Pilots Survival Knife

I felt led to make my own rendition of a pilots survival knife.  Mine is a little longer than the standard Ontario or Kabar GI pilot knife.  I upcycled some steel from an antique sawmill blade.  Complete with blood grove.

Cottarknives

Spring 2015

He is some of what I have been working on this spring.

Kitchen knife from antique sawmill blade.  The handle is made of handmade burlap Micarta

Closeup of Burlap Micarta

Custom karambit from an antique sawmill blade

Custom karambit from antique saw blade.  Moonglow handle.

Custom hunting knioe from farrier rasp

Skinner from vintage sawmill blade

Bowie from Owens Handle Co. sawmill blade and stag handle.

Warncliff blade

EDC with Moonglow glow in the dark handle

Kitchen chopper.   Black micarta with Palm wood

New for 2015

This year I am adding a makers mark!  The CK mark stands for CottarKnives.  I use a 20 ton press to stamp the steel.  On annealed flat stock its easier because the steel starts off softer, on the antiques saw blades, I have to anneal the steal which adds an extra step.  I made a fist full of neckers because they are easier to make (no handle material), and fun to carry and use. 

Small skinner / Necker after heat treat

Cottarknife EDC model W/O scales

 



Cordwrapped

Paracord Wrapped EDC

Small Birdhunter

Small Birdhunter Cordwrapped

 

 

12" kitchen knife from antique sawmill blade.  Palm Handle

FireAxe with helmet skull logo and flames reverse acid etched into steel.

Custom hickory handle for fire axe

New concept.  Karambit.

Fire Axe

I had a friend that's been wanting a knife using a material made by TexasBlanks.  He calls this product Hulkinator.  Was very interesting to work with, sanded and worked very well.

New profile. 

 

Just for fun, made some everydaycarry Skull Knucks from bluejean Micarta.

 

Production in December

I spent a lot of time grinding in December.  I had several things I wanted to try to make and wanted to throw together some of my everyday carry models for Christmas presents.  I used up a couple of old saw blades.  Much to my surprise, some original Curtis & Co. Saw stamps appeared in the metal after it was cleaned up.  In my mind, it made repurposing the old steel that much more special!

A small non-folding straight razor and a necker.  The radius behind the blade is the original hole in the center of the antique sawmill blade.  

Kitchen knife from Saw blade and birds eye maple handle.

Ulu from saw blade.  The original manufacturer stamping is visible even after grinding and heat treat.  Curtis Saw Co. Saint Luis, Mo.   Curtin is partially covered by handle.

A kitchen knife from a different saw mill blade.  This steel was deeply pitted on one side, probably from laying outside you years.  This caused the deeper spotting on one side.  I matched it up with walnut handles.

 This ULU cracked during heat treat.  You can see the hairline fracture just to the right of center on the bevel.  It will still find years of productive use around the shop.  Amazing petina.

EDC model with green liners.  From flat stock 1095.

EDC model with orange liners.  Flat stock 1095.

EDC model with sheepsfoot blade and orange liners.  Steel repurposed from a sawmill blade.  Great petina from day one on this blade!

Thin EDC with blue liners.  From a saw mill blade.

These were done by request. More handle than I usually build but really glad that I stepped out because I really enjoyed the feel in my hand after it was finished.

Kitchen knife from saw blade.  Mesquite handles.

My favorite of the month.  8" cleaver/chopper from a saw blade.  This thing turned out scary sharp!  The angular scores are a result of its years of use cutting lumber.

Kitchen Knives from vintage Saw Blade

Spent a couple of weeks making kitchen knives.  Most were cut out of an antique saw mill blade.  You can see the angular scores in the steel from its previous life as a circular blade.  I really enjoy using steel from many generations ago.  All of these knives are between 11.5" and 12.5"  The dark handle is walnut, the light one is birds eye maple and the others are mesquite.  Enjoy!

 

The deep pitting from years of the sawmill blade rusting resulted in a very interesting patina.