Finally a Knife that I Like...Comments +/- Welcome

[tippit]

These past 10 days have been a bit of frustrating trying to forge & stain what a y'all think a good knife should look like.  For now anyway I'll carry this one on my possibles bag.  OAL 9 1/2inches, blade 5 1/2 inches, forged from 1084 carbon steel.  Thanks for everyone's help and plus all the knife pictures in the Contemporary Makers blog...tippit

[Tim Crosby]

 Nice looking, how far does the tang go up in the handle?

   Tim C.

[Ray Settanta]

That looks very good.

[jrb]

I like it very much!  deer bone or sheep? lower or upper?

[tippit]

The tang is ground to fit the marrow cavity so it goes until it stops.  Black Bear bone handle as I used to help with a traditional bowhunting bear camp in Quebec.  Had a pile of bones over the years for knife handles! 

[TN Longhunter]

Young bear tibia. At least that is what I can tell from photos.

[rich pierce]

That's a keeper.

[tippit]

TN Longhunter,
It is indeed a small bear tibia.  Bear camp would have 10+ guys per week and we did two weekly hunts every spring.  Everyone saw & had opportunities to shoot a bear...so we'd skin 15+ bears every spring...big carcus/bone pile!  I'd check for nice sized knife bone handles that had a lot of mineralization after they sat through several winters.

Here is a small bear femur that will go on my next knife.  The shape has a nice feel in the hand...

[Shreckmeister]

Really like it! 

[KC]

I've been looking at the knives you've been posting, this latest one is definitely my favorite too. I like the profile of the blade. It's also got a very nice and interesting handle. Well done.

[n stephenson]

You do nice work sir!. You also have the ability to adapt , a very useful trait in a craftsman. Looking forward to more work from you.  Thanks Nate

[Robby]

Great job Tippit!!!!
Robby

[Tim Crosby]

The tang is ground to fit the marrow cavity so it goes until it stops. 

OK, so how far does that go? What I am thinking about is the use of one pin, if the handle cracks the blade is going to fold. Speaking from experience and the short tangs you have shown on other knives.



  Tim C.

[tippit]

Tim,
You asked me about the knife pictured in the post with hollow marrow bone cavity.  On those handles the tang goes as far as I can get it in.  On slotted antler handles the tang is much shorter.  When I sell my knives they are guaranteed for the working life of the bladesmith...granted I am 72 years old so that may not be enough of a guarantee for some. 

On a hollow cavity with the tang ground and tapered to fill the cavity plus filled with epoxy, the number of pins are going to be meaningless for strength.  Granted a slotted solid antler tang will be less strong...but I have not seen one break unless you are  using it to pry open things...tippit

[Tim Crosby]

 Thanks, got a laugh out of your Guarantee.

  Tim

PS: Do you have any of that bone you would be willing to part with? TC

[tippit]

Tim,
My friend still runs the traditional bowhunting camp and I can get someone to pick up a bushel basket of bone come next June.  I was looking through your old posts...amazing work and also a traditional bow enthusiast.  I've been shooting/hunting selfbows. longbows, and recurves since 1980.  Forge my arrow heads, make seldbows, and collect old bows...even shot one of my bears with my selfbow and stone point. 

This is only the tip of the iceberg.  I'm starting to be afraid what these black powder rifles are going to due to me... just picked up two in the last couple of weeks.









 

[Tim Crosby]

 Holy Crow! Love it, what a collection.

  Tim

[n stephenson]

Dang Tippit!! You don`t mess around , do you?  Cool collection! KILLER drop tine buck  !!!    Nate

[WKevinD]

How ya ever gonna paint that wall with all that stuff?

Kevin

[tippit]

I'm relegated to the basement...that is the wall covering.  Plus that's only one corner.  May have to start selling bow so I can put up muzzleloaders!

[msellers]

Tippit,
Add onto the house, that way you can add more basement to store and display in. Jealous of all your collection also.
Mike

[mossyhorn]

Is that a copy of The Traditional Bowyers Bible on the shelf at the bottom of the last pic?
I'm envious of your collection!!!!!

[White Feather]

Tippit,
Not sure how you get any work done at your work station! I tend to have that problem also. Looks like a lot of years of fond memories! That's what makes my life rich! Say, are you laminating your bows? Would like to see your process if you do.
Thanks,
J

[Arcturus]

Tippit,
I like your blades and your willingness to learn to produce some now with a more historical look.  Welcome to the world of flintlocks, you're gonna love it.  Neat collection, and while Nate beat me to it, first thing I thought when I saw the pics of your bows and trophies is "what a cool whitetail sneak mount with double droptines!"