All About Pocket Knives

I really like the custom handled sharpfingers that Orvet has been showing off. I finally managed to pick up a used one on the bay for a reasonable price, cleaned it up and rehandled it in mammoth ivory. The sheath was pretty ratty, so I stiched up a new one. The weekend project didn't come out perfect, but pretty good anyway. I think I'll use this one!

Nice work Jack!
Is the ivory stabilized?

It looks good!
Nice job in the sheath too!

Dale

Looks real good Barry

That's a sweet one!

Glenn

Nice work! Looking good!

Thanks, guys! This was a fairly simple refurbish. As usual when critiquing my own work though, I think I should have been able to do a little better. I had a little trouble when drilling the pin holes when my clamp set-up slipped a bit and I cut the front piece of the sheath a little low. I also ran out of patience when trying to sand out a few small pits on the blade. But for a using knife, it'll be just fine!

No, Dale, it isn't stabilized ivory. It was picked out of an Alaskan beach 40 years ago so it is fairly stable.

Nice work, Mammoth ivory can dress up just about any knife; one of my favorite handle materials.


Paul

Gunstock Jack wrote:No, Dale, it isn't stabilized ivory. It was picked out of an Alaskan beach 40 years ago so it is fairly stable.

Even better Jack!
I love it when I can use something I have had for years on a knife.
It puts a bit more of 'you' in the knife!

Dale

Sweet lookin' Sharpfinger GJ! Love the Ivory!

After you are tired of using it.. You can send it here for a new, happy home!! Looking great.. John

Thanks, everbody, for your comments. And a special thanks to you, Dale, for the idea! I think I'll enjoy using this one!

Edit: After looking at the close ups of this knife, I see I still have some more sanding to do!!! All I can say is "DHOH"!

The camera betrays the scratches and sanding marks better than even a powerful magnifying glass.
I have found there is nothing that will substitute for an excellent abrasive and a lot of hand sanding.
The best abrasive I have found for finishing bone and ivory are 3M's Polishing Paper.
The best price I have found for it is at the jewelers supply house, Otto Frei.
Here is a link to the 3M paper: http://www.ottofrei.com/store/home.php?cat=820

I find I go through more of the courser paper and less of the finer grits.
By the time you have worked your way through all the various grits, from 400 grit to 8000 grit, all you need do to the ivory or bone is apply some carnauba wax. If you sand brass to 8000, all you need is a light buff with a fine rough like No Scratch Pink.

I find I get the best results by folding or cutting it into strips and running it back and forth across the ivory, bone or brass. It cuts pretty quickly and leaves a nice finish.

The more of these yo do the easier it is as you discover techniques that work well for you.
I am always trying new materials & techniques in an effort to get a better finish easier.
I have found it is worth the effort, experimentation a few dollars investment to perfect the way I finish knives. This 3M Polishing Paper saves me about 60 to 90 minutes sanding and polishing time on each "average" knife I finish. It turns out that it is no more expensive than any other good abrasive.

Dale

That's interesting, Dale. I use a lot of those different polishing papers at work, for polishing fiber optic connectors.

I'll have to try those out.

thanks,
Glenn