Some of Phil's work

[Ross]

Thought I'd post some of Phils work. Phil, feel free to come in here!!

Pic 1 A user axe. Couldn't find what I wanted so I made this. My first project,and still used every day(could do with a sharpen up). Very comfy and very safe by design.

Pic 2 is my solid 09B tool steel knife.hardened to Rc56-58,very hand friendly size,5" blade,hollow handle.Hat's off to Chris Reeve for my inspiration on this one.

Pic 3 Here's a halfway made big thick skinner.Just to let you see how much steel has to be removed to create such things. This is tool steel again(P704) and will be constructed as a one peice just like the one above. Turned from 2" dia bar!!

[Kevin]

Thought I'd post some of Phils work. Phil, feel free to come in here!!

Pic 1 A user axe. Couldn't find what I wanted so I made this. My first project,and still used every day(could do with a sharpen up). Very comfy and very safe by design.

Pic 2 is my solid 09B tool steel knife.hardened to Rc56-58,very hand friendly size,5" blade,hollow handle.Hat's off to Chris Reeve for my inspiration on this one.

Pic 3 Here's a halfway made big thick skinner.Just to let you see how much steel has to be removed to create such things. This is tool steel again(P704) and will be constructed as a one peice just like the one above. Turned from 2" dia bar!!

Great.
I am fascinated with the last picture. I take it that it starts as a bar, ....did you forge/press flatten it?........and how did you drill out the handle?

:biggthump

[Phil]

Thanks for the kind words Kevin. The picture is a half finished one piece knife similar(and inspired by) the CR knives. The body and blade start out as a 2" dia tool steel (09B or P704) and is turned to get the BLADE side first.While this is still round,it's reversed in the chuck(3 jaw) and the handle side is turned and the knurl formed. At this point the handle is then drilled out,and tapped to accept the pommel plug. This reduces weight at the wrong end and also gives a sealed(O ring seal) storage space.
Now we move to the milling machine. The thickness of the blade is decided and deducted from the diameter. The answer is divided by 2 and this much is removed.Turn it over and repeat.
Now its a case of using cutters and hand tools to make the remaining crossguard and any other mods(I notch the OPPOSITE side of the guard to the cutting edge to avoid accidents in the dark!).A thumb rest could be added to the back of the blade for example.
The angles on the blade are largely machined,again with hand tools doing the close work and applying the finnesse.
The results should end up similar to the black knife also shown.This was made with the exact same process,with a different end use,and therefore shape.
The hardening is done by a proper engineering process,after all that work I just don't trust my judgement and want it spot on(Rockwell C 56-58).
HTH,any questions,or any help you feel I could give,please ask!!
Phil.

[Kevin]

Thanks for the kind words Kevin. The picture is a half finished one piece knife similar(and inspired by) the CR knives. The body and blade start out as a 2" dia tool steel (09B or P704) and is turned to get the BLADE side first.While this is still round,it's reversed in the chuck(3 jaw) and the handle side is turned and the knurl formed. At this point the handle is then drilled out,and tapped to accept the pommel plug. This reduces weight at the wrong end and also gives a sealed(O ring seal) storage space.
Now we move to the milling machine. The thickness of the blade is decided and deducted from the diameter. The answer is divided by 2 and this much is removed.Turn it over and repeat.
Now its a case of using cutters and hand tools to make the remaining crossguard and any other mods(I notch the OPPOSITE side of the guard to the cutting edge to avoid accidents in the dark!).A thumb rest could be added to the back of the blade for example.
The angles on the blade are largely machined,again with hand tools doing the close work and applying the finnesse.
The results should end up similar to the black knife also shown.This was made with the exact same process,with a different end use,and therefore shape.
The hardening is done by a proper engineering process,after all that work I just don't trust my judgement and want it spot on(Rockwell C 56-58).
HTH,any questions,or any help you feel I could give,please ask!!
Phil.

Thanks Phil, that makes sense now.
You must have one heck of a work shop.

Where are you?

Kevin.

[Phil]

Thanks Phil, that makes sense now.
You must have one heck of a work shop.

Where are you?

Kevin.
I'm up in yorkshire,near Beverley.As for the workshop,I rough out at work(engineering toolroom) and finish at home. I do have a lathe and a miller in the garage,but most of the gear is used to make motorcycle bits (my other passion).
The linisher gets some hammer though!
As with anything engineering,the machines just take some of the work off your shoulders,you still have to plan and use the hand tools like real knife makers.
For me,the real art is the damascus stuff.Hats off,looks soooo good.The steels I use are technically superior,probably more consistant etc etc.but just look plain in comparison.
HTH,Phil.