Pinfeathers
Some noodling around, and just a touch of chest-beating, as usual. I put the finishing touches on this last night, which I've dubbed the Pinfeather.
How do we feel about this profile?
This is some kind of mutant hybrid between a small hunter and a paring knife. This is another offcut deal, this time not only the steel (CPM154, if it interests you) but also some leftover bits of walnut that I used for a prior commission which is now in the hands of another denizen of this very board.
Truth be told I'm not entirely happy with the outcome, here, but largely that's due to my own ineptitude in woodworking. Originally the idea was to Corby bolt this together but it turned out my bolts were too long, so I changed horses in the middle of the race to pinning it with some brass rod instead. But that required drilling the old Corbies out, and this explains the small but noticeable mismatch between the diameter of the pin holes and the pins. I backfilled these with epoxy, and likewise with the small gouge taken out of the reverse of the handle.
I'm told that this sort of thing confers charm, and is evidence that the article in question is hand made.
Next time, I think I'll just do a better job.
In light of all of the above, it may surprise you to learn that I had enough steel to make two (2) identical blanks. I haven't hewn the handle for the second one yet. I'm planning on giving the first one away, but I haven't decided on what to do with the second one yet. Perhaps if anyone here is interested, drop me a line and I'll make it available.
6 replies
I like the profile. And that plunge grind looks clean. Did you free hand that?
I use an adjustable jig to hold the angle, but the plunge locations are freehand. As anyone who has tried it knows, it's very easy to overrun the end of the grind towards the handle due to being a muppet. I have thankfully honed my technique so that I don't do this... much.
That’s a nice looking knife! It doesn’t look like there’s gimping on the spine, is that a design choice or something else? I like the profile, big belly is generally good for those utility tasks.
Thanks!
And, no jimping on this one. Just the depression in the top for your thumb, if you so desire to put it there. For knives that are going to see food service duty I generally eschew that sort of thing, since jimping tends to leave a nook for crud to hide in and that makes it tough to keep clean enough to satisfy the health inspector.
More pictures, including nice close-ups of all the flaws, here: https://www.flightlessforge.com/item.php?sku=pinfeather-custom
Good point. And I know you see all the flaws since you made it, but from an outsider perspective it looks very clean, you did a good job.
Looks like a great rabbit skinner.