I Made A Couple More Knives

swizz · February 2017

I am a very low production knifemaker, only three or four per year leave my bench. Here are a couple of recent creations along with my sheath work. My brand is "4BAR4 USA", eventually will become "4BAR4 FORGE USA" but not quite there yet. I do not advertise nor have I committed a website for my goods as I have no shortage of buyers. Anyway, if you like knives here's a little eye-candy.

Damascus Trout & Bird
Full-tang trout/bird knife
OAL: 7-1/8", Blade Length: 3-1/8"
Cutting Edge: Mirror finish and razor sharp @ 19.7 degrees
Steel: Crafted from 416 layer USA made Damascus bar
Guard: Nickel Silver deep etched to a satin finish
Scales: G-10 with Nickel Silver pins (peened)

Damascus TB 1 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

Damascus TB 2 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

Damascus TB 3 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

Damascus TB Sheath 1 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

Damascus TB Sheath 2 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

That's one, hang on... I'll post the next shortly......

swizz · February 2017

North Park Special #1
Full-tang drop point hunter
OAL: 7-5/8", Blade Length: 3-1/4"
Cutting Edge: Mirror finish and razor sharp @ 19.6 degrees
Steel: Crafted from CPM-154CM Stainless bar stock, one of the best knife steels known to man
Spine Embellishment: Half-tang embellishment, custom pattern hand filed using jeweler files
Bolsters: Crafted from #360 Brass bar stock, Mosaic "Paw" pins (peened)
Scales: Stabilized Black Ash Burl with Brass pins (peened)

NPS 1 1 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

NPS 1 2 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

NPS 1 Edge by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

NPS 1 Sheath 1 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

NPS 1 Sheath 2 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

NPS 1 Sheath 3 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

Mosaic Paw Bolster Pins by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

Leather Stamped by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

ricinus · February 2017

Very very nice!

Mike

Cuddy · February 2017

I'd say! Very nice. Great pics too.

swizz · February 2017

Thank you!
I forgot to mention that I'm a stickler for balance... this is what you don't see. The North Park Special just after heat-treat, as you can see I fully ported that tang for balance. Had to do the fancy file work pre heat treat, those are the files that I used.

WIP Post Heat Treat by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

tim_s · February 2017

bad. ****.

really nice work

FishTX · February 2017

Really like the first knive.

George K · February 2017

Nice work Swizz.

fishingcomic · February 2017

Nice work.

Bushart · February 2017

nice--i like #2

Wood look is always Nice

Shawn C. · February 2017

Oh man, these are gorgeous! I lobe the filing that you've done.

swizz · February 2017

Thank you for the kind words everyone, I appreciate it. It's a fun and challenging thing to do during the winter when my biz is slower. Kinda turned into a labor of love (lobe). Definitely cuts into my fly tying time, which is good... cuz that gets boring. I'm working on one more now which I'll add here when I'm done.

CO Native · February 2017

Excellent work!!! That Damascus blade is really fine looking.
What is "G-10"?

I'll bet your favorite TV show is "Forged in Fire" isn't it? ;-)

swizz · February 2017

Forged In Fire is absolutely my favorite series, have watched every season, every episode.

G-10 is a woven and stacked composite, extremely strong and not too difficult to work with... excellent material. Comes in an endless variety of color combinations and inexpensive. http://usaknifemaker.com/knife-handle-parts/handle-material-hardware/micarta-tm-g10-phenolic-c-95-36.html

swizz · February 2017

This is a taxidermy knife that I made a while back using G-10 that is layered black/orange. You can get a little creative with it.

Taxidermy scalpel and sheath 1600 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

CO Native · February 2017

That's cool.
Forged in fire is awesome. I've watched it and I've got a place, a lot of the tools, but I'm missing the patience. I know my limitations and I know I'd get 1/2 way through a rush it and ruin it. So I'll admire yours ;-)

Wetdog · February 2017

Nice as always. I'll take #2... You really should look into slow speed grinders, for shaping and sharpening..the steel never gets hot.

swizz · February 2017

My next belt grinder will be one of these 3-speed KMG's: http://www.beaumontmetalworks.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=20

swizz · February 2017

For sharpening, I own the Wicked Edge system. It just doesn't get any sharper than that: https://www.wickededgeusa.com/product-category/sharpeners/?utm_campaign=Brand%20Terms&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&ad=64625867093&utm_term=wicked%20edge&gclid=CjwKEAiA3NTFBRDKheuO6IG43VQSJAA74F77R1UW3916DOs4Zfl6Gka8DaJPWnyduAni4Yx7I4VqrxoCWFvw_wcB

Wetdog · February 2017

swizz wrote: »

My next belt grinder will be one of these 3-speed KMG's: http://www.beaumontmetalworks.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=20

Nice, esp the three speeds. I'd like one of those sanders on Forged in Fire...a never miss for me as well.

swizz · February 2017

Pretty sure they are using KMG's or equivalent on the show. New season starting soon!

Wetdog · February 2017

swizz wrote: »

For sharpening, I own the Wicked Edge system. It just doesn't get any sharper than that: https://www.wickededgeusa.com/product-category/sharpeners/?utm_campaign=Brand%20Terms&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&ad=64625867093&utm_term=wicked%20edge&gclid=CjwKEAiA3NTFBRDKheuO6IG43VQSJAA74F77R1UW3916DOs4Zfl6Gka8DaJPWnyduAni4Yx7I4VqrxoCWFvw_wcB[/QUOTE

I had something very similar before the house burnt. Something I really want is my old gouge sharpening tool. You move (rotate) the gouge in a carriage against the stone at any angle. It was a wonderful piece of engineering and worked nearly flawlessly. I can't find another, or anything remotely like it. I wish I had run up to my carving and tying room to get it before it became molten, I think I would have had enough time. haha

CO Native · February 2017

swizz wrote: »

For sharpening, I own the Wicked Edge system. It just doesn't get any sharper than that: https://www.wickededgeusa.com/product-category/sharpeners/?utm_campaign=Brand%20Terms&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&ad=64625867093&utm_term=wicked%20edge&gclid=CjwKEAiA3NTFBRDKheuO6IG43VQSJAA74F77R1UW3916DOs4Zfl6Gka8DaJPWnyduAni4Yx7I4VqrxoCWFvw_wcB

Those are sooooo nice. I've been threatening to buy one of them. There is an old retired guy here that sharpens my kitchen knives for me and he uses one of them. I figured for what he charges me, it would take me 10 years to pay one off. But if I had one, all my knives would be super sharp, not just the good ones.

swizz · February 2017

I was lucky and got one on pro-deal through a friend up here. I have grits #50 - #1600. The system takes a little time to master the nuances. Use of an Angle Cube is a must. It's not the best system for recurve blades.

Shawn C. · February 2017

swizz wrote: »

I got one on pro-deal

Professional Knife Sharpening League?

swizz · February 2017

No, lol.... the companies that participate in this particular pro-deal incentive are linked to outdoor, outdoor rescue, military, and police.

MikeA · February 2017

Swiss, you're an impressive guy. Much respect for folks that can make something as fine as one of those knives. You sir, are a true craftsman. I would love to watch and learn the process so that I could make myself one.

swizz · May 2017

One more finished. Just now had time to photograph. Won't have time for knifemaking again until next winter. This one is made from the same bar of steel that I used for the North Park Special #1 pictured on page 1 of this thread.

NPS 2 tag by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

NPS 2 1 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

NPS 2 2 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

NPS 2 3 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

NPS 2 4 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr