Today’s knife is another from J. Oeser Custom Knives. What a beauty!
Sep
28
Category Archives: edged tools
Sep
14
friday knife porn #10
This is the “Woodchunk” from Battle Creek Knives. Click the picture to visit the official gallery page including this picture in full size and more!
image © Battle Creek Knives
Sep
07
friday knife porn #9
Maxsteel Custom Knives
Click the Picture to see the Maker’s FB page (larger image) and find more information on this knife!
Sep
05
esee-5 & maxped contest winner video
A video from the winner of the previous ESEE-5/Maxped contest:
Sep
05
laser strike project step two: removing the powder coat
Last night I attacked the Laser Strike with a can of Kleen Strip. In about five minutes the powder coat lifted off the blade and came off like a banana peel. Underneath the powder coat is some sort of grey primer or other coating that is not affected by the paint stripper.
Notice the ‘ESEE-LS’ engraving color versus the round logo color. The ‘ESEE-LS’ was not etched with the etching solution and is the same as it was from the factory. In time this will become very faint.
As you can see in the photo above the grey coating makes the blade look a little worn and dull. We want worn and shiny. Out came the sandpaper and scotch brite pads and I sanded the entire piece of steel.
You can see some of the color coming out of the engraving. I am guessing the dark color is gunk and/or oxidation from the etching process. Over time the engraved areas will likely darken again as a natural patina takes effect. You’ll also notice here the lines in the steel from the factory grinding.
After the sanding was done, I put the handles back on and set the knife to the stone and strop for a while. The steel needs some further preparation for use, mainly grinding a square edge on the spine of the knife so that it will reliable spark a ferrocerium rod. As it is right now the corners of the spine are too round to get a spark.
It is starting to look like a proper woods knife, it just needs some wood handles.
Sep
04
laser strike project step one: etching
Over the weekend I spent some time with my Laser Strike and some chemicals. The solution basically eats away at metal. By dropping it on the laser engraving on the blade of the knife, it deepens the etching further into the metal.
As it does this it also turns the engraving a darker grey/black color, so against the black powder coating of the blade it is hard to photograph. Below is the results of the same process, done on my ESEE-5.
Even against the green coating, it’s hard to see the depth of the etching.
The next step is to use paint stripper to remove the black coating from the Laser Strike. That will get done within the next few days!
Aug
31
friday knife porn #8
This week for Friday Knife porn… my ESEE-5P-OD.
Aug
26
chopping and carving with the esee-5
Aug
24
friday knife porn #7
I realized I skipped last week… so… sorry! Here is this weeks knife porn! A Becker Machax signed by Ethan Becker. This knife and photo belongs to @MitchellHamm
Aug
20
multitools
I have been carrying multitools as long as I can remember. Starting way back as a kid with a cheap Leatherman-like tool that my parents gave to me as a gift. As I got older I purchased a few Leathermans and received a few more as gifts. I’ve had anything from the small novelty or pocket sized ones to the full size super “every tool you’ll never need” tools.
The last few years I’ve constantly had a Victorinox “Swiss Tool” either on my belt or in my laptop bag or backpack. The only bit on it I don’t like is the knife: it is a 2″ blade with all but the bottom 3/4 of an inch or so having serrations. I really do not like serrated knives for tools (ok for some uses in the kitchen) and since I carry a plain edge knife with me anyway it has not been an issue.
The pliers are strong and grip well, the handle is comfortable, and all the other tools have been used frequently for both their intended and not-intended uses. The tool has held up extremely well except for the awl which somehow I managed to put a nick in the edge.
I also just recently acquired a SOG Powerlock tool by way of a contest on a forum I frequent. I’ve been carrying it for the last week or two and have decided it will be the tool that stays in my hip quiver for shooting at the archery range and at 3D shoots when I start attending them. The tool lives up to it’s claims of having some of the strongest gripping and wire cutters due to the unique design of the jaw.
However, I find the tools that are included in the handle to be quite the pain to deploy and put away. The Powerlock has these flip covers that must be flipped up to deploy the tool, and then flipped back down again to close the handles. The biggest issue I have with them is that they are constantly popping off of the tool. You could in theory leave the covers off the tool all together, but they do provide some comfort in the handle when using the pliers. With the covers removed there are some slightly sharp edges that press into your hands when squeezing the pliers, like the old original leatherman tools. Nothing dangerous, just some discomfort over the otherwise comfortable grip with the covers on.
I plan on getting at least two more tools, one of the newer, standard Leatherman models to try out, as well as the Leatherman MUT to throw in my range bag. but I’m also finding I don’t use the pliers part of the tool all that often. Because of this, I will be picking up a SAK Farmer to see how it will be replacing my Swiss Tool as an EDC item.