heavily modified), and the Lone Survivor (choil added). The one in the middle and at bottom right are Damascus blanks from ebay. The one at the top is a Damascus blank I designed in paint (as a tanto with more pronounced choils) and had a batch of ten made and sent to me. I modified many of them to wharncliffes (that was the reason I designed them as tantos!, so I could have many warncliffes, but other options too). I still have the bottom left one, but the other four ended up all being bought by friends.
I still have quite the collection, and I have also begun to make my own blanks by stock removal. I have used carbon (80CRV2, 1084) and stainless (AEB-L) sent out for heat treat and before that I made knives from non heat treated sawmill blades. I am now learning how to heat treat with a coffee can forge from Chip Gore, and will be doing so with the 1084, and sawmill blade steel. These sawmill blades seem to take a great edge that holds moderately well, and resharpens quickly. Just don't pry with them or you will bend the tip. But I have made large machetes out of it and they destroy all the wood they come into contact with. They won't be batoned through a nail on the vise, though. I have begun learning heat treat, and have only scratched the surface for what I can bring out of the steel. I have treated some that pass the baton a nail on the vise test, and take a razor edge, but they have large carbides, and lose the razor's edge quickly. I think I heated the steel up too quickly.
And modding folders doesn't seem to stop either; today I finished up a Cold Steel "Mili-Talwar". All the cutting ability of the awesome Military blade profile, the speed of the pocket opener, the strength of the Triad lock, and the friendly POP! of blue G10, filed and sanded for freedom in grip options.
I just make this stuff because I think it is cool and useful, and I hope to share it with others who feel the same way. And it is better to keep the hands busy than let them be idle. Thanks for having me.
David