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#167725 - 01/07/18 03:25 PM Triathlete #9
DJohnson Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 04/16/14
Posts: 69
Loc: Northeast of Oklahoma City
Hi everyone, this was a good cold weather project that I just finished a couple of days ago. The wood is Lignum Vitae, buffalo horn on front and rear and the sheath is crocodile belly cut with a reverse lining made by Greg Gutcher.


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#167726 - 01/07/18 04:11 PM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: DJohnson]
rfcarlin Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 06/08/16
Posts: 451
Loc: New York
That is a beautiful knife. Congratulations!

Spectacular artistry...and a gorgeous sheath to match.

If you don't mind me asking a couple of questions...

How many hours of work does this custom handle represent?

I've read that LV is one of the hardest woods; do the LV scales take appreciably longer to shape than other hard woods?

Thanks.

Bob
_________________________
Bob Carlin
rfcarlin@hotmail.com
RKCC #622

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#167727 - 01/07/18 04:19 PM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: rfcarlin]
W Polidori Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 02/09/16
Posts: 5791
Loc: Central New York
Another winner Dave. This one is pretty spectacular.
_________________________
Warren

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#167729 - 01/07/18 06:35 PM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: W Polidori]
Sharpi Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 12/01/15
Posts: 645
Dave
exceptional
2 very difficult materials to work with
Like that Croc a Gutchie
Seeya in the spring when it thaws
Stay busy this winter
Sharpi

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#167730 - 01/07/18 06:37 PM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: Sharpi]
Tattoo Bill Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 07/14/15
Posts: 1907
Loc: Spring Hill, Florida
You do exquisite work! Would love to have this knife in my collection!
_________________________
Tattoo Bill
Spring Hill, FL.
Livin On The Edge!
ta2bill@yahoo.com


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#167735 - 01/07/18 07:51 PM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: rfcarlin]
DJohnson Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 04/16/14
Posts: 69
Loc: Northeast of Oklahoma City
Hi Bob, thank you very much, I'm glad you liked the knife. I work on the handles for fun and as such have not kept close track of the time involved. However, I have developed enough of a routine that I believe that considering epoxy dry time and working several hours (3-6) a day with hand tools would finish a knife in about a week and a half. I usually take much longer since there is no rush.

The LV is hard but was not difficult to shape. I started off as usual rough shaping with a belt sander then a coarse dremel drum, a coarse flat file, then a rat tail file for the finger grooves and finally alternating between buffing to see imperfections then sanding to remove. Just to answer your question, I would say that shaping the wood to a near finished point would take (me) 8-12 hours. The LV was very aromatic when cut/sanded and was initially pleasant but grew tiresome quickly The LV also filled the sandpaper quickly. If you are interested I'll email a few pictures of the knife in it's early stages before shaping.
Dave

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#167737 - 01/07/18 08:06 PM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: DJohnson]
Chief Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 12/05/05
Posts: 5413
Loc: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Originally Posted By: DJohnson
Hi Bob, thank you very much, I'm glad you liked the knife. I work on the handles for fun.
Dave


Well being the great guy that I am, how about I start sending you Tri's to build for me! Because I may lose sleep if I thought you weren't having fun! grin
_________________________
See Ya, Chief
RKCC CM-037
RKS #5154

If you put off following The LORD just remember......They don't serve breakfast in hell!

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#167739 - 01/07/18 08:22 PM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: Chief]
rfcarlin Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 06/08/16
Posts: 451
Loc: New York
Dave,

Thanks very much for the information, and for sharing the photos. Great craftsmanship takes time, care and skill, and your results speak for themselves. I loved the earlier Triathlete handles that you created, but this one just floored me. The knife looks totally different from its original form; more like a mini RMK drop point hunter than a Triathlete.

Thanks for the offer of the in-progress photos. I'd love to see them.

And if you ever decide to accept commissions, please let me know.

Bob
_________________________
Bob Carlin
rfcarlin@hotmail.com
RKCC #622

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#167740 - 01/07/18 08:24 PM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: Chief]
Eric Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 11/18/15
Posts: 1668
Loc: Michigan
I think you are very very good at transforming a great knife into a work of art. I would be honored to own any of the Knives you have transformed. Keep up the great work. And please keep adding pics.
_________________________
Eric

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#167741 - 01/07/18 08:24 PM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: Chief]
Byrdguy Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 09/20/05
Posts: 1676
Loc: FL Panhandle
Very nice work.
_________________________
Pat Remele
RKS#4413
SHAG# 8
RKCC# CM096
NRA Member

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#167745 - 01/07/18 08:57 PM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: Byrdguy]
Boomer51 Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 11/06/16
Posts: 353
Loc: Tennessee
Great craftsmanship - well done!
_________________________
Dwight




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#167748 - 01/07/18 10:11 PM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: Boomer51]
Ronnie Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 02/13/11
Posts: 2255
Loc: NW Mississippi
You are good!
Outstanding job.
_________________________
Ronnie
RKS#2166

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#167751 - 01/08/18 09:33 AM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: DJohnson]
TonyLaPetri Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 10/05/05
Posts: 6852
Loc: Glen Head NY
WOW!

BEAUTIFUL!


Tony
_________________________
Tony LaPetri
RKS#1885
RKCC CM-022

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#167752 - 01/08/18 10:11 AM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: Chief]
DJohnson Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 04/16/14
Posts: 69
Loc: Northeast of Oklahoma City
Morning Chief. You are a great guy, thanks.

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#167756 - 01/08/18 02:29 PM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: DJohnson]
spark42 Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 10/14/13
Posts: 743
Loc: Kentucky
Tony took the words right out of my mouth

WOW!

BEAUTIFUL!

Dennis
_________________________
RKS #4298
RKCC #CM057

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#167770 - 01/09/18 10:38 AM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: spark42]
Steven Offline
Randall Enthusiast
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 09/21/05
Posts: 1898
Loc: Denver, CO
That is fantastic. Excellent job!
_________________________
Steven K. Crawford
RKS 4109
RKCC CM-014

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#168262 - 02/01/18 10:46 AM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: Steven]
BigTom Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 06/27/15
Posts: 27
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
Nice job. It looks like the hilt "grew into place". A truly remarkable transformation.
_________________________
Tom Holstein
RKCC Member
NRA Life Member
NRA Benefactor

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#168279 - 02/01/18 05:40 PM Re: Triathlete #9 [Re: BigTom]
Fairbairn Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 02/25/14
Posts: 108
Loc: Oakville Ontario Canada
I admire good looking knives, and this is one of the best I have seen, ever! It is difficult to imagine the amount of time, and patience, involved on the part of the owner.. I just offer my congratulations on apiece of art that will last, maybe, forever.

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