Black Palm

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 5:16 pm

Here is a skinner I put together using stabilized Black Palm. Black Palm is actually in the grass family and is the outer bark torn away from the rest of the tree. It has to be stailized to be used on knives. I still need to finish it, but you get an Idea of what it looks like.

Black Palm is the scales on the customized Buck that Jeff did. This one is a different cut, end grain. I have a few skinners going, I'm falling behind on pictures

Anyway, this is the look Jeff was after, I like the look a lot myself. I guess you can't see it, but I dovetailed the bolsters on this one.
Click on the picture for a better view.

johnnierotten · Post by **johnnierotten** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:04 pm

Looks great,Hukk!!

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:34 pm

nice hukk, is that a kit? if so details. if not? more details!

agteacher2 · Post by **agteacher2** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:49 pm

That looks great Hukk!!!!

I love the handles!!!

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:53 pm

look like I've got another material to add to my "handle materials to try" list

. Nice work Hukk

sunburst · Post by **sunburst** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 9:41 pm

Hey Hukk that is some fantastic looking stuff..Your work is looking great and please share more with us when you get the chance..

I have to say that it looks almost identical to this Arno Bernard with South African Palm Wood handles, do you think its the same palm..??

Sunburst

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:07 am

Thanks for the kind comments.

Yes, it is a kit, but I throw out everything but the blade, I make my own bolsters from 1/4 inch 416 stainless bar stock. Bolsters that came with it are about .210, a little on the thin side for my taste. .040 on each side makes a huge difference. The kit comes from knifekits.com and is the Modern Skinner model. I chose that because it is AUS8, which is about like 440c with about .25 vandium added. Better steel than AUS6. I made 2 for my brothers and gave them as Christmas presents. After they showed the knives and sheaths I made, I ended up with a bunch of these knives for orders and the Maverick model (6 on order, they are on backorder) also sold at http://www.knifekits.com/kk_1mainframe.htm
I also have 7 Scandi's to make and 2 Puukko's to make. The Puukko's will be from scratch. I make the sheaths from scratch. I am back up to 20 knives I need to make along with 13 sheaths.

I also have a Barlow designed but no time to make it. I keep finishing these knives and getting orders for more. I have all the stuff to grind and heat treat, just no time to start.

This one had some bad spots in the blade (divots), I used acraglass with black dye that comes with it to fill in and you can't find those spots. Same stuff they use to glass bed a rifle, makes a great adhesive.

Yeah sunburst, when I first saw your knife I thought it was Black Palm cut on the bias, or an end grain cut. I know they have these in South Africa and I think the knife maker is from there if I remember correctly. Actually this can be done on any palm as long as the "wood" is large enough.

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:07 am

thanks hukk, very nice work indeed.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:45 am

You're welcome and thanks johnnie. I like that outfit for the blades, but I prefer making the bolsters and everything else. I would prefer to be grinding blades, I have enough O-1, CPM S30V, and 1095 on hand as well as the oils and 2 aluminum quench plates 11 x 33 x 1.125 thick and a kiln ready to be fired up. I need to finish the skinners, California "A" zone deer season for rifle starts the second Saturday in August, good thing none are archers, that starts the second Saturday in July. Ever shoot a buck in 114 degree weather, I have and it's not the most pleasant hunting I've done. But hunting in hot weather still beats not hunting at all.
Can't complain though, I'm having fun and am really surprised that so many wanted kit knives built. Make that real, real surprised because I'm right up front that this is a purchased blade.

I really want to find the time to do some grinding and to work on a 3 7/8 inch Barlow I designed, all in due time I guess.

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 3:32 am

Nice job Hukk!

Is that some of the black palm you got at the show?

Dale

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 3:44 am

orvet wrote:Nice job Hukk!
Is that some of the black palm you got at the show?

Dale

Thanks Dale! Yeah, it sure did not take long for me to use some of it. I had bought 4 sets of it and used it all up before the show, so I needed more. A lot of guys really like the look. I know I sure do. Should be a good seller for Jeff.