Randall inspiration and homage

I have been making knives for 38 years now, and what really started me in '78 was a picture in Gun Digest of an array of beautiful Randalls. Those knives struck me dumb and for years my dream was to own one. That dream came true in '86. Now I am not only a knifemaker but also a Randall collector.At first I made knives that were American inspired (Loveless, Sigman). Strangely, no Randalls. Through the years I have found my own designs to make.

Recently my love for Randalls has been fanned. I do not know why, but it's great that it's still as strong as before.

Now I came up with this strange idea: why don't I make a companion for every Randall I own. Inspired by it but not a copy and certainly not a replica. There will be many differences, but the inspiration will be clear (how about a Model 1 with a model 25 handle, for example).

So I started with a few.
I will glad to point out the di fferences and to post them here when each one is completed (this will be an ongoing project as I'm still adding to my collection of Randalls).

Nice thread! Please add to this as you complete each one.

Ditto and thanks for doing this. Very interesting.

Looks like great forgings; can't wait to see the final product. I don’t see a trademark, do you mark your blades?

Thank you for your comments.

Zogger: will do.
Warren: these are not forged but made by stock removal. I hand file all my blades, I have no belt grinder. I do mark all my knives with my own logo, which are the letters GE in lozenge shape.

The nr 14 is made from ATS 34, the others are from Lohmann Niolox, which is basically 440B with a bit of Niobium added for extra edge- holding and toughness.

Definitely an interesting project, good work!!!

First one I'm gonna try is the model 23.

Assembled all the neccesary components. Nickel silver for the guard and pommel, aluminum and black spacers, stainless 3/8"round stock and some stainless M5 thread. I'm as yet undecided about the sambar stag.Maybe a nice piece of Arizona Ironwood.

I assume you crafted the blade yourself?

I'd go for the ironwood myself.

Great looking blades, Gert! I'm looking forward to seeing them completed.
Stag is always cool

Yes Zogger, you assume right. All of the blades above are hand filed and hand sanded by myself. After sanding to 400 grit they are heat treated by a professional firm who treat ATS34 to Rc 59-60 and Lohmann Niolox to Rc 58-59.

At the moment I'm also working on a model 26 and 28

I greatly admire the handwork....no reason in the world that more folk cannot make more things with hand tools rather than investing tremendous amounts in shop equipment. I have lost track of all the gun parts made completely by hand using files and papers, likewise knife parts, and knives completely reshaped.

As you well know, when doing it the old way, it gets done right, and nearly impossible to go too fast and remove what should not have been removed, unlike all the folk with the power tools. I still remember my armoring instructor having us file round stock locked in vises, to make tools such as screwdrivers and punches. He would look at each piece with a 10x loupe, and if not dead flat, or perfect curve, he would take a coarse file to it, and tell us to start over. Most things were small, so we could heat to cherry red and oil quench, then draw down to grey, using only an alcohol lamp and blow tube.

Just fantastic work, and my hat is off to you.

When I went to Gunsmithing School, we had to make a set of double set triggers for a '98 Mauser using files and hand tools. We only had to heat treat the springs we made for the triggers though. Hand work is safer than power tools because it's easier to take off material than put it back on.

Those knives look very good with the hand work.

Thank you gentlemen, for your kind and true remarks. Good work done by hand is the real sign of craftsmanship. And any good craftsmanship has to be admired, it is often only attained after long years of practice.

Back to the project:
The nickel silver guard is soft silver soldered on to the blade. Still has to be cleaned up. At the moment I'm waiting for some new aluminum sheet to arrive, as the pieces i've got are too thick. Not the easiest thing to get .05"sheet in The Netherlands!

Next step: blade is satinated and logo etched. All parts fitted together, prior to epoxying.

Neat! Interesting to see the knife in various stages. Txs for posting these!

Did you try experimental/ultralight homebuilt aircraft supply companies in Europe? Sheet aluminum a staple supply for the aircraft maintenance folk. Even a nearby airfield or serious larger aircraft maint. business will have various thicknesses, and a call to supply could get you a link.

I can already tell the knife will be beautiful. Would not a harder higher silver content solder be more corrosion resistant over time?

Am asking, as I hate seeing older knives which are perfect except for badly deteriorating solder joints. Knives which are used are constantly exposed to stuff which attacks solder far faster than steel, whether blood or salty juice from cooked meat.

Fantastic!

Thanks all for your comments. Lofty, higher temperature hard silver soldering needs such a high temperature that the temper of the blade will be ruined.

The solder I use is 4 % silver content Eutectic brand and solders at 198 degrees centigrade. It does not corrode over time. I know that because I occasionally see knives I 've made that are over 20 years old. Still bright and shiny, also after intensive use.

Thanks for the edumication on your solder. I knew the circa 1200°F stuff was murder on heat treat unless some manner of heat sink applied to blade or another go round after solder (if possible, my main heat treat experience being lighter alloys or annealing precious metals, or steel, but with case hardening, you knife guys have me beat six ways from Sunday on knowing steel).

I wanna see the finished handle....

Knife is ready bar the polishing. I will post pictures when I'm back from a short holiday in Germany.

Finally, the knife is ready. Here some photo's, sorry for the bad quality. This was a fun knife to make. Thanks for looking, and I hope you enjoy.





Here with her original sister. There are similarities, but in fact it's a totally different knife. Randall is hollow ground, mine is flat. Blade steels are different. If one looks closely, there are a lot of differences, but the tribute is clear. Knives are both equally long, although photo suggests otherwise.


And here both sheaths side by side. Sheath is made of 9 ounce bridle leather with a black ostrich hide inlay. I skipped the stone pouch.

Super!

That knife is stunning. Beautiful work.

Very nice! You do fine work!

Good work!

Outstanding, Gert - great job!

Great looking knife.

Knife looks very well made. Nice leather work too.

I forwarded a link to first posts and now this finished knife to friends, and we all concur your work is beautiful. I am most impressed by the handwork involved, which, to me, makes it a sculpture as much as anything.

Thank you all, gentlemen, for your flattering comments. Was great fun, making this knife. I'm starting on a Model 11 next. Bought a stunning piece of Honduras rosewood in Paris this weekend. I think I'm gonna use that for the handle.

Suggestions as to the materials to use are welcome, of course

Hello again, it has been awhile since my last entry here. But I have taken another Randall lookalike project which I would like to share with you.

This time it is a model 11 Alaskan skinner. I have filed and hardened the blade out of a 3/16" piece of Niolox steel, just like the model 23.

Picture below shows all the parts at the start of the assembly work. Blade still has its heat treat colour. It will get a India sambar stag handle, aluminum/black spacers and nickel silver guard and butt cap.

Let us see some pics as you go along.

These are impressive!!

Cleaned the blade, drilled and filed the guard, epoxied the spacers together, so it will be easier putting these in during final assembly. Drilled and tapped the stainless steel rod that keeps it all together later on.

Soldered the nickel silver guard with 4% silver solder. Still have to clean the joint up.

Looking very nice so far

Looks great! Nice to see another Dutch Randall collector over here.

The same text in Dutch

Ziet er goed uit! Knap stukje werk. Leuk een Nederlander die ook Randall messen verzameld!

Thank you all for your nice comments!

Bedankt Sphinx! Randall is geweldig! Groet uit "The old country".

Threaded tang TIG welded on and solder joint cleaned up.

I love to see the process of making this beautiful blade!

Trial fitted everything together.

Looking good!

Satined the blade and etched my logo. Cut anchor notches in the tang for the upcoming epoxy.

Looking Awesome !

Very nice.

It's been awhile, but here's the finished knife.Sheath from 9 once leather with a frog insert.

Nicely done. Looks first rate including the sheath.

Pap

Very nice.
Walker

You got it down. Well done all around.

Fantastic job!

You’re a very talented craftsman, well done.

Love it! Now you have inspired me.

Well, I've started on another one in this series and it's a Nr 15 Airman.

The blade is made of O7 carbon tool steel, and I have assembled all the materials to make it. It will get a nickel silver single guard, aluminum/black spacers, an aluminum pommel and a brown micarta handle. This micarta is original Westinghouse I got in the mid seventies. I have a nr 15 with a nr 22 handle configuration, and it makes for a very attractive knife, so this one will have that config too. Stay tuned, I will keep you posted as I go along.

This will be very interesting to follow. A very nice blade.
Keep up the good work, Gert!

Guard silver soldered on blade. Solderjoint needs still to be cleaned up.

Cleaned up the solder joint. Much nicer.

Fitted all the parts, checking for fit prior to epoxying. Both the pommel and the stainless nut (of course) have threads. Extra strong.

I believe Randall only places nuts on leather handles, but it seems like a nice idea to put one on a micarta handle for once.

This is turning into a really nice build, something to be proud of.

Randall countersinks the SS nuts in the buttcaps...

Thank you for your advise Scott, I appreciate it.

Epoxied all parts together.



Sanded the horizontal contour. Randall tapers a lot of handles from front to back. The Nr. 15 I have has a 7 mm difference in width. Did that with my version too.

After this the vertical contour.

Sanded the vertical contours and drilled the thong hole.

Looking good!

Good job, Gert !

Beginning to take shape nicely!

Well, here it is, ready. Still have to make the sheath. You'll get a picture when that's ready.




And here with it's Randall cousin.

Beautiful knife -- beautiful job!

Very well done, Gert! I like it a lot

That is top notch!

Awesome Gert!!!

You really have a talent!!!

The next one in the series: A nr. 15 Airman.

First the design I made for the customer.

The blade superimposed on the drawing.

All materials collected. Guard and pommel will be 304 stainless, the handle will be black linen micarta and the knife will have aluminum/black spacers.

An M6 tang thread is TIG welded to the tang.

Can’t wait to see it done!

I believe the is going to be a winner too.
Walker

Here is the final result. Sorry, but I do not have the usual pics of the making process, there was some time pressure on this one. It's for a member of the French SF, who needed it for a deployment.

Hope you like it anyway.

The leather sheath has a Kydex layer between two layers of leather both front and back. This makes it very stiff and sturdy.

Gert:

This is absolutely awesome!!!

You have a wonderful talent!!!

Please keep making knives.

Coach

That is great. The SF person getting this will be very happy.

I want one. Bravo!

Nice!

Thanks all, for your appreciated comments!

I am starting now on a Model 1 in the same configuration, but with a black canvas micarta handle in stead of linen micarta.

I will keep you posted.

@Coach: Most certainly I will keep making knives! It gives satisfaction like you wouldn't believe!

There we go! All the materials for a Model nr. 1 collected so I can start. This one will get a 7" Lohmann Niolox blade, stainless guard and pommel, black canvas Micarta handle and aluminum/black spacers.

Outstanding! I really like the clean look that you have developed.
Keep up the good work

Guard silver soldered to blade and brass threaded bushing braised on pommel. Both solder joints yet to be cleaned up.

I can't wait to see the finished product.

Cleaned up the solderjoint between blade and guard.

Lookin' Good!

Trial fitted all the parts. Looking good!

ABSOLUTELY !!!

Glued and screwed everything together and did some contouring to give the handle the typical Randall taper, 17 mm in front, 23 mm at the back.

No, the snow is not blue in The Netherlands :-)

That is going to be a great looking knife.

Sure is looking good. The owner will be proud I believe.
Walker

Starting to get it in shape.

The finished knife.

Glass bead blasted in it's entirety. Black leather double stitched sheath, with Kydex inlays front and back.

Awesome work, Gert!!!

Really well done.

Very nice indeed.

Amazing and over the top. Very impressive.

Pap

Great, you always impress me. Well done again!
Someone will be very happy for sure.
Walker

That is another beauty.

Great looking blade.

Thank you all very much for your kind comments! I do my best.

Starting on a Nr 14 next.

All the parts for a Nr. 14 gathered together.

A 7 1/2" ATS 34 blade with TIG welded stainless M6 thread, stainless guard and pommel, black linen Micarta handle material and aluminum and black fiber spacers. And a 3/8" brass rod to hard silver braze onto the pommel.

As you can see, the blade radiuses into the tang. Important if you want to avoid stress risers during heat treat.

Another BEAUTY on the way!!!

Can’t wait to see it.

It looks like the makings of a winner!!I look forward to the finished result.

Guard silver soldered to the blade. Solder joint still needs to be cleaned up.

Solder joint cleaned up. On to handle assembly.

Been doin' some glueing, filing and sanding the last couple of weeks. This is how far I came up till now. Still a way to go.

Very Nice Gert!!!

The entire knife sanded to 1200 grit, just prior to glass bead blasting.

Very nice work!

Beautiful!

Great work Gert!

Well, here the final result. Freshly glass bead blasted, with the sheath. Hope you enjoy!
And stay tuned for the next project!





Top view.

Wow - impressive!

Great job, as usual.

OUTSTANDING!

Tony

Nice!

Very nice final shots.
Well done, someone is going to be very pleased.
Walker

WOW!!!

That is impressive! Great job Gert!

Thank you all for your nice comments!

Next project:

This will be inspired on a Randall Model 25 Trapper. 5" Lohmann Niolox blade, nickel silver guard and pommel, black fiber/aluminum spacers, stag middle piece. But instead of the leather spacers Randall uses on their Model 25, I will use Birch bark spacers. An interesting difference, I think.

All the materials collected.

Nice collection of materials. Looking forward to the work in progress views.
Walker

My client suggested that I make a Model 16 Pathfinder inspired knife at the same time, and with the same materials, so he would have a matching pair.

Good idea! So I went to work immediately.
Filing away on the Niolox blade blank.

Here's the heat treated blade together with all the necessary materials to make this into a beautiful little hunter.



The difference between a nr. 25 and a nr. 26 is evident.

Guard material fitted before soldering.

Looking good!
Walker

Have you shipped any knives to Germany?

I'm thinking I might commission a project for my cousin down in Koblenz.

Thanks a lot for your appreciated comments!

@Windsor: Yes, I have many customers in Germany! And I live only 200 miles from Koblenz.

Soldered the nickel silver guards onto the blades with Staybrite solder. Next step is to clean up the solder joints.

LOOKIN' GOOD!!!!

Solderjoints cleaned up. Next step is MIG welding threaded stainless rods to the tangs.

That cleaned up nicely.

Threaded stainless rods TIG welded to the tangs. M6 for the Trapper, M5 for the Pathfinder. Next step: preparing the pommels.

Looking great as usual!
Thanks
Walker

Two brass inside-threaded bushings have been hard silver brazed to the nickel silver pommels. Next step: working on the blades and etching my logos.

Both blades are satinated and logos are etched.
Next step is build-up of the handles.

Fascinating! Keep up the good work
(P.S.: I’m only 50 miles from Koblenz )

Hello Peter,
then you're only about 200 miles from where I live, depending if you're north or south of Koblenz. Beautiful country there.

Back to the project: Both knives fitted with their respective handle materials and epoxied up.

I'll be back when they're done.

Mainz is south of Koblenz, upriver. If you fly into Frankfurt and rail it to Koblenz, you go through Mainz.

Ask me how I know.



Looking good!

Well on the way now!
Walker

How do you know, Rob?

I know Mainz from coming through by train on my way to or back from Munich, Frankfurt International Airport, etc.

But also from celebrating "Meenzer Fastnach" there once. The famous Carnival, drenched in music, beer, food and good cheer. Mostly now we go to Cologne where the Kölsch Fasnach is also something to put on your bucket list. Next weekend it starts.

We celebrate Carnaval where I live in the south of The Netherlands, but the German versions are something else.

Cheers!

I've been there and done that!



I'll have to convince the wife that we need to go again. I don't think it'll be too difficult.

Too bad that the pandemic has reduced this year’s “fifth season” to mainly online-events again. We are missing the best parts
But this way we can stay focused on these good looking knives

True words, Peter!

I owe you the pics of the finished pathfinder and Trapper.

Lohmann Niolox blades, Nickel silver trimmings, Sambar stag and Birchbark handles.

I think they make a very nice set together, and the birchbark is something else.

Yesterday I have put them in the hands of a very happy customer.

Beautiful!

Those are very nice. I’m sure the customer was one happy camper!
Looking forward to your next build.
Walker

Works of Art for sure!

Outstanding work, Gert! Really impressive.

Thank you all very much for your compliments, gentlemen!

Next up is a nr. 2 Fighting Stiletto.

Will post pictures shortly.

Well then, for the next one.

Here's a picture of the blade blank in the vise. I am filing the guidance grooves with a square file. The steel in between will later be filed away with a flat bastard file.
The guide lines for filing are clearly visible.

This knife will get a 7" Lohmann Steel Niolox blade.

Filing almost complete. After that, sanding to 180 and 400 grit before heat treatment.

Really taking shape and looking good!
Thanks
Walker

Back after heat treat and all the necessary materials collected. Guard material drilled and filed to be mated to the blade by soldering.

Guard silver soldered to the blade. Went well, no pinholes. Solder joint still needs to be cleaned up.

Cleaned up the solder joint. Looking good, still no pinholes, a perfect joint. Not too easy, soldering stainless on stainless.

The grind lines on a Nr. 2 are special, in the sense that in fact you have a hexagonal cross section of the blade where it meets the guard. Resulting in a hexagonal solder joint.

Progress sure is looking good.
Walker

Some progress made.

All handle material roughly fitted and the guard and pommel roughly contoured.

looking good

It sure is!
Keep us posted.
Walker

Real Good!!!!!!

So how’s your “Inspired by Randall” #2 coming along Gert? I do love Randall’s beautiful #2.

It has been 5 consecutive days in the mid 90's here (climate change), so not much time in the workshop.

But there's progress, for sure. I glued and screwed everything together and roughly shaped the handle. Guard needs more work and handle is still too thick and rough, but the basic shape is there. Black canvas Micarta has good contrast.

Gert
That is going to be a good looking knife. Great workmanship.

Very nice progress.
Walker

Did some additional work.

Finalised the dimensions and form, filed everything with a fine file. Ready for the wetordry sandpaper. That canvas Micarta is looking really good.

Gert--

Wondering about job opportunities in Orlando?

Larry

LOL!!!

No sir! I like making knives slowly, one at a time. Besides, I'm 65 years old, retired after 37 years in public service. I sure like being my own boss now!

Besides, Florida is rather on the hot side of my weather preferences :-))

It is beautiful work sir!

Thank you all for your kind remarks!

Scott, I feel really honoured by your observation.

Randalls are great (come september a Nr. 8 and a Nr. 6 Steak knife will complete my collection of every catalog Randall) and I've been crazy about them since 1978, when I first laid eyes on them. And making Randall inspired knives is another great joy.

Truly beautiful AND well done, Gert. Talk about one that I’d lo hold in my hand!

Gert:

This may be your best one!

I know that I really like it!

Coach

Well folks, she's finally finished.

The whole knife very finely glass bead blasted, and the sheath made. As usual the sheath has Kydex inserts between two leather layers front and back, for stiffness and stability.

I'll be starting on a Nr. 14 next.

Very nice package for sure. Excellent work as always!
Thanks for posting.
Walker

Awesome job!!!!

Very nicely done!

Started a new Randall inspired knife, a Nr. 14 Attack.

Just hand filed the blade from 6mm stock. It's made from Niolox steel.

I believe this one will be a looker too!
Walker

Blade sanded with wetordry 400 grit.

Ready for heat treatment.

Here she is, back from heat treatment.
And with a M6 threaded rod welded to the tang. For the future butt cap.

Very good progress!
Walker

Lookin' Good!!!!!!

Nice work on this and your other knives.

And nice to have each step shown along the way.

Thanks,
Larry

Thanks gentlemen,

collected all the materials necessary for making this knife.

Nickel silver for the guard and pommel (brass M6 threaded bushing already brazed on), black fiber for spacers, a beautiful piece of stabilised spalted cork oak and of course, the blade.

A lot of us want that wood!

Larry

gonna be another looker

That block is awesome for sure.
Walker

Beautiful wood!

This is gonna be GOOD!!!

Nickel silver guard fitted and silver soldered onto the blade. Still needs to be cleaned up.

Rough fitted all the parts together. Looking good so far. Time to glue up.

Did some rough contouring.

And cleaned up the solder joint.

Looking fantastic !!!!!!

Really looking good.
Walker

Excellent job. Love everything about it.

Some progress...

Ready for fine satining ( the blade) and polishing (the handle).

Looking Good !!!!!

Gert--

The only thing missing...Your maker's mark.

I have a friend who makes a few knives, and I keep telling him to take pride in his work and mark it as his creation.

Larry

PM sent.

Thanks, gentlemen!

Larry, my logo will be on the final picture, together with the sheath, which I already finished.

Here are some pictures of the finished knife. As usual a double stitched, Kydex-reinforced leather sheath comes with it.

Next will be a Nr. 5. Pics of the making process to follow shortly.

Beautiful knife and sheath !!!!!

Very nice .
Walker

Beautiful wood.

All parts assembled for a Nr. 5 Camp and Trail.

Blade is RWL 34 Stainless.
Nickel silver guard and butt cap.
Threaded stainless M5 rod.
Aluminum/black fiber spacers.
Guard material: ivory linear paper micarta.

Looks like another fine project beginning!
Can you give me a little info on the linear micarta?
Thanks
Walker

Hello Walker,

Linear Ivory Micarta is a paper micarta that has a bit more figure than normal Ivory Micarta. I bought this stuff maybe 40 years ago in the USA, so it might be Westinghouse, but I'm not sure.
It is very nice in appearance, you'll see.

I backed up and noticed that the Captain had it on a bear camp special. Looks good to me!
I’m awaiting your progress.
Thanks
Walker

You'd better take a closer" look at my Bearcamp Spl. Walker. It, along with many..."MANY" others is cracked!
I'm not sure this was ever a Westinghouse project but it followed Westinghouse "old yeller" at the Randall shop. It was "going" to be the replacement...but it cracked..."a lot"!
I only have 2 left in my "STASH", for that very reason.
Hope this helps...(or hurts, I'm not sure).
Stay Sharp, Capt. Chris

I did not mean the cracks looked good but the color if the material. I’m still really liking the resin ivory and like seeing other types of materials.
I’m certainly a “work in progress” on these things!
Thanks for the added info, Cap. I can see why the herd is thinnng down on this material.
Walker

Thanks for the heads up Cap.

Perhaps I was very lucky, I made about 10 knives with this stuff, and never got one back that was cracked, or a complaint. Also the 6 pieces I still have are still rock solid after 40 years. Fingers crossed.

It might be because I work the material with hand tools only, not on the belt sander. So it stays nice and cool.

Here's a second one I started recently. This will become a 7" fighter, kind of mid way between a Nr. 1 and a Nr. 14.

Blade is made out of RWL 34, with a true 1/4" thickness. Handle will be leather and brass furniture with brass/black fiber spacers.
I will keep you posted.

Nice start for sure.
Walker

Both guards silver soldered to the blades. Still have to be cleaned up.

Is that 95/5 silver solder OR 50/50 lead?

In fact it is 94/6 silver solder. Stays nice and shiny.

Just dit some pre-glue handle fitting. Everything fits! Ready for the epoxy.

Solder joints cleaned...

Looking good.
Walker

Nice work!

Looking forward to seeing finished knife ..........

Nice job!

After some rough contouring...

The Nr. 5 is already starting to show those nice linear paper lines.

Looking forward to seeing finished knife....

I agree. I’m sure it will be awesome.
Walker

Looking Good!!

Pap

Progress on the fighter. All rough work and shaping done. Ready for the fine satining and polishing.

Heel mooi, uitstekend werk!

Sure is coming together nicely! Someone is going to have a super knife I believe.
Walker

Hartelijk bedankt, Steve!

Yes, I believe so too, Walker. If it wasn't already sold, I would keep it for myself.

Very nice, Gert!

Finished the Nr. 5. Here's some pictures. Really love this micarta!

5 inch RWL 34 Blade.
Nickel silver single guard and pommel.
Linear paper ivory micarta.
Aluminum/black spacers.

Brown bridle leather sheath with kydex inlays.

Extremely nice knife, Gert!!!!!!!!!!!

Well done.
Walker

Very nice work!!

Pap

A new project. A customer asked me if I could make two small versions of the Nr. 2 Fighting Stiletto, the so called " Letter Openers". He wanted a 4" and a 5" version. Both in the same configuration.
They will get Lohmann Niolox stainless blades, black linen micarta handles and nickel silver guards.

So here goes.

Both blades roughly sawed out.

Contours trued up and rolling skin removed..

Looks like another nice project underway.
Shoot870p

Starting to file the bevels.

Both blades roughly filed.

Coming together and looking great.
Shoot870p

Looking great keep up the good work!!!!!

Thank you, gentlemen!

Back from heat treat and nickel silver guards fitted and silver soldered onto the blades.

All handle materials collected. Black linen Micarta and Nickel silver. Ready for fitting.

Everything glued up, and ready for shaping.

Get
I know absolutely nothing about making knives. When you are shaping the handles do you do it by eye or is there “jig”or ? that you use?

Rod, no I have no jigs, I do it all by eye. That results in a lot of filing away little bits that don't look symmetrical and then sanding. Until finally it looks right.

Here's the final result.

Blades of Lohmann Niolox.
Handles of black linen Micarta
Guards of nickel silver
spacers of nickel silver and black vulcanized fiber.

Sheaths of black dyed bridle leather with kydex inlays front and back for stiffness and wearer protection.

The 4" version.



The 5" version



And both for size comparison.

Gert
Great work, both knives look excellent. Thank you for the explanation.

Do you sell your knives online?

Nice!

Larry

very nice.

Thanks very much for your comments!

Rod, thanks for asking. I don't sell my knives online. I do four shows a year here in Europe and I sell much of what I make there. Then there the orders and they go largely by word of mouth. The knives above are for a Belgian customer who buys four knives from me every year and will get these next weekend at the BKS knifeshow in Gemboux (Belgium)

I do have a website (g-eknivesandmore.com) but I have to say that it is not very current. And if you send an email to info@g-eknivesandmore.com, you won't get an answer because I have forgotten my login and haven't gotten around to retrieve it from the webhoster. :-))

Here's some pictures I still owe you, I believe.
It's the finished Randall inspired fighter.

7 inch RWL34 blade, with a 1/4" thickness.
Brass guard and butt cap.
Leather commando shaped handle.
Brass/ black fiber spacers.
Brown bridle leather sheath.

Handmade art.

Larry

Gert, your work is amazing!

And another fine example for sure.
Great work!

Thanks very much for your kind comments!

And on we go, with yet another 5" blade Randall Nr. 2 inspired letter opener. This will be a unusual one.

The blade roughly cut out of a 4,4 mm thick piece of Lohmann Niolox stainless tool steel.

Contours filed and scale removed.

Filing the bevels.

All bevels rough filed, ready for the fine file and sanding prior to heat treat.

Nice looking profile, clean lines and symmetric.

Sure is looking good (as usual!).
Very nice.

Silver soldered the nickel silver guard, MIG welded the stainless m5 thread to the tang and generally assembled all the necessary bits and pieces to make this knife.

The knife will get a handle made of Birchbark with sambar stag/ black fiber spacers and a nickel silver guard and pommel.

Looking good.

Everything glued up and some basic shaping done.

Nice, as always!

The finished knife with its sheath.

Gert

Great looking knife, especially the handle. Thank you for posting your work.

Nice work!

FANTASTIC JOB!!!!!!!

Awesome!

Nice knife!