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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: jonsimoneau on February 13, 2009, 11:54:00 PM

Title: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: jonsimoneau on February 13, 2009, 11:54:00 PM

I have some warthog tusks that seem like they would be cool knife handles.  Can any of you guys do this?  Would like to give one to each of my couple of hunting partners.

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: highpoint forge on February 14, 2009, 12:19:00 AM

Jon- I'd use them as insert material between larger pieces of handle material. Have you seen my "Knives Of The Highpoint Forge" thread over in the knife making forum? We take horn or small colored micarta chunks or pieces of wood and place them between the guard and the rest of the handle length. Depends on how brittle the material is and if it's workable. I have a giraffe shinbone knife currently in my hunting kit which my Dad made for me while I was in Law School, but the handle was made by gluing the bone slabs together and then drilling into it for inserting and epoxying the tang. It is not yet in my photographs of our knives.....look up our work over in the knife forum. You'll get some ideas there.

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: jonsimoneau on February 14, 2009, 12:26:00 AM

Thanks highpoint...I'll check that out!

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: highpoint forge on February 14, 2009, 12:27:00 AM

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=110;t=000146#000000

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: jonsimoneau on February 14, 2009, 01:04:00 AM

Got it. Thanks!!!!!!

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: kbaknife on February 14, 2009, 06:07:00 AM

Jon, warthog is not known for its strentgh and integrity as a "solo" handle material.
The spacer idea is a great one.
As well, you might consider having oval inlays made and put into a handle material that would support hard use.
I do it all the time.
Here are examples of Mother of Pearl and Mammoth Ivory.
Now, consider having your next bow made with inlays to match your knife!

  (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/JS8-1.jpg)

  (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/RI7web.jpg)

  (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/kbaknife/IB5web.jpg)

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: OconeeDan on February 14, 2009, 10:08:00 AM

Karl, what tools are you using for your inlays?  They look nice!  Dan

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: kbaknife on February 14, 2009, 10:40:00 AM

I mill the majority of the pocket out on my mill and clean it up with a Dremel!

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: Phoenix 1967 on February 14, 2009, 11:05:00 AM

The natural curve of the tusk tends to cause some problems as well. I started with a 9 inch tusk, and this was the best I could do

 (http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z249/Blinkies_by_Lori/Phoenix%20Knives/newknives026.jpg)

 (http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z249/Blinkies_by_Lori/Phoenix%20Knives/newknives028.jpg)

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: kbaknife on February 14, 2009, 11:10:00 AM

Thanks for showing that, Lawren.
You got farther with one than I ever did!
They do have a pretty tight radius.

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: Phoenix 1967 on February 14, 2009, 11:31:00 AM

ummm I just re read my post... the tusk was SA warthog, and the tusk was really closer to 12 on the outside curve... I cut off the hollow part and just used the solid ivory tip. ('bout 3 inches. Because of the girth, I could take the overhang off the bottom and make it appear straighter.

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: highpoint forge on February 14, 2009, 04:59:00 PM

Karl.....beautiful work! Wow!!!

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: David Ricke on March 01, 2009, 07:16:00 PM

Jon, You may want to consider using your hog ivory for scales on a small hunter or folder. Filling the back with super glue and backing it with a thin material shoul reduce shrinking. Using it as a spacer on a narrow tang knife would probably be your best option. Good luck.    Knifemaker

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: tippit on March 01, 2009, 08:36:00 PM

Jon,  Here's one Doug Campbell & Robin Severe did as a ST Judes project...tippit

  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Knives/IMG_2595.jpg)

Title: Re: knife makers. any ideas?
Post by: sticshooter on March 01, 2009, 09:26:00 PM

Hey Dave my friend great to see ya posting. Tippit I love that knife.<><