Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Heat #1 2021 S35VN

First of all Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.
Here is hoping 2021 makes some improvements.

I am going to start drilling, profiling and bevel grinding blade blanks in January for my first run of S35VN
I will use Bos Heat Treat for hardening of the blades. Target is 61Rc.
There are 8 fixed patterns that BigDave has offered to post pics of here for your review. I can do some other special
patterns if requested.
Blades will have a flat bevel grind.
Some patterns offer applied guard , no guard and finger notch or with neither that I will identify.
Micarta, G10 and some nice wood I have on hand will be the preferred handle scales, but ask for other interests.
You can express interest on this thread, but details will be thru another channel.
You can pm me here, call my home phone (leave message if I don't answer) or email me.
I can send text pics from a cell phone if needed.

Pics will show up sometime this evening, thanks to BigDave.

Thanks for your interest.
Tim

PS: Some have already spoken for knives from this batch. I have notes on this and will contact you, but don't hesitate to contact me either.

Merry Christmas Tim!

I sure like Tim's numba four....

Two number 3s please. I’ll text you again.

Tim,

Which are are the .100”?

Thanks a bunch for the posts Dave.

1,2,3,7 and some 8 are ground to .125" (1/8").

4,5,6 and some 8 are ground to .096" (3/32")

1,2,3 you can option for applied guard, or a finger notch, or neither, or both.

1 and 2 are basically Bob Loveless patterns. Rest are mine.

I plan on mostly nickle silver hardware.

All will have flat scales except 7 which will have a round for handle.

We are looking a approximately 2-3 months or so out for first finished product.

Thanks all
Tim

4,5,6 and some 8 are ground to .096" (3/32")

At the spine. and yes I corrected my mistake to 3/32"

Tim,

1 number 6, please. If possible with orange g-10 or micarta. You've got my cell. Sorry we didn't hook up during deer season.

Merry Christmas,

Dave

Dave
You got it.
Thanks
Tim

Tim,
I'd like a #4. I'll send a pm.
thanks

CPM S35VN is my favorite steel for thin edged fixed blade knives 6" and under.

Number two looks nice, Loveless style; what's the size?

Approx dimensions on #2 classic Bob Loveless drop point.
oal 8 1/2"
cutting edge 4"
width 1+

Or compare to the ruler included in the pic above.

Thanks for looking.

Guess I should have included some names to go with the numbers.
1. Bully Bob
2. Bob
3. Trail Boss 45
4. 5" Boning knife
5. Drop Point 8"
6. Michigan Slim
7. Hill Country
8. 5" Skinner.
Thanks for all the interest.
Tim

Pm sent
I’m in for a #1 bully bob and a modified #4 5” Boning knife

Tim,

I sent you a PM regarding a #7 hidden tang(Hill Country) pictured on the far right....really like that one with stag handle and silver guard. Very nice!!!!

Mike

Tim,
I will take a #6 Michigan Slim. PM sent.
405wcf

I'd like the same. Let me know price and any other details. Thanks. I'm sending pm now.

Ok, I am going to have to call this enough for now.

I will do another batch next year late spring, summer or.

It will be S35VN also.
I may also slip in small batch of CPM M4 to clean up the material I have on hand sometime next year.

Thanks
Tim

I pm'd you back, Tim.. I was interested in #6 like Timber...orange G10, if possible. Thanks

UPDATE
So I ended up with about 40 blades for this grind/heat treat.

I am going to do them in two batches right back to back.

The blade blanks are flat surface ground.
I have started drilling holes in the handles for the first half. I will grind the bevels next and send to heat treat.

While those are out, I will drill and grind the second half and send them to heat treat.
Most of the blades with guards will be in the second half. I fit and drill the guards prior to heat treat.

I hope to be starting to assemble some by Feb and then make sheaths.
For the 24HR customers there could be some ready for shipment by end of Feb and all done hopefully by end of March.
Or so.......

The garage is cold and I am retired.

Tim

sounds like a LOT of work Tim!

Hey Tim, I didn't realize that boning design had taken off, glad to see it's working for so many others.

Rick
Yeah there is some calling for it. Thanks for planting the seed.
This will be the third steel I made it with. 154CM and S30V previously

The first couple I did were a little larger and per your request I trimmed it down some.

I have the set of boner and bnt that you made a double sheath for. Finally had to replace
the mountain mahogany on the boner. My repair to the wood cracking did not last during use
on a doe I shot this year. I like the mountain mahogany you gave me and also like desert
ironwood, but they sure do have some structural issues to go along with the age and twisted grain.

Good to hear from you.
Tim

Yep, that mountain mahogany is not a good handle material but it took years to learn that. The wood is holding up on our everyday kitchen knives but I used the straight grain pieces and they are without character. I was always embarrassed by my sheath work and it's not much better now.

I'm headed on a high fence cow elk harvest next week. I'll carry along those two knives you handled with my elk antler although I'm just along as an observer. I plan to guide there next fall.

Hmmmmm.
High fence and guide. Sounds like an oxymoron

Just kidding. That is a long way from your way back in excursions.
But there are those who can use your help I am sure.

I've hunted high fenced areas that were 17000 acres. I don't think the fence mattered. And then I've hunted Idaho's backcountry where you were guaranteed game once you reached the spot.

And probably my best example was when hunting Kyrgyzstan and asked if I wanted to add a Marco Polo sheep. Master hunter said they were easy, we could get a good one in a single day of hunting. All of the sheep lived on the same mountain, we could see the mountain and it wasn't that big, you know sort of like them being fenced in. They kept lowering their price and stopped at $14k which is a screaming deal for one but still far more than I was willing to spend. I still agree with my decision to pass on one.

Yeah, 17000 acres would not seem like a high fence.
Every once in a while I drive past one here in MI that is not even 100 acres of hunting area.
It is that sort of thing that I think of when high fence hunting is mentioned.

I have some of the blades in S35VN out for heat treat. I did the ones without guards first.
I am now pre-fitting the guards, then grind the blade bevels, then off to heat treat also.

Got a touch of a cold or ??? and the garage is darn cold, so slowed up a bit.

I have some of the blades back from heat treat.

Starting to work on final grinds and handles.

Tim

Good to hear...anxiously waiting!

I sharpened one of the S35VN blades today. It took a very nice and sharp edge quite
easily. I have not done any cutting yet to see how well it holds that edge, but certainly
looking good so far.

I will be passing a couple knives to Doug for sheaths today, so some will be ready to ship
later this month and I will keep the process going. Damned cold in the garage, so work a little
and warm a bunch and repeat.

PS: I have pic of some of the first blades ready for assembly if someone wants to get the pic
in a message and post it here.

Tim

send it to me Tim

Those are looking good
Thanks for posting progress pictures

Good deal. Post some more pics if you can.

Thanks to Mannlicher for posting the pic for me.

This is the first half batch to heat treat. Smaller blades and without applied guards.

Rest are out to Bos HT now.

Thanks All
Tim

What was the turn around time and what hardness did you ask for? I have two batches enroute to him now.

Usually have them back within 3 weeks of day shipped to him.
I ship Priority both ways.
I asked for 61 Rc.. Final reading about 60.6 Rc on first ones back which are
taking and holding a real nice edge for me.

Interested in the number 3 and number 8. Could you please PM me the prices?
Thanks

Looks like a 5 inch skinner will be coming my way.
Thanks

Tim,

eMail sent for a #3 Trail Boss quote. I would like it to closely match my existing #5 Drop Point. I sent you a couple of pics on my email too.

Many thanks ahead of time.

Jon
I answered your email.
I should have an extra blade for you.

Thanks
Tim

Neat to see things rolling along as they progress. Thanks Tim!

Right now, I am nearly at a frozen stand still.

Some knives out for sheaths.
Some ready to go out for sheaths,
Some ready to be assembled.
Some still out for heat treat.

And before you say that I should put some source of heat in the garage,
then I would feel obligated to do a lot more and for now I have enough on my plate.

Thanks
Tim

I thought it was cold down here in Wild Wonderful West Virginia, but Michigan is another kind of cold that has to be experienced, but not more than once, in my opinion.

Goodness Tim, stay inside where it's warm. I can't speak for others, but don't feel any obligation to work on my knife until the weather warms up enough to be comfortable and enjoy working.

8-12" coming here tonight and in the single digits. Only good news is I get my 2nd Covid shot tomorrow.

It is warming some. Headed into the 30s in a few days.
We get our first shots today.

First couple of knives from the S35VN build shipped out today.

Couple dozen in the queue for finish grind, assemble guards, assemble handles, finish, sheath, and sharpen.

Thanks
Tim

It seems to me like this CPM S35VN at 60/61 Rc is taking more effort to sharpen than
other steels I have used in the past.
Anxious to hear from customers on how the edge retention on these goes for them.
And the touch up as required.

Thanks
Tim

Yep, I have switched to the edge pro Matrix diamond stones. Even abrasive blasting them with 80 grit AO I had to up the air pressure to get a consistent finish.

Shipped a couple more.
I am working on them and some more notices this weekend.
Thanks
Tim

my new Olt knife showed up in yesterday's mail. I could not be more pleased!. Tim did a slack belt convex on this one, and the handsome handle is dyed Camel bone, one of my favorite materials. Hair popping sharp, and easily cuts dry Ash, Oak and Hickory wood. The shape is my old design from 2011, but made longer.

I received mine in the mail on Monday too. It looks fantastic, and feels great in the hand. Great job Tim! Thanks again for using the maple that I provided for the handle; you made a new family heirloom.

Received my #1 last week, looks like it may well become my favorite skinner!!!

Very happy with the quality of workmanship. I have large hands and this skinner fits them perfectly. Anticipate ordering a boning knife in the future.

Shipping some more out next week and working on the last batch that
should go out around the end of this month.
Then a couple stragglers after that.
Thanks
Tim

I like that design.

thanks, I am quite proud of it. The one below was the original, in S30V. My design, and Tim's impeccable execution. Dyed Camel bone handles on both

Well, this was a heck of a run. Down to one knife left to ship and the list will be completed.

I do have a couple hardened blades left over.
I will be doing a heat #2 sometime later this year.
I have some customs to do out of the sheet steel I have left.
I also have a small pile of blade blanks to drill, grind, etc of the same patterns we did in heat #1.

Some time I will finish off the M4 I have left also.

Thanks to all. It was a good project. Thanks for the support and comments.

Tim

Going to work on another S35VN batch later this year.
Knives s/b done this fall or possibly later.
Same basic line up as on page 1 of this thread. Possibly a couple customer
customs thrown in.
Let me know.
Thanks
Tim

If you are thinking about getting this next run, now is a good time
to let me know what you are thinking.
Thanks
Tim

Starting to put together the blanks for S35VN grind #2 so.......
I plan on batch #2 blades ground and drilled and ready for heat treat by end of this month (or sooner),
Thanks
Tim

I will be grinding the blades for heat #2 of the S35VN steel this next week
and get them off to heat treat at Bos H.T.
Got a couple interesting requested customs in this batch.
Tim

Received my knife today from Tim..It is outstanding and looks good too.

Gonna work up batch #3 in S35VN.

Be a winter project with finished knives sometime in the spring of 2022.

Got some left over blade blanks to work up and some custom orders to work on.

See the pic on page #1 of this thread for the regular patterns.

PM me if any interest.

Thanks
Tim

Just a batch #3 reminder.

Tim,
Is the #5 at .096" the same pattern as my M4 knife?

No, the S35 blade is about 1" longer than your M4 knife with a little more gentle lines.

Another great general purpose pattern, at least in my opinion.

I do have one of those small M4 blades left over and not handled yet if interested.

Enough spoken for to make a nice batch for this winter/spring.

Having trouble getting thru to my steel guy. Should not be a problem.

Tim,

Still loving the #6 in M4. Would be the knife that would take care of every buck that I’d shoot for the rest of my life.

S35V may be a better steel, but I’m a simple man, so don’t know how that would be possible.

Thanks for making it for me.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Frank

Frank
Good report.
Keep stuff that works and use the heck out of it.
Tim

S35VN steel is in transit.

Starting to cut out blade blanks in prep for flat grinding to thickness and to
remove mill finish.
That S35VN seems to be hard on band saw blades as compared to other steels I have used.

Sweet Geebus, that's beautiful.

Better than M4? Say it ain't so.

Used my new Skinner on 4 deer this year. A touch of the steel and it will shave hair. If you decide to make a boning knife please post the particulars.
Happy camper

Check out pattern #4 in the pics on the first page of this thread.

I've got a piece of mammoth ivory that i'd like to use for scales on a custom. You ever do anything with ivory?

Yes, I have done a few with ivory, both ancient and fresh.

The rule for ivory is not if it will crack, but when will it crack. A lot of the ancient stuff already has
cracks and layer separations and outcome can be questionable.

What you got and what you looking for????
Thanks
Tim

Tim's boners rock....

Huntsman,
Interesting choice of words, lol.
One concern I have about his #4 is it to thick? Is it flexible enough to handle boning out back straps and tenderloins on white tails?

sw, mine is S30V at .100. It has very little flex, but I've NEVER needed flex to remove backstraps, tenderloins or ANY boning chore on big game...... It's a boner, not a filet knife.

I have a couple 5" Boner blades in S35VN left over. They are at about .096"-.100" thick.

I personally don't care for much flex. I like to know where the blade is cutting even when
filleting fish.
Tim

Tim, I'd be interested in one of those boners (#4 pattern, I guess).

I'll send you a pm about the details

Roger that.

Well I am moving along slowly. Cold as hell in my unheated garage.

Keep the faith. Some heat treatment not far away.
Thanks
Tim

Starting to ship knives from this last build.
Should get them out in April or May.
Will send message when about ready to ship.
Thanks
Tim

Mine made it and I couldn’t be anymore pleased with them. Feels great to my hand and I really like the pattern. Just a top shelf knife and sheath. I look forward to using one and the other will be a gift.

I got a #4 boner pattern and have been really happy with it. Great workmanship.

It's on kitchen duty until the fall I guess but it's excelling at that too.

I'm gonna check in about a Michigan slim from Tim as well

I guess I should have mentioned that I got the dropped slim. Slightly modified from his original slim. I copied JCMCUBIC’s knife. Really happy with it.

Just an update.
I am shipped up to date except for one no show who does not return messages
that his knife is ready.

I will be working up some more S35VN off and on as the summer/fall progresses
and I have some leftover blades available of various patterns.

Thanks
Tim

I took apart 4 deer Thursday I shot on crop permits. I’m very happy with this knife. Highly recommend.