Levi Knife

[ToverT]

I thought I needed one more thing to make for my craft show this coming weekend so I made this Hunting knife made with an old pair of Levi Jeans from my cloths closet.
I used 40 layers of levi material (20 on each side) to make the handel.

My scroll saw and a #5 UR blade to profile the handle.  The scroll saw comes in really handy for my knife making projects.

Thanks for Lookin

Tommy T

[DWSudekum]

That is a sharp looking knife Tommy ( pun not intended ).  Thanks for sharing this with us.


DW

[EIEIO]

Slick. How do you laminate the denim?

[jrpeteo]

Now there's something I've not seen before. Very nice!
Pete

[ToverT]

Slick. How do you laminate the denim?

I cut the Levi's into about 10" X 4 1/2" (depending on the size of the knife) to make apprx 40 layer's.  Yes thats a lot of cutting!  Then I soak each layer in resin (yes that's a lot of resin) and lay them on top of each other.  Then clamped very tightly between two piece of wood with wax paper beteen the material and the wood.  Tight tight tight until you hear the wood creek!  Leave sit for 24 to 48 hours.  I'm left with a block of denim.  I treat the denim like any piece of wood.  Start the handle making process, then shaping on the vertical sander and hand sanding to shape.

Thanks for your kind words!

Tommy T

[EIEIO]

That's clever. I think that's similar to how Micarta was made by Westinghouse in the 1970's, but using linen rather than denim. It sure makes a nice looking handle. Thanks for the details.

[wombatie]

How very unusual.  Where did you get the idea from Tommy?

Marg

[newfie]

beautiful knife Tommy.do you make the blades yourself or purchase them already done if so do you have a good supplier? i was interested in knife making myself but can't seem to find any suppliers online.

[Russ C]

Awesome job, I like it. Thanks for posting. 

[frankorona]

Awesome job, looks great and wonderful idea, thanks for sharing

[ToverT]

beautiful knife Tommy.do you make the blades yourself or purchase them already done if so do you have a good supplier? i was interested in knife making myself but can't seem to find any suppliers online.

  I buy the blades on line here:    http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index.php

Marge, as EIEIO said Micarta has been around for a long time.  I've made many knives using this process, even one from a pine cone, deer antler medallions, dried moss, linen, burlap, on and on.  They always sell pretty quickly.

[Tomsunnu]

Tommy,thanks for sharing the procedure,a lot of hardwork goes into this one of a kind knife in the world beautifully done.

Mahendra

[newfie]

beautiful knife Tommy.do you make the blades yourself or purchase them already done if so do you have a good supplier? i was interested in knife making myself but can't seem to find any suppliers online.

  I buy the blades on line here:    http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index.php

Marge, as EIEIO said Micarta has been around for a long time.  I've made many knives using this process, even one from a pine cone, deer antler medallions, dried moss, linen, burlap, on and on.  They always sell pretty quickly.

ok thanks Tommy

[chelcass]

Wow! Awesome looking knife.  Interesting process you go thru for making the handle.  Thanks for sharing.

[Keefie]

that looks fantastic.