Thank you gift [Archive]

Rancid Crabtree

02-02-2009, 08:37 AM

I started another new knife and thought I show some of the steps involved in making it. I am donating this knife to the Horicon Marsh Bowmen. Each year, they hold a Wisconsin Bowhunters Association banquet with the proceeds going to the WBH. This one club donates tens of thousands of dollars to the WBH annually and this banquet is a big part of where those dollars come from. They invited me to attend this year's event but do not know about this knife. Since I can't sing for my supper, I thought I'd give in another way.

I went back to the good folks at Two Finger Knife LLC and bought another forged Damascus Steel blank made from 1095 and 15N20 steels.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam1.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam2.jpg

I also bought a set of Amboyna burl knife scales because of their beauty and the numerous, captivating swirls.

Amboyna Burl wood is extracted from the jungles of Southeast Asia and often transported (at least initially) via elephant. It is a favored wood used by folks that make knife handles and pens or bowls. It starts out reddish in color and over time and exposure to light, it turns a warm brown/red. The photo below gives a false impression of the color and exaggerates the red.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam3.jpg

I won't use just Amboyna for the handle. I want to dress up this handle with a few different woods.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam4.jpg

The woods I'm using are

1. South African, Bloodwood
2. South American, Cocobolo
3. Good old Wisconsin, Hard rock Maple
4. Sotheast Asian, Amboyna

This knife handle will have an impressive global pedigree

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam5.jpg

After laying out the pattern I wanted, I cut the pieces to size and rinsed 1, 2 and 4 in Acetone to remove the oils so the epoxy would give a better hold. Here they are waiting for the slow cure epoxy to do it's thing.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam6.jpg

I am also making the pins from a variety of materials such as aluminum, brass, copper and maple. They will also be held together with epoxy.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/wbhknife4.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/wbhknife5.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/wbhknife6.jpg

Once all the components have time to cure, I will assemble the parts and shape the wood into what is hopefully a comfortable and attractive grip.

After the epoxy cured, I use the blade as the pattern to outline the shape of the handle and then cut it to size leaving a little extra material all the way around for cleanup. I also decided to add 1/16 thick Cocobolo spacers.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam7.jpg

The spacers go against the metal of the handle and give another layer of color. Here it is assembled for a dry fit-up test.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam8.jpg

Fast forward past sanding and applying 8 coats of super glue as the finish and this is what you have.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam9.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam92.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam93.jpg

I think the cocobolo spacers give a great look to the handle.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam95.jpg

Since the center of the pins is maple, prior to applying the finish, I held a red Sharpie marker against the wood and let it soak up the red ink.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam94.jpg

Fast forward a little more and I have a sheath.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam96.jpg

Flash forward again and you see the display base I made from bubinga. I used the same red/brown stain that I used to die the leather for the sheath to make the wood a little more red. I added a small antler and a WBH lapel pin and a gloss lacquer finish. I hope this knife helps in their fund raising effort.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam99.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam98.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/dam97.jpg

GoodOlBoy

02-02-2009, 09:02 AM

Yet again absolutely beautiful work RC.

GoodOlBoy

Steverino

02-02-2009, 01:28 PM

Beautiful work RC!
That is a gorgeous (and very functional) hunting knife. How long did it take you from start to finish on this particular project? A friend of mine acompanied me last year to a gun show and commented about how expensive some custom knives were that we had been looking at. I commented that quite a bit of work can go into the crafting of a knife. One of these days, I will treat myself.

Rancid Crabtree

02-03-2009, 07:22 AM

Rancid Crabtree

02-03-2009, 08:12 AM

The winner of the knife was the owner of one of the States biggest archery stores. I do not know how much money it raised for the event. Like some of the other items, they would announce it and then a person would walk around the room displaying the item to everybody in attendance and then a host of young gals would walk around and sell tickets until everybody had a chance to buy one. Then they would make a last call, gather all the tickets and draw a winner. There were about 350 folks in attendance for the event and it was a great time. Last year this event raised around $20,000 to the WBH. Over the past 13 years, this club has raised around $200,000. I was happy to be a very small part of their efforts. I will post some pictures when I get them uploaded.

Swift

02-03-2009, 06:18 PM

You should be proud of the great work!

NICE!

Rancid Crabtree

02-03-2009, 08:57 PM

Here are some pictures from the 13th annual Horicon Marsh Bowmen, WBH benefit dinner. It took place at the community center in Juneau, WI.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/horicon7.jpg

I arrived a bit early to give the knife and to look around since this was my first time attending and I wanted to get pictures before the room filled with people.

I saw an impressive display of prizes including about 3 dozen guns and a variety of bows, a gun safe, ground blinds and many other prize to numerous to mention.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/horicon3.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/horicon4.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/horicon5.jpg

As well as a make a deal raffle with an assortment of prizes worth $4,500.

Before the guests arrived, Pat Buhr went over the duties of all the hard working volunteers.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/horicon2.jpg

The doors opened at 5:30 but there was already a line forming outside.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/hpricon6.jpg

And in short order, the place was packed with about 350 folks looking to open their wallets and buy chances at the long lists of prizes.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/horicon8.jpg

After a great meal, Chairman Ken Metzdorf (white shirt on the left) began the drawings. Everything was going smoothly until Loyd Lechner dumped all the early Bird tickets on the floor. ;D

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/horicon91.jpg

Not to worry, I was there to capture it for historical reasons and a few guys rushed to his aid.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/horicon92.jpg

With all the prizes awarded, the grand finale was a bit of a game show to see who would take home the $4,500 bounty that included a gun and bow and Gas powered ice auger and pop-up blind and treestand and a long list of other prizes.

4 names were drawn and each contestant was handed a briefcase. One case contained the grand prize, One contained $200 and the other two contained a pound of Limburger cheese.

The contestants were then offered $100 to sell their case and then $200 all the way up to $500 at which point one contestant took the money and another name was drawn to open her case.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/horicon93.jpg

That was a smart move on here case because the gal that took her place opened a case containing the stinky cheese and well as the chap on the far right. The luck guy in the tan shirt holding the grand prize certificate took home the bounty.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/horicon94.jpg

It was a great night for everybody and the WBH was the biggest winner of all. Here is the jumbo check from last years event that was presented to the WBH at our annual convention. Look to the lower left corner.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WBH_stuff/horicon1.jpg

Thank you does not begin to cover it. This club has been such a great supporter of the WBH and I wanted to make sure everyone was aware of their efforts.

This event is so popular that there is a waiting list as the attendance is capped based on the size of the venue.