Notifications
Clear all

Sub-hilt field knife.

12 Posts
3 Users
0 Reactions
105 Views
Joshua C States
Posts: 399
Reputable Member Journeyman Bladesmith (5yr)
Topic starter
 

What do you call a knife with a 5"-6" blade? I call these a field knife or a hiking knife. It's meant to be a general-purpose sheath knife that you would take into the field or camping/hunting/ or whatever.

This is W-2 blade, 5-1/2" from face of guard to tip and 1-3/16" wide at the heel, with 416 Stainless guard and sub-hilt and stabilized black ash burl handle. 416 SS pin.

Thanks for looking and let me know what you think.

“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.”

 
Posted : 13/04/2025 9:27 pm
Joshua C States
Posts: 399
Reputable Member Journeyman Bladesmith (5yr)
Topic starter
 

The other side.

“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.”

 
Posted : 13/04/2025 9:27 pm
Joshua C States
Posts: 399
Reputable Member Journeyman Bladesmith (5yr)
Topic starter
 

Close-up of the guard and sub-hilt.

“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.”

 
Posted : 13/04/2025 9:27 pm
Joshua C States
Posts: 399
Reputable Member Journeyman Bladesmith (5yr)
Topic starter
 

The sheath is now done

“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.”

 
Posted : 23/04/2025 4:05 pm
Joshua C States
Posts: 399
Reputable Member Journeyman Bladesmith (5yr)
Topic starter
 

Side by side.

“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.”

 
Posted : 23/04/2025 4:05 pm
Posts: 220
Reputable Member Apprentice Bladesmith
 

Nice looking knife.  Well done

Bob Bryenton
Solar Storm Group Ltd.
Phone: (780) 953-0016
Email: [email protected]
https://www.solarstorm.ca

“The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible" -- Arthur C. Clarke

 
Posted : 24/04/2025 7:17 am
Michael Samdahl
Posts: 115
Estimable Member Apprentice Bladesmith
 

Joshua C States,

That knife is awesome, how difficult is it to get that fingerwell smooth and even?

Respectfully
Michael

 
Posted : 25/04/2025 12:25 pm
Joshua C States
Posts: 399
Reputable Member Journeyman Bladesmith (5yr)
Topic starter
 

Thanks @Michael Samdahl. The finger pocket was a little tricky, but I made it easier by keeping the two guard branches basically straight and doing the whole process for it by stock removal. I also used blind alignment pins that go from the guard through the spacer and sub-hilt into the handle wood. 

“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.”

 
Posted : 28/04/2025 9:34 am
Joshua C States
Posts: 399
Reputable Member Journeyman Bladesmith (5yr)
Topic starter
 

For the initial shaping, I put the package in a vice and used the drill press to remove the center. If you enlarge this photo, you will see a black line on the wood where I want the top of the finger pocket to finish out. I drill short of that line and will get up to it in the finish sanding.

“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.”

 
Posted : 28/04/2025 9:37 am
Joshua C States
Posts: 399
Reputable Member Journeyman Bladesmith (5yr)
Topic starter
 

I do almost all of my handle shaping as a complete unit, off of the blade. I have a post around here somewhere about how I hold all the pieces together for this. The rough shaping is done on the small wheel.

“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.”

 
Posted : 28/04/2025 9:41 am
Joshua C States
Posts: 399
Reputable Member Journeyman Bladesmith (5yr)
Topic starter
 

The next step is using a 1" scalloped slack belt.

“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.”

 
Posted : 28/04/2025 9:44 am
Joshua C States
Posts: 399
Reputable Member Journeyman Bladesmith (5yr)
Topic starter
 

The final finish is done by hand in a Panavice.

“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.”

 
Posted : 28/04/2025 9:44 am
Share: