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"Memento Mori" or "Remember You Will Die" From medieval Christian time, Memento Mori is Latin for "Remember You Will Die" and is a reminder to reflect on mortality. Live right, do the right thing while we are here in this short period of time.Paul-Emmanuel Arestan has taken this motto on in a stunning piece pictured below.The blade is etched before heat treatment, the steel is RWL34. The handle is Trustone Black with gold web, a material consisting of crushed stone in resin, inlayed wi …

It's been awesome over the past couple of years seeing photographs of knife makers from all over Australia, and talking with them at the various events held promoting the craft of knife making. The stories of how people have found themselves neck deep in an amazing new hobby have been fun to hear about, and so we've decided to begin asking some makers some questions about what they do, how they do it, and why - and share it with the knife making community!  Without further ado, please …

How To Heat Treat 9Cr18Mo Stainless Steel9Cr18Mo is a stainless knife steel in the 440C family.Heat treatment requires good temperature control and for optimal results, also a cryo treatment.For instance dry ice and methylated alcohol mixed in a cooler.Decent results can be achieved without the cryo step.Note: All times start at temperature, meaning not until the steel is the listed temperature. Ramp times are not included in the time listed.How to Heat Treat 9Cr18Mo or any other 440C famil …

Instructions for Brisa EnZo kits:Tools Required: Epoxy glue, for instance Max Strength Araldite (2 component epoxy)Acetone and kitchen paperFlat head screw driverFile and sand paperOptional: Oil or wax to seal the handle (if wood)Step 1: Dry fit the handle scales and corby bolts to make sure everything fits together. If the red spacers are not attached to the handle scales, epoxy these on and when dry, drill or cut holes for bolts and cut to size of handle scales.Step 2: Epoxy handle …

How To Heat Treat Simple Carbon Steels:The short version:Heat the steel to non-magnetic any way you can (815 C / 1500 F)No hold time required, just get the entire blade to this temperatureQUICKLY quench in luke warm Canola oil (oil is 30-50 C / 86 F-122F)Sand the flats with some sand paper (just enough to get a few shiny sections)Temper the blade in the stove for 2 hours x 2 at 200 C (390 F)The long version: (more detailed info on heat treatment and why you should do it this way)Simple carbon st …

Paul E Arestan is an artist and knifemaker, living on the side of Mount Nebo in Queensland.He is one of those makers you easily recognise the work of, blending the artistic with the skillful. Often etched, his work mix materials, form and function to a truly unique result. Black bamboo roots, glass eyes, antique silverware and painstakingly creating layer upon layer of etching can be found in his work.Paul is regarded one of the top makers in Australia, presenting at shows both here and internat …

Making the TinyAxe for my sonThe below are some photos showing how I made my son a small axe. The size makes it a toy rather than a usable tool, but then again he was 5 years old at the time. Ended up being a fun project and quite a learning process.I started out with a small piece of W2 carbon steel and pre-drilled a pilot hole for the handle, thinking this would be easy to drift out on such a small piece. The drift I made from a 1/4" mild stainless steel handle pin that I ground down a bit;In …

Justin Hansen from HCK Knives sent a couple of photos today.A very nicely done hollow-ground bowie with handle in polished buffalo horn and inserts front and back of Juma Ivory Snake before the brass guard and butt cap. Blade in 440C heat treated with included cryo treatment before tempering for optimal performance.Justin and Jim's work can be seen on the Facebook group HCK Knives: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1906499186265071/ …

We love getting photos of completed projects!Check out this little gem that arrived today, from Chris P:Paring Knife 90 with G10 handle scales and brass pins, using alternating sizes for the pins.Looking very nice, Chris! …

Scott Reynolds sent us another couple of recent knives. Here is one in Juma and Stainless Steel damascus, clean lines and good attention to detail as always on this one.To me it comes across as especially clean due to the simple, white colour of the handle.I think this is a good knife design decision, over using a "complicated" material for the handle of a damascus blade. Thinking that the blade of a damascus knife draws the eye to it due to the pattern. Leaving the handle a single material …