well thanks to a lot of help from bret I made a slip joint. I'm sure he was ready to choke me by the time it was done cause i'm slow and wouldn't let him do any of it for me, and it shows, but I bet I asked 10,000 questions and he had to show me stuff over and over but I finally got it done and gave it to my dad. its etched a-2 with bone micarta, its got its problems but I was happy with the way it turned out. once again bret, thanks for all the help

Looks great Ryan,I wish I could have been a fly on the wall,while you two guys were working on it

I'd say it come out pretty good. I'm sure your dad is proud as can be.

You did get the etch good. haha

That is the only thing I could have helped you on it. Looks good and tight. I like the back spring and liner constrast.

Looks pretty damned good from here, and I'm bettin' your dad wouldn't trade it for gold. You must not be as bad as everyone says if you did something that special for your dad. [grins]

Well done

Looks pretty good to me.

I don't see a dang thing wrong with that folder. If it's that easy to make, why do the guys charge so much for one? <evil grin>

That's what I was gonna say...........

thanks for the compliments guys, and my hat is off to the slip joint makers, theres a lot more work in them then most guys will ever know.

vince if you had been a fly on the wall you would have got a laugh, it was mostly me asking the same question over and over and bret wondering why he didn't go find a first grader to teach, i'm sure it have been easier on him, something like this

me: now how did you say to do this?
bret: for the fourth time, like this
me:ok now what?
bret: just give me the knife and let me do it
me: no, just tell me
bret: give the knife
me: no

about here is where bret would want to blow a fuse and wondered how he got talked into helping me do this

Very nice, I sure your dad is very proud of his new knife and you for making it.

Very nice Ryan. I like the looks of that one.

Reno

I'm a sucker for those whitish micartas. Well done man.

woodson, i'm the same, I saw a knife bret had made with it and liked it so much I made this pocket knife and also a matching fixed blade for me with the same micarta

please refresh me on exactly what makes a knife a "slip joint" knife.

I'll try. a slip joint is a folder in which the blade is not locked open or closed.

A lock back will have some sort of device to hold the blade open while in use. The main purpose of the lock back, in my opinion and for my use, is that the lock will not let the blade close on your fingers or hand. A slip joint will let you close it on your fingers, if you try to use it upside down.

I am familiar with two types of lock backs--the liner lock and the locking bar. Some one who can sketch might want to sketch a drawing of the various types of locks, and also a sketch of the slip joint. Which type is best, I can't help you there. For me, the liner lock is the easiest to make.

I guess I don't see why anyone would want a so called slip joint knife. This one pictured here is quite lovely, but it seems like a slip joint is an accident waiting to happen.

Half stops help slow down trips to the plastic surgeon.

And knowing how to use a knife correctly can also be good. Accidents can and will happen but a world without slip joints would just plain suck!! Lol.

Reno

my 6 year old knows which side is sharp. people had them figured for maybe 200 years

Very nice Ryan!

being careless with any tool can cause an accident!

I would feel lost without a nice slip joint pocket knife sitting deep down in the bottom of my right front pocket.