Philthy's Blog

Folding Bottomfeeder

phil — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:05:17 +0000

Well believe it or not I actually got around to making my first folder. Appropriately enough it is based upon my Bottomfeeder design and it is one that I have been promising for a long, long time. Amazing what you can get done when you get “restructured” out of your job .

This prototype is sporting carbon fiber scales, .08″ thick Titanium liners, D2 steel blade and is a beefy liner lock. There is absolutely no blade play, the lock is rock solid and it fits in your hand like it grew there. Even closed you want to reach out and drag someone down with the titanium “tail”. I am very happy with it as my first folder but will probably tweak the design a bit. I like it but may want a wider blade closer to what is seen in the fixed blade Bottomfeeder. Pics up shortly.

Still here, believe it or not

phil — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:02:29 +0000

I know it has been a long time but I hope to keep up some posts here from now on. I actually have a prototype Bottomfeeder folder in the works, and just attended my first Hammer in just South of Baltimore in Marriottsville, MD. (pics soon) Of course there are four pipes in various stages of completion on the bench as well. So please come back soon and I should have more for you.

Sidewinder Sheath for HAK

phil — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:03:26 +0000

I don’t know why this didn’t occur to me before, but it did not. I recently got a request for a Sidewinder sheath for a Frontsight Hide Away Knife more commonly known as HAK. For those that do not know the HAK is a very popular economical knife available in several different blade configurations.

As soon as I got the request for the sheath, it was obvious that it would fit into the Sidewinder design without a problem. Unlike some knife configurations this was a one shot to production phase.

In addition, after production it also released properly and fit on my belt line as anticipated. The angle of the D-ring handle to the blade allows the handle to sit a little lower and flatter than you might think. It might not be the best picture, but you try taking a picture of something on your own belt! I already have another request for one of these and I am sure it will not be the last.

Neck Knife

phil — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:08:17 +0000

After much too long I am trying to pay some attention to my blog. Recently I found a large cutoff from a Damascus knife I had made. Never one to let something go to waste I decided to see what I could do with it while I was waiting on some pieces to heat treat.

After I got started I found that I actually liked the design I came up with. It has a three finger grip and a small cutaway where a tether or lanyard can be attached. I think a lanyard is usually a good idea, but almost a necessity in a small blade like a neck knife. This blade fits in the hand facing forward or reverse for IET (Inverted Edge Tactics) which is a purely defensive edged weapon concept.

Finished Bottomfeeders

phil — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:17:56 +0000

I managed to finish my Bottomfeeder custom knives just in time for the Blade Show in Atlanta. I was up till after midnight and wasnt even packed yet. Here is a family shot of the knives.

I beadblasted two of them for a more subdued tactical look that I really like. The others were polished. You will see black canvas micarta, jadegreen micarta (seaglass), ebony, and cocobolo. The seaglass and beadblasted finish was the definite favorite. More to come soon

Time Well Spent

phil — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:46:44 +0000

There are few things, if any, in this world that are as enjoyable as spending time with my family. When I speak of spending time, I don’t mean sitting in the living room watching TV and not speaking to each other. When I can lever my tired butt up and get moving, I find it worthwhile just to actually turn off the TV and DO something. Usually getting started is just a matter of inertia. Put my wife and kids in the mix and it changes from time wasted to time treasured. It may be as simple as playing a silly word game or cards at the kitchen table, or as involved as getting outside and going camping, hunting, fishing, or skiing.

I look back and my heart aches at the missed opportunities to spend time with my boys. I can sit in the corner and cry about it or I can make sure I don’t miss any more time. My hobby’s and interests get put on hold for time with my family unless I can involve them. I am not a martyr, I do this because that time with my family is worth more to me, its not a sacrifice.

Enough of my maundering (meaningful as I feel it is) and on to the point. It wasn’t easy but I forced myself to get moving, pull gear together, brave the overcast chill weather, and take my youngest fishing this last Sunday.

It was super. We climbed around rocks, and waded into the chilly water when the stream bank wasn’t working out. I taught him to use a spinning real instead of his old zebco and he did an outstanding job with it. I caught no fish, but he did catch a nice smallmouth.

All too soon it was time to go. Like his father he wanted to try just one more spot. Daddy knows where that leads- and entire day can disappear trying just one more spot, so we left. We will be back. Or we willl be somewhere else …together. Hopefully, we can get his big brothers to go and maybe even my wife.

Solid Endlinks for a 6309 (part II)

phil — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:32:47 +0000

I felt like crud last night so I wasn’t going to grind knives. I went to my shop figuring I would work on the endlinks for my Seiko 6309. I cut the piece I was working on from the big section of stainless barstock to allow me to start fitting it to the watch. I ground the width down so it fit between the lugs. Then I ground off a lot of excess hanging on the bottom. (This all was not a rapid process.)

Hand fitting it to the watch, it is starting to look recognizable. I took it to another grinder with a smaller wheel to get the radius to fit the watch case of my 6309. Back to the big wheel to finish the radius. Its getting small now and hard to hold onto, especially when it starts to heat up.

Zip! What was that? It was the endlink popping out of my hand, off the spinning grinder wheel and off to somewhere unknown. I tore my shop apart two and one half times looking for this piece but no joy. Crap! Crap! Crap! Oh well, I feel like grinding on my Custom Bottomfeeder knives now.

By the way, as I got undressed for bed I heard something drop on the carpet. Of course, I think no way. Sure enough it is the endlink I had looked everywhere for. Somehow it must have lodged on/behind my belt. More to follow.

Solid Endlinks for a 6309

phil — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:04:17 +0000

Well I cannot explain the attraction to watches, but I cannot deny it either. Anyway, I have beadblasted my Seiko 6309 and installed a domed crystal so it is really starting to grab some attention. I really want some solid endlinks for my oyster bracelet though. Noah Fuller and Yobokies from the SCWF have been helpful and have some kickin parts, but no joy on the solid endlinks for a 6309.

That means I do it myself. I started last night from a bar of solid stainles. This is going to be slow work let me tell you. The end result will hopefully make it worthwhile. Pics to follow.

Or maybe not. I took a picture with my camera phone and needless to say it was lousy. I will take better pictures as I proceed.

Bottomfeeders – still working

phil — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:47:49 +0000

I made a little progress this weekend – in spite of having to rewire my disc sander when it decided to go belly up. These are almost ready for heat treat. I just need to clean up the grinds a bit with 220 grit, drill the holes for the handle slabs and these custom Bottomfeeders will be good to go. Should have them back in about a week from heat treat.

WIP – Bottomfeeders

phil — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:35:02 +0000

This is the first time I have really done a “batch” instead of one by one. I was trying to build some inventory but three out of these five are already sold. I am going to have to kick it up a notch or two. They are 5/32″ thick ATS34 stainless steel with two serrated thumb rests on the spine. Going to try and keep up with the progress pics on these.

Here is the bar of ATS34 with the pattern drawn ready for cutting on the bandsaw.

And here they are rough cut from the bar and ready for profiling on the grinder.