First Knife & Sheath (pic heavy)


SemperFiHunter

SemperFiHunter

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Finally got started on my first knife, and finally finished it a month later.

I wanted to make a skinning/caping knife for a friend that needed a good skinner. So I scrounged a concrete saw blade and set to it.

The handle is an antler tine from a shed I found in South Texas.

I made the sheath from pieces in a "farmer's bundle" from Hobby Lobby, laminated, saddle stitched, died mahogany, and sealed.

Rudimentary tools (At the time, I didn't even know that punch was for lacing!)
SelfMade013.jpg


Parts is parts.
SelfMade016.jpg


Kind of like this profile.
SelfMade017.jpg


SelfMade028.jpg


I had cut the blade out with a cutting torch, used a belt sander for profiling, heat treated, oil quenched, and tempered. Did a lot of hand filing on the edge profile. When I went to drill the holes for the 1/8" brass pins, I learned the hard way that I should have done all fitting and drilling BEFORE the heat treat. Titanium bits can bite the dust, too.

Disaster Strikes!
AntlerKnife003.jpg


So, I dyed the sheath, and cut another tine off of my rattling horns!
AntlerKnife011.jpg


Then I hafted the new handle and pinned.
AntlerKnife038.jpg


I know lots of folks here don't like blade coatings, but I like DuraCoat, and that's what the blade got.
AntlerKnife040.jpg


Finished!
AntlerKnife055.jpg


Sheath is kinda small for my tastes, especially with the second, longer tine, but that was as big as I could manage with "scrap" bits of leather.
AntlerKnife061.jpg


Learned a LOT, as we all do on our "first" anything. I can guarantee there will be improvements made on future models.

Sorry for the quality of some of the pictures.
Thanks for looking.

SFH
 
Last edited:
SemperFiHunter said:
I know lots of folks here don't like blade coatings, but I like DuraCoat, and that's what the blade got.
AntlerKnife040.jpg


SFH
Click to expand...

I've been looking into Duracoat quite a bit recently. They sell a "kit" that comes with the Duracoat, hardener, and aerosol sprayer. What are your experiences with using Duracoat?
 
Other than the blade on this little skinner, I've only DuraCoated the barrel and action of my .22-250 Remington Varmint rifle in ultra flat olive drab. It has held up quite well. I am a fan , so far, of the product. It really does cure/dry to a truly ultra flat, non-reflective finish. It is also very durable. Another quality I like about it: If you do manage to scratch/mar the finish, the scratch/mar is even more flat/non-reflective than the original finish.

I hope to put this finish on a BK2 or something similar and see how it holds up to batonning and other abuse. But it may be a while.

Try it out, and let us know how it works out for you.

Thanks,
SFH
 
Thanks for the kind words, fellas!
The original concept came from the Buck Packlite skinner. I bought one a while back, and used the blade portion for a loose pattern. I really had hoped to use the Buck on a deer this year, but the only one I killed this year, I didn't have it with me.

Mine ended up having more drop toward the point, and I think I like it.

This was my first knife, so it was my first try at "jimping" and I doubt that I'll ever make another knife without some.

Overall, it was very enjoyable, very educational, and quite gratifying!

I have enjoyed woodworking my whole life.

I now hope to become a bladesmith, and leathercrafter some day too!!!

We all have to have goals, right?

Thanks,

SFH
 
That's real nice work SFH, especially for your first crack at it. Your friend will be thrilled.
So, do you have a name for this guy yet, "The Devil's fingernail" or something ? LOL
 
looks like you got a great sheath for another blade already made!

congrats on your first one - learning is awesome!

with a handle that long....probably a deep pouch sheath????
I know you'll have fun experimenting!
 
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