The last knife before my meeting today. I thought you guys might like this. I wanted to see if I could effectively build a Model 97 from a stick of Stag. I had to conquer the obvious draw back of working with compound curved surfaces. And drilling perfect true, square, perpendicular, parallel holes and slots, THEN .... make the perfect mirror image for the other side. Have it so you can insert a pin in a compound curved surface, and have it slide true and clean thru the mating hole on the other scale. Think about it.

Then, also .... Make metal inserts and bond inside the interior - so that the structure is not counting on the bone for precision or strength. Machine socket. Make mating insert. Permanently bond into place.

Here is a Model 97. Built inside a length of Sambar Stag ... from the Inside Out. Every critical surface is machined into a solid brass insert. I'd have liked to have more width to work with up front. If I make more, I'll turn the stag around. Use the wide end as the front. I've done that before. Decades ago. I forgot that til I was committed on this prototype. It's as smooth as any model 97. And, yet another bag of tricks is now stuffed into my brain. I fear, at this point, when I stuff things in - others fall out the other side. Haha.

Enjoy. Wish me luck. Also, I have to see a Specialist regarding my right eye. I'd appreciate a prayer and good thoughts.

Gary.

Gary
That's another fine tool you made ! Congrats . Your work sells it self . I know you'll do good at your meeting with your new clients. Like I said once your foot is in the door , your work speaks for itself but ..... Hearing you ( the craftsman ) explain it make it even more of a value to the customer . When I've shown friends your talents they are amazed and I can really only tell part of the story and process . I've directed a couple to just check out the rendezvous.
Good luck I'm thinkin if it takes off like gang busters I'll move down to flordia and be your apprentice to help with orders ! I'm really good with grinder / and torches ! Haha

Maybe you got a little cataract like Larry and be an easy fix !
Your friend
Kurt

Thanks
Kurt

Gary,

Even with one "fuzzy" eye I can see that is something a step above. Hard work and getting over those problems produced not just a knife or a tool but moved the bar up for everyone else.

It is a wonder to see.

Larry

Hi Larry,

Hope your eye saga clears perfectly.

I have a bug splat on the inside of my windshield - right eye. It moves with the eye. It's at 2:30 on the edge of my central vision.

Hey ... what doesn't kill ya .... right???? ...... yeah. If anybody ever deserved a knee to the .... it's the Author of THAT gem.

Gary

Hello Kurt,

Thank you sincerely. It's always nice to hear from another hard worker with a bad back, stiff neck, migraines, and who knows the feel of metal splinters.

Hey. I'm gonna just assume that anybody who cares will read the threads. I'll just bury the story here. I had the meeting. It was an unmitigated disaster. I know that, everyone will want details. I can't go very far down that path. Some folks had good intentions. Here's as close as I can come: You invest your life savings to buy a map to the Wise Man who sits in a temple at 27,000 feet. He will share total knowledge with you.

You prepare and you climb thru all that entails. Nearing death, you break out of a blizzard long enough to glimpse the temple. You stagger inside .... into a 1983 Automotive Department. There's a guy at a desk full of brake pads. The oval on his grey shirt says "Vinny". He looks up at you thru a haze of cigarette smoke, nods his head - and says ... "You the guy that wants a set of snow tires?"

You go, "huh? What??"

It was like that. That's all I'm saying about it.

Hey Kurt, I'm decent with a grinder. You looking for an apprentice?

Haha.

Gary

....... I can see it one day Jeff.

A few guys with shovels are being chewed out by the Funeral Director .... One guy moans in a pitiful voice .... "Honest Boss / the guy was dead, I tell ya!"

The Boss Man throws up his arms in disgust ... . "Well - HE's BACK!!! ..... we can't bury him NOW!!" as he kicks dirt .... Stomps off .... why aren't I surprised...?

Beautiful work!

Gary
Well obviously it's a major bummer and for sure you weren't talking to the correct people . On a brighter note look at what you HAVE made in preparation. There are many others out there and you are getting your product seen . We have people at work who are not sales men trying to drum up work in different venues at different companies. It's hard just to get your foot in the door .

It's discouraging but only ONE meeting . Maybe a call back for a couple of names or direction to the correct people . Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for .
There's a lot of old money in flordia !

Thanks
Kurt

what does not kill you makes you stronger... true, except for when it comes to bears......bears will F^@&!^& kill you!!!

Ya know ...... I think I'd take a Bear over Stress. You can understand Bears.



I have to believe, with your forum name, that you have "better than the Average Bear" knowledge of the Critters.

I hear that we actually have Black Bear here in Fla. When I just walked back down from the house, I saw .....



That it's not a Bear Friendly day here. Maybe I'm safe today.

Thanks Griz,

Gary



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/25/2016 08:17PM by barnespneumatic.

Dude,
Some times it just sux to be 'us!' I'm with ya there. Sometimes it just gives one of 'us' a chance to buy a knife we have had our eye on . Sorry about your meeting, but I sure am enjoying eyeing all of the new opportunities for the faithful on the site! In the end though, it ain't nuthin but a thang! Just keep keeping on!
Later,
Jeff

Sorry to hear it didn't go as hoped, life is like that all too often, isn't it?

And the "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger" guy obviously never heard of stress fractures, or repetitive motion injury, or nerve damage, or...any number of things that don't make us either dead OR stronger. Or at least not dead right away....