Knife Blade by 4ND3R5 - Knife Handle by Eddy-Smiles

[Eddy-Smiles]

A number of weeks ago I made a comment on this forum concerning my search for a knife to replace an Allen Goodman upsweep detail that I've had for a long time and which is showing it's wear and tear. Lots of fellow carvers had great suggestions on what I might do but one carver, 4ND3R5, in particular, went out of his way. He offered to send me a blade similar to the Goodman knife. So I sent him the measurements that I was looking for along with a couple of photos and within a couple of weeks the knife blade was sitting in my mailbox. All that was left was for me to provide a handle for it.

The blade that I received is approximately 1-3/8" in length and 7/16" wide on the cutting edge. 4ND3R5 uses .036" thick carbon steel stock so that there is flex when using like the Goodman knife.

What configuration to make the handle was the biggest question. I really like the shape of the curved OTTC knives and the handles of the Helvi Gerald Sears series knives. But I didn't really want to copy one or the other so I ended up with a blend. I used 3/8" Empress wood stock and was able to do all the roughing out with a scroll saw. Then between my sanding Mouse and My Dremel with a sanding wheel I completed the final shape. It has one coat of water based acrylic poly and then a light coat of wax. It's very light weight, sharp as hell, and I anticipate to get many (or as many as I've got left) years of good service from it.

I'd like to extend my most sincere appreciation to 4ND3R5 for his hard work and effort, and generosity. He asked nothing for his labor which is truly the sign of a great person.


Blade by 4ND3R5 - Handle by Eddie-Smiles (1).jpg Blade by 4ND3R5 - Handle by Eddie-Smiles (2).jpg

[pallin]

A generous and cooperative effort! As you move forward with carving and your new knife, give us your assessment of the blade and handle shape.

[woodburner807]

One reason I like the forum is because of the members and how much they help, Eddy. Glad things worked out so well. Now, we need to see your work.

[Nebraska]

Looks like a winner.

[Just Carving]

Nice job Eddy! Very nice of Anders too!

BobL

[uvawyo]

Verry nice Eddy and very kind of Anders

[Eddy-Smiles]

One reason I like the forum is because of the members and how much they help, Eddy. Glad things worked out so well. Now, we need to see your work.

Burner... You mean you ain't seen enough bears yet? Ha! Ha!

[woodburner807]

I never tire of any carvings and always get a spark of an idea when I see them...including you bears.

[bowinhand]

That is a beauty. That sweep in the blade looks great for detail work. Nice collaboration.

[joepaulbutler]

It all came together very well, now for the chip-making. One thing I've found kind of handy in my knife make is to taper the handle in on the sides at the blade to make it a little easier to get into the wood.

[Claude]

Nice work on the blade, Anders - great handle, Eddy.

bowinhand One of the advantages of this "scimitar' blade is that the shape makes it slice through the wood, instead of cutting straight through like a chisel. The slicing action takes off wood fast. The other advantage is that the curve of the blade makes it easy to take off saw marks on a flat or near-flat area that a straight blade can't do. I have one of the Goodman knives and it's my go-to blade whether I'm roughing out, or cutting to near-final shape.

I didn't like the blade at first, but kept at it and after a few months when I had learned to use it, it became my favorite. I still have, and use, straight blades - almost any of my carvings will have used 1/2 dozen knives in the process.

Claude

[Randy]

Great looking blade. Hats off to 4ND3R5. And good looking handle Eddy. Thats the WCI Forum. Great place!! Great people!!

[4ND3R5]

Thanks Ed, glad you like it! Thank you also for the gift in return. I'd tell people what it was, but they might get jealous and I might get robbed.

[Glenn Jennings]

Hi Eddy, Anders,
Really nice solution to Ed's dilema .!! Excellent!!

[Eddy-Smiles]

Thanks Ed, glad you like it! Thank you also for the gift in return. I'd tell people what it was, but they might get jealous and I might get robbed.

No problem! And you're entirely welcome. Just do me a favor. If you can't use it, give it or trade it away to someone who can. I'm so tired of seeing those knives being sold on line for a 200% to 300% or more markup. Even the manufacturer appears to be trying to slow this down by restricting the number that can be purchased at anyone time. I originally bartered it for a stack of old magazines and the person getting the magazines was happy and I was ecstatic because it was the first knife of this brand that I owned. Now it's a toss up as to which has a higher inflation rate, the housing market or the woodcarving knife market!