Sanrenmu 7129 "Chinese Dragon"

Somehow the handrubbed surface of the Sanrenmu 7129 didn't appeal to me but I like this knife too much to just put it in the drawer. Sanding and stonewashing makes it a lot nicer and I must admit, I like the dragon.

I'd say it's stamped as it's definitely not lasered or etched, the surface is too smooth for that. 

I'd really like to see the scales before they sand them in the company.

The only thing I don't like is the stock thumb studs. They are too big and catch the seam of my jeans when I take it out so I had to make them smaller.

I decided to make some carbon fiber scales. The material was a wheel cover on a wheelchair that I got from my co-worker at our company. The long holes were in it to fix the plate onto the wheelchair.

And this is the little Sanrenmu 7129 as I got it

You can google for better pictures but I think it's looking much better on the seller's pictures than in real life.
Don't get me wrong, I really like this little fella and I wish they made a bigger version of it.

There is the Ruike P801 which would qualify for that but I don't like the blue hardware and the deep carry clip.

Stonewashing machine

This is my rock tumbler

When the ink in my old printer/scanner combo always dried in I decided it's time for a cheap laser printer.
I wanted to break down the old one to use the glass plate for leather thinning and it's doing its job until today.
It also serves well as a super flat surface for sandpaper, better than any granite stone or the like.

Anyways, this is the printing unit. I simply connected the little engines cable with the 12V/220V box inside the printer and it works well. The connections should become soldered one day but for that I'd have to ask a colleague :O

These pebbles are a bit too big for my tastes today but back then I didn't know what nice rounded ones you can find at playgrounds :)
Just forget the steel can, better to use plastic, like a Vanish OxiAction can or so, much quieter I can tell.
Still it's quite loud, so use it on job if you can or somewhere where noise won't matter.

Restored weed and zombie chopper

Slightly modded Spyderco Caly3

This is how I got it

It was ok, but not what I'd expect in this price range. It is a great knife for sure, it holds a fine edge for a very long time and it opens and closes super smoothly without a drop of oil

On the other hand the scales were dull, the edges straight, the pivot not even countersunk.
And I couldn't attach a lanyard

So first I rounded the edges with sandpaper and sanded the scales and the pinds with a scotchpad

Then I've found a link about how to make a lanyard hook - the skull had to go though

First etch test - I don't have a clue why it didn't etch towards the spine, only the ricasso was protected with nail polish

The etched and stonewashed finish was too rough and sticky for my taste

So back to the buffing wheel, now I like it

It's not really worth it though to stonewash it. The sides of the blade are made of  420J2 steel which is very soft.

It scratches from opening and closing, that's ok on a lockback, but it also does so from normal carry

Anyways, it's my favourite work knife as it holds a good edge with abbrasive materials like shoe soles and it lays in medium sized hands like made for them. The only thing that bugs me is the slight horizontal blade play, as far as I know that's to be expected on lockbacks

Some shopping cart keys and an etched Sanrendmu 710

 

The dark ones are made of carbon fiber, the ones in the middle are filled with glowing epoxy

The right one is made of copper, etched with ferric chloride

Night shots will follow

Some inspiration for D Kim ;)

 

Sanrenmu 9055

So I nearly finished my Sanrenmu 9055

I've changed nearly everything on it, the blade has less belly and recurve, the liners are a bit narrower and rounded at the pivot area

Also I've made some blackwood carbon fiber scales and clip for it. The clip has a 3/16" steel ball with a glowing ring on top, the carbon fiber backspacer is free floating and glowing on the inside

The backspacer needs a hole to hold the lanyard with a gitd bead. Maybe I'll also put a drop of gitd epoxy on the backside of the thumb stud

I'm glad for every comment as long as it's constructive

First standard cf clip and full backspacer

Sanded down "free floating" backspacer filled up with glowing epoxy

 

New blackwood cf clip

And some mediocre night shots ;)