Ensure the
design of your knife takes into account the placement
of bolsters, handle material and the positioning
of rivets to secure these. All this must be completed
before grinding commences. Bolster shaping and taper
must also be decided on before-hand, as this dictates
the handle shaping.
After hardening your blade the procedure should
be to complete the bolsters as far as possible,
then finish the blade and rivet the bolsters in
place. |
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Prepare the bolster material (in this case grade
303 stainless) to the required thickness cut slightly
oversize, and mill the front and back faces parallel. |
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This simple jig (50 x 50 x 70mm) can be held at
any desired angle in your milling vice and used
to mill the front chafer - with the front and back
face parallel; set-up time for milling is very quick.
A similar jig can be made for grinding this chamber. |
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This ricasso is then clamped in your parallels on
the front line of the bolster, in this case the
rivet holes are drilled 6mm back from this line,
hence the two drill bits and Perspex spacer. |
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Superglue the bolster in place - clamp up and allow
to dry.
NOTE: The tapered tang
shown stops just short of the front of the bolster
- it can also stop at the back of the bolster if
in a straight line - or the taper on 3mm steel can
be taken over the full width of the ricasso. |
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At the drill dress - insert a drill/rivet into a
tang rivet hole (tight fit required) and resting
the knife on a flat rectangular block of wood held
in the vice adjust the angle of this "drill
block" until the two drill bits are parallel
- tighten the vice. Drill all the rivet holes -
remember to remove the burrs etc. after each hole. |
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