Project 365 - Day 243

Mini Jekyll Flipper (USN Gathering 2013)

2 tone finished Damascus blade (Chad Nichols Damascus) - Carbon fiber with pins.

Project 365 - Day 242

Mini Tank Flipper (USN Gathering 2013)

2 tone finished Damascus blade (Chad Nichols) - Lightning Strike carbon fiber with skull inlay.

Project 365 - Day 241

Mini Saboteur Flipper (USN Gathering 2013)

CTS XHP 2 tome finished blade - Carbon fiber with pins.

Project 365 - Day 240

Mini Jekyll and Mini Hyde Flippers (USN Gathering 2013)

CTS XHP 2 tone finished blades - Carbon fiber scales

Project 365 - Day 239

Scout (2013)

I made this knife to donate to Knife Rights for their annual fundraiser. Thank you to Eric Eggly from Point Seven Studios for the great photo!

Project 365 - Day 238

"What is on the bench" Monday!

Working on the Minis for the Gathering. They should be done right on time for the show!

Project 365 - Day 237

Ares (Early 2000's)

(Photo courtesy of F. Spierings)

Project 365 - Day 236

Impact (2002)

Titanium case - Multi-layers Damascus dial - 12 diamonds hour markers - Stingray band with deployment clasp.

Project 365 - Day 235

More tracking

We also made nets

It was a great course and I really enjoyed myself!

Project 365 - Day 234

Last of the pics from the course:

Chopping wood, making shelters, making bowls and spoons

One of my favorite was man tracking. 

Project 365 - Day 233

More photos from my Bushcraft class

I took a 5.5" Hogue EX-F01 that I had reground to .015 cutting edge which is .010 thinner than production. While cutting the grip was very comfortable more so than the Mora and the other "bush" knives. The F01 was the biggest and heaviest of all the knives in the course, but it allowed me to do things that the others could not do. Located on my knife I had a Leatherman, lighter, flashlight, 15' of 550 cord and of course the knife with options of lanyard attachments and way better steel. I understand the theory on saving weight..........but I am not going to rick my life on a $25-$125 crappy knife.
The knife cut all the wood with minimum efforts and never showed any dulling. As a matter of fact it is still hair shaving sharp even after all the things I cut. I do not know if I am going to change the grind on the production because it would take the knife in a different direction. Earlier this year I took a similar course with a virgin F01 and it performed just fine; just needed a little more juice to finish the task.

Project 365 - Day 232

The reason why I did not show what was on the bench on Monday is that it changed very little since last Monday. I attended Tony Nester's Bushcraft course in the mountains near Flagstaff most of last week. It was a great course and I will be sharing photos for the next few days.

The highest peak near Flagstaff

On our way to base camp

Where we spent the next 4 days

Getting acquainted and tasting the local plants

 Shelter making

Project 365 - Day 231

Flashback! AG Russell Catalog back cover - October 2001

From top to bottom:

Czar - Damasteel blade - Anodized titanium bolsters with ivory scales
Emperor - Damasteel blade - Sculpted titanium framelock
Cortex - ATS-34 blade - Titanium framelock with carbon fiber inlays
King - Damasteel blade - Anodized titanium bolsters with black lip pearl scales
Czar - Damasteel blade - Titanium framelock with dragon scales

Project 365 - Day 230

Pirate (2006)

Titanium framelock with cocobolo insets and Guilloché.

Project 365 - Day 229

Watches I made for my wife and myself (2007)

Titanium cases with knurled sides - Titanium custom crowns - Guilloché dials.

Project 365 - Day 228

Tank Flipper (2011)

Doug Ponzio's Skull Damascus and Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber.

Project 365 - Day 227

Hogue EX-04 with Damascus blade (Blade 2013)

I hand ground and finished some Damascus blades for Hogue for the Blade Show 2013. This is one of the knives.

Project 365 - Day 226

Hogue EX-02 with Damascus blade (Blade 2013)

I hand ground and finished some Damascus blades for Hogue for the Blade Show 2013. This is one of the knives.

Project 365 - Day 225

An oldie but goodie! I made this fixed blade for a friend of mine in the very early days.... and he kept it all this time!

Project 365 - Day 224

"What is on the bench" Monday!

No rest for this knifemaker as I now must make knives for the USN Gathering that will take place at the end of the month!

Can you guess what I am making?

Project 365 - Day 223

Here are the photos of the finished knives:

Project 365 - Day 222

Yesterday I prepared everything for final assembly

Next photos will be of the finished knives!

Project 365 - Day 221

Lhotak Design - Work in progress photos.

This is what I did yesterday:

Project 365 - Day 220

Lhotak Design - Work in progress photos.

This is what I did yesterday:

Project 365 - Day 219

Lhotak Design - Work in progress photos.

This is what I did yesterday: