Completed just in time for Christmas!

[Derek Cohen]

This one went down to the wire as I started it late. Got it finished today.

A couple of months ago I found three rather battered Sabatier chef knives - all minus their scales ...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Knives/Knife%20block%20for%20Christmas/Knives-thestart1.jpg


This is how they looked when new ..

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Knives/Knife%20block%20for%20Christmas/Sabatierknives.jpg

These are good quality knives and were not worthy of such an end to their lives.

I had this idea that I could bring them back to life. A little differently (of course - that's where the fun lies. These may be a Christmas gift, but the pleasure is partly in the making).

So I ground away the steel handles (avert your eyes if squeamish)...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Knives/Knife%20block%20for%20Christmas/Knives-shaping1.jpg

Ground away the front bolster for a ferrule ..

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Knives/Knife%20block%20for%20Christmas/Knives-shaping2.jpg

.. and turned new handles out of Rock She-oak. This wood has the most amazing fiddleback figure. And this is what appeared ...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Knives/Knife%20block%20for%20Christmas/Knivesfinished1.jpg

I managed to get the knives done last Sunday. Today I built my first knife block out of Jarrah. The finish for both knives and knife block is a little buffing oil followed by Shellawax.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Knives/Knife%20block%20for%20Christmas/Knifeblock1.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Knives/Knife%20block%20for%20Christmas/Knifeblock2.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Knives/Knife%20block%20for%20Christmas/Combo1.jpg

Thanks for sharing it with me.

Merry Christmas all!

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jeff Wittrock]

T
These are good quality knives and were not worthy of such an end to their lives.


You have given those knives back the dignity they deserve and a new life. Beautiful work.

-Jeff

[Mark Stutz]

Derek,
As always, beautiful! What a novel idea:cool:...I was expecting new scales out of Jarrah, or Ebony, or such. The turned handles give it a little extra pizzaz.:cool::D

Mark

[Richard Magbanua]

Beautiful Derek!!! Would love to see pics of the knife block being made if you took any.

Merry Christmas!

[Derek Cohen]

Thanks Mark.

Richard, I just did not have the time for pictures. When I write reviews I usually do them as part of a project. Taking photos really slows everything down (for every 1 picture you see, I took 10 you don't see!).

I will describe a little. Basic stuff, I think.

The knife block is actually 5 pieces jointed together. Three were rectangular, and two were triangular (I am not sure if the pictures show it, but the block tapers down at both ends and curves across the top. Triangular pieces were glued between the straight sections. To get the mortices for the blades I simply ran three of the rectangular sides across the tablesaw. The kerf was perfect for the blades.

The block was shaped with hand planes, mainly a jack for removing waste fast, and then a smoother and scrapers to clean up. Block plane on end grain. Fun stuff.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jim Koepke]

As usual, very nice.

jim

[Jeff Skory]

Beautifully done Derek! This will definitely make for a very eye catching kitchen counter top piece. Just out of curiosity, have you ever used kitchen knives with round handles? I don't believe I have ever seen any. Didn't know if they would be difficult to wield.

[glenn bradley]

Those turned handles are an unexpected pleasure. Beautifully done.

[Phillip Pattee]

Great job as usual Derek. I, and I think most of us, would have just put new scales on. But you are more creative and have vision for such things. I really appreciate your artistry.

[Dave Jeske]

Bravo Derek! Those will make some mighty fine knives.
Thanks for sharing.

[jerry nazard]

Here in Virginia, a Christmas table is not complete without Smithfield ham. I am envisioning the ham being carved whilst paper thin slices are measured with digital calipers....

Merry Christmas Derek!

[Gary Herrmann]

Beautiful work on the handles and the block Derek. And a good save on the steel. Yet another project to go on the never ending list of things to emulate.

[John Keeton]

Beautiful save!! The knife block is exceptional.

[Steve Thomas]

Looks great but what does a round handle feel like in action?
Is there much control, because I know your habbit of sharpening can get pretty fine, a d I wouldn't want any missing finger tips...

[Derek Cohen]

I was asked this by a Japanese friend, who was concerned that they may turn in my hand. I said to him that I thought that the traditional Japanese chef knife (which I had seen in pictures only) had a round handle. It turned out that they were oval. I have only used the knives a few times but I do have another one that I have used a lot. I find this style handle very comfortable. It is also very grippy. I think that this is due to the taper as this causes one to point with a finger (as you would a handsaw), and this stabilises the blade.

Here is a picture of the other knife I mentioned. I came up with this design about a year ago, and I thought it would look good on these Sabatier knives as well. It is, in fact, a handle I added to a 1/2" wide kiridashi. This knife is designed for heavy scoring, which is does without any slippage. The handle is ebonized Jarrah.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Marking%20and%20Measuring/Knife-frontofblade1.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Marking%20and%20Measuring/Knife-backofblade1.jpg

My 16 year old son liked it so much that I made him a miniature version with a piece left over (can you tell that he is left handed?)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Marking%20and%20Measuring/FatherandSon1.jpg

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Dan O'Sullivan]

Derek
After you reground the steel and turned the handles, how do you final fit the handle to the straight shaft? The original handles have rivets and the refits do not. Epoxy?

Are the tangs shaped a certain way to resist pulling back off?

On files(tapered) I drill a hole in the end grain then heat the tang cherry red and burn the handles in to the hole to shape a tapered square hole. This would not work with the tangs you have here.

Could you add a little tip?

dan

[Derek Cohen]

Hi Dan

The handles were turned and fitted for the ferrules at the same time. Then I reversed the handles in the lathe and drilled a hole that would take the tang of the knife. This is standard procedure when adding a tang to a handle.

Poured in epoxy, slid in the tang, and hey presto! The rounded gaps (from a round hole) on the sides of the straight tang are supported by epoxy and are invisible under the ferrule.

Regards from Perth

Derek