First knife in a long time!!

[chrisinbeav]

Hello all...!

It's been a really long time since I've posted anything here. Perhaps I should tell you where I've been. Some of you may remember that about a year and a half ago my knife making days kind of went in the crapper. Both of my grinders went caput. I was unemployed at the time so I couldn't afford to replace them. I was deeply heart broken... This put me in such a funk that even when my mother bought me a Grizzly grinder I just couldn't get back into it.

Well during the past year I have made a few kit knives, like 4 or 5. Nothing too exciting. I also started to get into woodworking. My wife bought me a lathe, a bought an older table saw, router, etc... I've been making quite a few jewelry boxes and turning a lot of bowls, boxes, and pens. I haven't really sold much of my woodworkings. There is a fellow knife maker up in Washington that bought one. (probably one of the best one's at that)

A couple weeks ago I attended Blade Show West. Wow! You guys are so talented! There was really some stunning knives there, and materials. I was really begining to feel inspired. So I bought a set of Silver Vine scales. Over the past week I made a knife! Man did it feel good!

So here it is:

Blade 1095 with a slight hollow grind, (near flat) I deciced on kind of a satiny finish since there was no hamon to see.
Oil quenched and tempered, (sorry no hamon on this one, I just wanted to keep it simple)
Scales Siler Vine from Gallery Hardwoods and nickel-silver pins
The spine was mildly file-worked




As a little added bonus, I also just completed this kit knife. This is going to be for my Grandpa for Christmas, (so nobdy tell him!)

This is an All American Lockback. Probably one of my favorite kit knives.
Scales are Water buffalo horn and recon turqoise. The spine, a little of the blade, and the butt of the spring were all file-worked. All-in-all this didn't turn out too bad.



I must say, it was really nice to make some knives again. And for all of you that were showing at Blade West, thanks for the inspiration!

Chris Nilluka
Chris Nilluka Designs

[markd]

I think we all hoped you'd be back.

[Dwane Oliver]

Very nice , I love that little kit myself as well. NIce skinner. Great job. I recently came back myself from about 6 months off. Feels good dont it?

[Andrew Garrett]

Chris, It's good to see you back man! Great work on the knives. I especially like the lockback's handle! Very classy!

Great score on that silver vine too!

I suspect you're back for good now?

[chrisinbeav]

Thanks for the warm "welcome back" guys. It's nice to feel appreciated.

As far as, "being back".... well I hope so. I'm definately going to start making more knives. I probably won't be pumping them out like I used to. Woodworking has become a pretty major part of who I am and what I do. Plus I have to start making Christmas presents. (blah...)

I've been eyeing the Silver Vine for about a year now when I saw it for the first time at Blade West last year. It's really sweet stuff. It's a little weird to work with, but I like it anyways.

Chris Nilluka

P.S.: I attached a couple pics of some jewelry boxes I've made, if you're interested...

[IronMonkey]

One of those jewelry boxes is mine. My wife loves it! Hey Chris, when did you go to blade. I sure hope it wasn't Saturday. I was there. Would to have loved to meet you in person. Here's to hoping another kit finds its way to me . Of course that means I may just have to make you a knife or actually pay you instead of sending handle material and steel to pay for it. Daniel

[McAhron]

Everything looks real nice.I liked the folder in particular.

[circlepknives]

Good to see you back Chris! Good work!

[waredbear]

WELCOME Back!!!

GREAT LOOKING KNIVES!!!!! I've wondered what a large wide grain would look like on a knife and I see that it looks really nice. Now I won't hesitate to try some one day. Are the side voids of the file work on the fixed blade filled in with something? It may be the picture angle but it looks like it is a smooth surface across the back of the knife. Most of the time the file work leaves little cavities but on a few they seem to be filled in. How do you do that (if it is filled in)?

The blue, black, gold and silver make a sharp looking folder combination. You can always give it to me if your Grandpa doesn't like it. Keep up the good work.

I really like the jewelry boxes as well. You have a nice contract worked up between the different types of woods. You seem to have two hobbies that you are really talented at.

Keep up the good work.

Reid Allen

[chrisinbeav]

Originally Posted by waredbear

Are the side voids of the file work on the fixed blade filled in with something? It may be the picture angle but it looks like it is a smooth surface across the back of the knife. Most of the time the file work leaves little cavities but on a few they seem to be filled in. How do you do that (if it is filled in)?

Reid,

Yes the file work is filled on that one. When I am epoxying the scales I make sure there is enough to completely fill in the file-work. Down side to doing it this way, it can get kind of messy sometimes. Any voids that may be there after sanding are then filled with CA glue.

Thanks again for all the kind words.

Dan, I went to Blade West on Sunday.

Chris Nilluka

[markd]

I would imagine if you did a knife/box combo there'd be interest, Chris.

[chrisinbeav]

Originally Posted by markd

I would imagine if you did a knife/box combo there'd be interest, Chris.

Yeah I've thought about that..... Check this out...

This is a box I made for my mother-in-law. She has a set of Sheffield knives that were just in a cardboard box.

Chris Nilluka

[markd]

Awesome. Let me add more knives to my collection, then I'll need a box.

[Ice Tigre]

Hey! I wondered where you went!

Nice knives, Still in your style too. Those folder kits are fun ai'nt they? that turquoise looks great on there.

Love the boxes.... I've been getting back into wood work, mostly lathe turning. If you have as much talent with the lathe, as you do with boxes...

G.

[SharpByCoop]

Hi Chris,

Good to see you excited about knives again. Your knives are always cool. Glad they give you enjoyment. Keep at it.

I also liked working on knives and inspired to purchase enough knifemaking equipment to continue. Somewhere along the line my photography capabilities ended up surpassing my 'knifemaking' capability. Since then I have explored this area until it has become much more profitable and just as gratifying. I found a niche and ran with it.

My point here is that I saw you trying to 'compete' with 5000 other makers until it beat you down, but with these collector boxes, you are showing us an area that you are almost alone in capturing. What an asset of talent you have in this area. Explore this to the fullest!

And then make knives also.... Welcome back.

Coop