Thread: Show me your knives

Originally Posted by Scouser

A quick question to all our forum knife gurus, im playing with the idea of buying a Condor knife blank off Blademasters and making NZ hardwood scales for it.....

as a 'virgin' which of these three would you suggest, Matai, Totara or Rimu......as regards filing, sanding and the finish at the end....if i dont "bin it'....

Matai then Rimu then Totara in order of suitability if not stabilised

Black maire is a really good native option, very dense timber.

What is involved in stabilising the wood


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Originally Posted by MSL

What is involved in stabilising the wood


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Appropriate resin, a vacuum chamber and lots of time. I don't do it myself personally. Takes to long to do a decent job

Originally Posted by Nick-D

Matai then Rimu then Totara in order of suitability if not stabilised

Black maire is a really good native option, very dense timber.

I used Black Maire on this knife I made 20 odd years ago. It is my go to hunting knife and the handle has not shown any sign of deteriorating.
It was interesting to work. I ended up using an angle grinder to shape it as it was so hard.


I have also used Bamboo flooring as knife handles. It is a bit plain but seems very stable.

Originally Posted by Nick-D

Matai then Rimu then Totara in order of suitability if not stabilised

Black maire is a really good native option, very dense timber.

Big thanks Nick, theres a guy on TM selling pieces and i quote "Shed dry for at leased 20 years" shall i give it a go?

Just finished a lockdown project that was rudely interrupted by another addition to the family.

Originally Posted by Scouser

Big thanks Nick, theres a guy on TM selling pieces and i quote "Shed dry for at leased 20 years" shall i give it a go?

What about Jarra ? Piece off an old hardwood power pole.
Amongst native timber a bit of Rata would be superb. Source would be West coast drift wood

Originally Posted by Scouser

Big thanks Nick, theres a guy on TM selling pieces and i quote "Shed dry for at leased 20 years" shall i give it a go?

Yup if he's not talking shit, good dry timber is a great place to start.

Quick update, John Worthington has made the generous offer to send me some stabilized wood to kick start this project

Please don't expect to see anything soon, I have to wait for level 4 to end so I can purchase the blank

Then I will do a step by step........maaaan, no pressure then!!!!!.....

The eyes of the forum are now upon you

@viper is there any way those of us without facebook can see the models and materials you offer?

Yeah totally, pm me your email address and I will send you through some profile pictures of the various models and photos. I can give you more details within the email.

Viper, I’m also a fan of carbon steel whether it be a Green River skinner or a Svord drop point. How do you rate the steel in a Svord blade compared to those you use?

[QUOTE=Dicko;1219499]Viper, I’m also a fan of carbon steel whether it be a Green River skinner or a Svord drop point. How do you rate the steel in a Svord blade compared to those you use?[/QUOTE

No idea sorry, I have never used a Svord knife and don't know anything about the steel they use.
I am no expert on steels, I know what I like to use and what works for the applications of the knives I make.
If you want to talk to a guy with a vast knowledge of steels and decades of knife making experience then talk to John Worthington on the forum.
He mentors me ( poor bugger ) in knife making.

Originally Posted by Dicko

Viper, I’m also a fan of carbon steel whether it be a Green River skinner or a Svord drop point. How do you rate the steel in a Svord blade compared to those you use?

Svord is L6 carbon steel. It is a basic low alloy tool steel. It doesn't really have any specific carbide forming alloys added so will have the same edge holding as the equivelent simple carbon steel (Although will be a bit tougher due to the added nickel, a function not super important in a hunting knife, simple carbon steels are allready very tough due to fine carbides).

L6 is around 0.7% carbon, and the steel Viper uses is 1084 which is 0.8-0.84% carbon, so his steel will have a bit better edge retention at a given hardness.

The Svord knives are very soft, usually around RC 56, Viper, assuming a standard custom Hest treat protocol for. 1084 is probably somthing in the realm of 59-60rc, quite a lot harder.

In short vipers and most custom knife makers simple carbon steels will eclipse a knife like a Svord.