Reground Old Hickory with deer leg handle, sheath finished, pictures added

[Tim Harrison]

This is my second attempt at messing around with Old Hickory knives.  I started with one of the 8 inch slicing knives.   I removed the grind lines and roll stamping from the blade and straighted the back of the blade.  The bolster is lead free plumber's solder.  The handle is deer leg.  I used the other end of the bone to make a powder measure.  I am still trying to get the hang of aging.  I still need to finish the aging of the blade.  I hope to get a rawhide sheath made in the next couple of weeks.  I haven't made a rawhide sheath before.  I am looking forward to trying.  I would really appreciate any suggestions on how to improve.

Thanks in advance, Tim








I finished the sheath.  It made from deer rawhide over a vegtanned core.  I moved the seam on the knife to the bottom , based on the suggestions I received.  I used artificial sniew on the sheath.  Some of the stiching became loose after the rawhide dried and shrunk.  I though I had pulled the sniew tight, but some of the stiches are quite loose.  How do you keep this from happening?  This is my first sheath made out of rawhide, so I have a lot of learning to do.

Again, any comments and suggestions wold be greatly appreciated.

Tim

[Macon Due]

Tim
1st off........Nice job! I really like it. I am planning to also use some Old Hickorys in the same manner. I do have a question though......how did you make the bolster? A dam/mold of some type around the blade then pour?
Thanks.........Macon

[LRB]

  Not bad at all, but I would suggest that you use rawhide to sew it with, and put the seam on the underside next time. I don't think you need to get too anal with the ageing. Just use it and don't take too much care of it for a while, and it will age itself, unless you want to look really old. Then you need to use cold blue and Clorox bleach.

[Ahtuwisae]

Very nice looking blade and handle treatment.  I agree the stitching shoud be n the underside.  Doin this will also improve the grip during use.

[Chuck Burrows]

Nice job Tim!

I agree about the seam placement, but not necessarily with Wick's suggestion on using rawhide to sew - I use linen ore hemp thread all the time and mine hold up just fine.....

Macon - as for casting the pewter bolster - see here:
http://www.wrtcleather.com/1-ckd/tutorials/_pewter.html

Another option for blades to reshape (that is if you are using new ones and not recyled ones) are the Russel Green River blade blanks offered by Crazy Crow , Track of the Wolf, and others. They don't have the grind lines and the etched logo is easily removed so there is less work and the price for the blanks is still very reasonable. Like the Old Hickory blades they are made from good quality 1095 steel and are well heat treated....... I like to use the 10" blanks since they are a little thicker than the shorter ones.

[LRB]

  My suggestion of sewing with rawhide was not so much to do with holding up, but more to do with the general theme of the knife. Although, I don't think there is much question as to which will last longer. Whitetail rawhide is quite thin, very stretchy, and in my opinion does more to compliment the overall premise of a faux primitive repair job. The rawhide lace/thread also adds a margin of positve grip, without undo discomfort, moreso than would any normal thread. Just my thoughts, and experience, from carrying and using one much the same as Tim's for several years.

[Tim Harrison]

Thanks for all the suggestions.  As far as having the stiching on the bottom, the bone in concave there, so the stiching would be unsupported.  Is this a problem?  Should the cavity be filled so that the stiching is supported?  I have no problem redoing the rawhide.  It doesn't take long and I would like to make it right.

Tim

[LRB]

  I think the stitching will be fine with whatever you use to sew it with. I just prefer rawhide. I always put a deep groove on the top side, and try to round off any grooving below. I try to use bone with mimimal grooving, but sometimes you just use what is availavble. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to position the rawhide, just personal preference. I think the stitching would be better if supported, but I don't know if a redo of anything you've done there is really worth the trouble. It looks fine enough as is. Try something different on the next one maybe.

[Macon Due]

Chuck
Thank you for the link!
Macon

[Tim Harrison]

I added pictures of the sheath.  I was wondering about the lenght of the sheath and the  cuff.  I was wondering if the sheath was long enough.  I was just winging it, as usual.

Tim

[LRB]

  Nice sheathwork! It goes with the knife very well.

[KennyC]

Sometimes ya just need to say enough is enough.I believe this is one of those times you have done a great job let it age on it's own