Step-by-step Claw (photo heavy)

**J. Neilson** · 12-05-2006, 11:32 AM

One of my customers asked for some in-progress pix while I made his knife. I thought I'd share them here as well...

8 1/2" Hunting Claw blade forged out of 1 1/4" JD5160 round stock.

The blade after profiling, thermal cycles and heat-treating along with handle supplies.

Blade ground down to 800 grit on my KMG.

Blade finish started and guard set.

Final finish and hamon line etched.

Handle assembly started.

Handle set to blade.

Handle roughed out.

All done but, the polishing.

Finished piece as set and ready to go to the mountains of Japan!

Here are the specs-
This Big Claw actually has a slightly smaller blade coming in at 8 1/2" of forged 5160JD steel with a lightly etched hamon line on a hand-rubbed finish. The guard is nickle-silver and the pins/lanyard liner are stainless steel. The handle itself is burgundy Micarta with a throat of black Micarta,
copper and black spacers.

**wes** · 12-05-2006, 11:34 AM

J,

Very impressive. Thanks for the photo series.

**Soup_Monger** · 12-05-2006, 11:53 AM

Mesmerising!

I stared at those photos for a long time, your knives have so much character and warmth in them.

Thanks for sorting out the photos of the process, from stock to sale.

I'm off to look at your website again.

All the best J.

**Nowicki** · 12-05-2006, 04:57 PM

As Always.....Vary Nice.

Larry

**Mr.LaBella** · 12-05-2006, 05:48 PM

way cool J. Very impressive.

**Stabber** · 12-05-2006, 10:26 PM

Cool piece J, Great pics!!!:spin:

**Honch0** · 12-05-2006, 10:49 PM

Very impressive to say the least:spin:

**HorizonSon** · 12-08-2006, 06:27 AM

Hubbada - hubbada!!!

**Bladewolf** · 12-08-2006, 11:06 AM

That's one sexy knife...

**J. Neilson** · 12-08-2006, 11:17 AM

Thanks for all the kind words guys.

Here's a similar piece with a 9 3/4" blade I just finished for a fella who apparently fell off the face of the planet...guess I'll be taking this one to the show this weekend.

**Spufnik** · 12-08-2006, 11:21 AM

Ya shure do make sum purddy stuff up in dem dar hills sir

**GODDESS OF VENGEANCE** · 12-08-2006, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Spufnik

Ya shure do make sum purddy stuff up in dem dar hills sir

Great Work J.

**Clydetz** · 12-08-2006, 01:53 PM

Really like the use of copper for the spacers and is that giraffe bone slabs on the 2nd Claw?

**txkaratedude** · 12-08-2006, 02:58 PM

Great looking knife!! Looks like it'd chop 2x4's like butter. You should try it in a cutting competition.

**J. Neilson** · 12-08-2006, 03:13 PM

Giraffe bone it is. Here are the specs...

Here is our "Big" Hunting Claw in a full tang version. The 9 3/4" blade of 5160 has a tapered tang and a hand-rubbed finish (14 1/2" overall length). The blade has a slight convex grind and a bevel on the spine. The guard is nickle-silver. The handle scales are stabilized Giraffe bone with black liners, stainless steel handle bolts & lanyard liner. The knife comes with a full "basket-weave" blade sheath.

This pattern is a great chopper. If the ABS hadn't suspended cutting contests at the Hammer-Ins it most likely would have been my next competition cutter. As it is, the knives I've used for contests have always had some recurve to the blades.