Rat Rod Blades Challenge 2021 - Build thread

[Verrt]

Padauk Basher
Day 3 (I think)

Got a pound of leather scraps off the net.

Came with some thick decent sized pieces but only two colors. It's like sofa leather or something.

Top one is an orange brown, but it looks light brown in the photo.

I was going to use the orange, but the dark brown actually looks better with this knife.

Opened up the PU leather sheath to get a template. I

Added my own extras to it

Cut, cut, cut

Stab, stab, stab

Stabbed prematurely. Should have glued first then made the holes through all three layers. Oh well, lessons learned, I'm making this up as I go along.

Gluing the spacer thing.

Fold and glue

Started with a loop cross stitch, but didn't like the look for this build. Decided to leave it in the top third, but then do a two needle stitch from the bottom two thirds up and overlap the cross.

Don't know if I'm calling these stitches the right thing. Still making this up as I go along .

Ah crep, two needle stitch is going to be tough with only one needle.

Snap... Motherfather!
Ok, I'm done for the night.

 

[us56456712]

I broke down and chewed the binding, tastes like chicken. I used a double constrictor knot. There is rabbit poo glue comming off and staining the binding. I’m done.View attachment 152174

I can’t believe how firmly attached the flint is to the handle now that the rawhide lacing has dried. All it’s good for is to saw grooves in shafts. Does a saw count as a bladde?

 

[Verrt]

Started over with a two need stictch and some nylon thread. Much stronger. Was going well, but had to use a smaller guage needed as my second needle.
It inevitably broke part way down.

It can be done, but I don't recommend this without actual leather working tool.

Gonna jump online and see if I can pick aup a cheap set to finish this off. Before I destroy any more of my wife's sewing kit.

 

[Oak Tree]

Old Uncle
Update pic!

 

[Verrt]

Someone's being all secretive

 

[Fv2]

Man, I haven't been getting updates on this thread. Some cool stuff happening here the past few weeks.

 

[Oak Tree]

Someone's being all secretive

I’ve got it almost sanded completely but still not 100% complete yet. Need to finish the knife so I can start on the sheath. I’ll post up soon.

 

[Oak Tree]

Old Uncle
Update pics for real

 

[Verrt]

That's awesome. I love the liners. Are there two in there?

 

[Verrt]

Started over with a two need stictch and some nylon thread. Much stronger. Was going well, but had to use a smaller guage needed as my second needle.
It inevitably broke part way down.
View attachment 152279

It can be done, but I don't recommend this without actual leather working tool.

Gonna jump online and see if I can pick aup a cheap set to finish this off. Before I destroy any more of my wife's sewing kit.

Being the kind of person that tries the same thing repeatedly expecting a different result, I found the cheapest set of leather tools on Amazon I could find.

I'm sure they'll be terrific. Like all the cheap tools I buy from Amazon.

Probably no updates from me until after they arrive.

 

[Oak Tree]

That's awesome. I love the liners. Are there two in there?

Yes, well technically no. The white one is real liner material. The black one is cut from the Folgers coffee lid back couple pages ago cuz my uncle liked his coffee. I struggled to epoxy the handle together until I figured out that it needed the black Folgers layer in there. And now you have the rest of the story....

 

[MattiThundrrr]

@Oak Tree that's TIGHT! Looking good

 

[OddJob]

Started over with a two need stictch and some nylon thread. Much stronger. Was going well, but had to use a smaller guage needed as my second needle.
It inevitably broke part way down.
View attachment 152279

It can be done, but I don't recommend this without actual leather working tool.

Gonna jump online and see if I can pick aup a cheap set to finish this off. Before I destroy any more of my wife's sewing kit.

Stitching might be giving you trouble, but the leather is cool as can be.

 

[Oak Tree]

Old Uncle
Sheathing stuff

 

[Swampthing]

Fine Friction Folder Finished
So, I had some issues pounding the pins and setting the handle.
I considered redoing it, but it works, and I like it. It’s become my every day cary.
Here is the “finished” knife.

 

[Verrt]

Fine Friction Folder
So, I had some issues pounding the pins and setting the handle.
I considered redoing it, but it works, and I like it. It’s become my every day cary.
Here is the “finished” knife.
View attachment 153185View attachment 153186View attachment 153187View attachment 153188View attachment 153185View attachment 153186View attachment 153187View attachment 153188View attachment 153185View attachment 153186View attachment 153187View attachment 153188View attachment 153189View attachment 153185View attachment 153186View attachment 153187View attachment 153188View attachment 153189View attachment 153185View attachment 153186View attachment 153187View attachment 153188View attachment 153189

Looks great @Swampthing !

Can you arrange your post to put your three favorite pics at the top.
This is to make sure you get the pics you want displayed when I do the voting thread.

 

[Swampthing]

Looks great @Swampthing !

Can you arrange your post to put your three favorite pics at the top.
This is to make sure you get the pics you want displayed when I do the voting thread.

Yes. Thanks
Something went sideways when I was posting the first time.
These three show both sides and open.

 

[Oak Tree]

Old Uncle
Update pic to show things are happening

 

[Oak Tree]

@Swampthing
That is a fine looking piece of cutlery right there. You should post up a before and after to knock the socks off.

 

[OddJob]

Goodwill Hunting Knife final fotos

I don't remember exactly when this build challenge ends, but I've got a busy couple weeks ahead so I will post my final fotos here, @Verrt .

This was a fun challenge, thanks for hosting Verrt. It kept my creative juices flowing for a couple of weeks, and has been a fun project to show to friends and family.

I am including 3 photos, one 'before' or 'started with' photo, and two finished shots.

Looking forward to everybody's final fotos too!

Started with a 10" saw blade

Mesquite handle from my AZ woodpile epoxied and pinned and shaped on the tang.

Tandy Leather sheath kit custom dyed and stamped and fit for GHK.