Is anyone into the Mule Team blades that Spyderco produces each year? These three from top to bottom are made from Maxamet, CTS B70P and RWL34. I still haven't managed to make and attach handles or make Kydex sheaths but it's on the list.
Knife collection.
- Thread starter Benhameen
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Lil Foot
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1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
Slight side track:
Local three letter name hardware store has a microprocessor-controlled knife sharpening machine.
$7 a blade if I remember right.
Being busy & somewhat lazy, I took some large kitchen carving knives in and had them done.
The results were amazing- they came out stunningly sharp, probably sharper than I could have made them.
Not sure if they ground a very acute angle that will dull soon, but impressive results, and time will tell.
Found a vid:
Local three letter name hardware store has a microprocessor-controlled knife sharpening machine.
$7 a blade if I remember right.
Being busy & somewhat lazy, I took some large kitchen carving knives in and had them done.
The results were amazing- they came out stunningly sharp, probably sharper than I could have made them.
Not sure if they ground a very acute angle that will dull soon, but impressive results, and time will tell.
Found a vid:
Old Machinist
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Kubota LX3310 cab, JD 4310, NH 575E cab backhoe, JD F725, Swisher 60", etc.
Not a collector but I have a couple of Schrade knives. One has been misplaced but should show up if I search long enough.
This is my favorite.
This is my favorite.
ken erickson
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B7100 hst, 2650 front mount snowblower, L2501 hst qa loader
One of my most challenging builds. This is a large multi blade knife based on the old Sheffield patterns called "sportsman" knives. Keep in mind , every part, spring, blade is cut out from sheet stock including the frames and bolsters. CPM-154 for the blades and springs, 410SS for the integral bolster/frames. Springs and blades/tweezers/scissors/awl and corkscrew properly heat treated.
Making scissors at this scale and then having them cut and fit properly into the knife is a discipline onto it self.
The covers on this one is checkered ebony. Ebony is a very traditional material for knife covers.
If anyone is wondering the little forked implement is a cigar fork. Common on smaller gentleman's pocket knives from the mid 1850's to early 1900's..
Making scissors at this scale and then having them cut and fit properly into the knife is a discipline onto it self.
The covers on this one is checkered ebony. Ebony is a very traditional material for knife covers.
If anyone is wondering the little forked implement is a cigar fork. Common on smaller gentleman's pocket knives from the mid 1850's to early 1900's..
Wow!! That's some quality work there. Did you cut those serrations with a file?
ken erickson
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B7100 hst, 2650 front mount snowblower, L2501 hst qa loader
Thanks!
A more proper term is "coined" edge. Coined liners where often used on the exhibition Sheffield knives. Think of a dimes edge for example. The liners are .040 thick and the way I cut them in is with a carbide straight cut knurling wheel . I insert a rod thru the center hole of the wheel as a handle and then basically roll the edges of the liners leaving the coining.
ken erickson
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B7100 hst, 2650 front mount snowblower, L2501 hst qa loader
Thank you and you having worked for Remington might enjoy this one.Coined edge makes a lot of sense. Amazing work!
It is my rendition of a R313 Remington pattern. The frame would be called a serpentine and with the two blades coming off one end , jack. Serpentine Jack.
The differences in mine compared to the bottom Remington is that my master blade is not sabre ground. My bolster are "pinched" but not "threaded". Pinching refers to the very front of the bolster with the quarter round flute filed in. Threading refers to the fine lines filed in. Mine has ebony covers while the artists rendition of the R313 has jigged cow bone covers.
Both Remington UMC and Winchester back in that time period physically made , branded and sold knives. Very high quality and very collectable today.
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ken erickson
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B7100 hst, 2650 front mount snowblower, L2501 hst qa loader
This is an interesting traditional pattern. Rope knife. These knives at one time were issued to British and American sailors. The master blade was useful for cutting ropes, the bail was useful for keeping them from going overboard 
and the secondary blade is a pen blade with nail file. I guess it was important for sailors to have nice looking fingernails. Many rope knives will have a marlin spike in place of the pen blade. Marlin spikes are useful for un-tying tight knots .
The top two are original examples, the bottom two I made. A collector wanted a "fancy" example which is the Mother of Pearl knife while the bottom on is my rendition of the top two originals.
and the secondary blade is a pen blade with nail file. I guess it was important for sailors to have nice looking fingernails. Many rope knives will have a marlin spike in place of the pen blade. Marlin spikes are useful for un-tying tight knots .The top two are original examples, the bottom two I made. A collector wanted a "fancy" example which is the Mother of Pearl knife while the bottom on is my rendition of the top two originals.
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Your post got me thinking about a knife that was popular when I was a kid. It could have been a navy knife or at least a sailor's knife, but it had a blade with a rounded off tip and a stout, slightly curved spike. it could have been a farrier's knife too I suppose. I haven't thought about those knives for many decades. I'll have to see if I can find some photos.This is an interesting traditional pattern. Rope knife. These knives at one time were issued to British and American sailors. The master blade was useful for cutting ropes, the bail was useful for keeping them from going overboard
The top two are original examples, the bottom two I made. A collector wanted a "fancy" example which is the Mother of Pearl knife while the bottom on is my rendition of the top two originals.
View attachment 148534
ken erickson
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B7100 hst, 2650 front mount snowblower, L2501 hst qa loader
Sounds like it could be a marlin spike. They come to a fairly sharp point but not needle sharp . It could have been that yours was broken off at the tip and perhaps rounded.
Interesting tidbit on the master blade on sailor or navy knives being blunt at the end. I have no idea if true or not, but the story goes this blade is shaped like this due to less of a chance of accidentally stabbing ones-self on a rocking/moving ship.
Thanks for the confirmation. I searched for marlin spike and found this WWII British Marlin Spike Knife which is very similar to what I remember, but there were no scales on the ones I wanted when I was a kid.
Here's a "sailor's rigging knife with a marlin spike" which is very similar to what I remember from my youth. I never owned one but always wanted one.
Both my dad and my uncle (mum's brother) were in the Navy and I wonder if that's where my memories of this "sailors knife" is coming from. It makes perfect sense that a blade used for cutting and not stabbing shouldn't have a sharp point that could cause unintended damage.
So what was the marlin spike used for? I would imagine for undoing knots in rope and line.
ken erickson
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Equipment
B7100 hst, 2650 front mount snowblower, L2501 hst qa loader
ken erickson
Well-known member
Equipment
B7100 hst, 2650 front mount snowblower, L2501 hst qa loader
I built very few knives with embellishments such as engraving but here is one.
I never learned the engraving art and was happy to have found a young man starting out that has real talent for it.
The pattern is call a "cokebottle". Large at 5 1/4 inch closed length.
I never learned the engraving art and was happy to have found a young man starting out that has real talent for it.
The pattern is call a "cokebottle". Large at 5 1/4 inch closed length.
ken erickson
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Equipment
B7100 hst, 2650 front mount snowblower, L2501 hst qa loader
Thank you...these are bark rivers (or made by bark river) out of Escanaba MI. I try to keep the collection to MI made or MI themed knives...keeps the collection from getting too far out of hand. Top to bottom... Bark River Little Creek (my EDC), Ambush Knives Sidekick, Ambush Knives Brute, Ambush Knives Alpha, Bark River squad leader 2 (my Fav), Bark River Crusader. Sorry for the late reply, missed this post.