October Project - Stag Hunter

[BrokenolMarine]

Thank you Sir.

[Hatchdog]

It looks awful, better send it to me as I have a nice collection of trash bins to throw it in. I agree, the shape is great.

[BrokenolMarine]

Will be back in the shop today with more polishing.
I am always my harshest critic, other than Miss T.
I'll think... "I'm done, oh wait, just this little... "

[BrokenolMarine]

Out this morning after coffee, I could hear the knife calling. I went right to work shaping and polishing. But first, I re-taped the blade and this time I folded a squared of scrape manilla folder used to cut holster patterns in the shop, and put that over the blade tip. I would be doing a LOT of work on the sanders, turning the knife this way and that in this final polishing, and I respected that razor sharp edge and more so, the needle sharp tip. (Do you need to ask why? )

33 safely retaped.jpg

First to the 1 x 30 belt sander without the backer... I wanted the flex in the belt. I put on the 240 grit belt and with the knife at a 45 degree angle to the belt, I was able to polish out the rough transitions and get more of the smooth look I wanted. There were some rough gouges where I made early mistakes trying to polish areas and held too long. Rookie mistake, but anesthesia memory.




After the initial reshape and corrections. I worked my way up thru the belts, 240, 400, 600, 800, and 1000. Then I moved to the bench and used 1000, and 1500 grit wet dry sandpaper for the areas that needed individual attention.

Once I finished there, I moved to the pencil Dremel and the pin polishing rig to work up thru the polishing sticks to fix the scratches in the guard. Five levels and the guard shown like a new dime. I was good there. All that was left was the hair dryer and wax. Three coats and I called it good, buffing between coats. Tah Dah!

Looks pretty good today. I'm sure when I go out and build a sheath later, I'll find something that makes me say, "I'll just buff that out."

34 done.jpg

Yes, I see that scar in the stag, but it's a scar.... I didn't want to take it down any farther.

[RetiredSeabee]

Now that is a purty knife! Thank you for bringing us along. It is an honor to have contributed in a small way.
You have me considering starting on a simple knife project. I have nowhere near the shop and tools you have but I do have a touch of can do.

[BrokenolMarine]

Thanks for your suggestion sir. My shop is just an old metal building with spray foam insulation. Nothing like the dream shop I had just finished when we left VA in 2020.

But the tools... Thirty or forty years worth of acquisitions. I can thank my Stepfather and the Corps...

"If you take care of your things, they will work when you need them and they will last. If you put them where they belong, they will be there when you need them."

[BrokenolMarine]

A touch of can do and a desire to try knife making so I could make one for my daughter got me started... I just never stopped.

[BigAl52]

That knife needs used at Thanksgiving dinner

[Hatchdog]

Your choice of handle materials and highlights worked out perfectly. Beautiful!