Rat Tail pics

[Lin Rhea]

A couple weeks back Jeff asked me to post a video of me forging a rat tail. I do not have a video but I did think to snap a couple pictures on the last one.

In this picture I just cut into the handle end from the direction opposite the rat tail. In this case the top of the handle is cut downward leaving enough meat to allow the rounding of that sharp "V" (very important)and to remain strong enough to hold a lanyard.

 

In the above picture I have made the cut and folded the tail down and bobbed off the corner of what was the square bar. That corner will cause you problems if you leave it.

Then I re heat and lay the "V" down onto the top corner of the anvil and just work the tail out a little leaving it blunt. I wait to draw it to a point till I get the taper drawn into the full tang. Right now, it is thick and will withstand heat better and stuck outward and out of the way.

 

In the next picture the tang has been tapered and I start the curl. Here I see that I want to do some refining of the tail so I leave it opened up so I can access it with a file.

 
 
I file it till I am happy with it then close it up. I actually went back and refined it more after heat treat. I used a chainsaw files and needle files.

 

[Lin Rhea]

 

[4runr]

Lin, I like all your work, but this one takes the cake. Every de"tail" just kicks!

The thumb rest and the little detail just forward of where the Sheep horn scale ends. AWESOME!

[tomsm44]

Awesome.  I also like the detail in front of the scales.  The one thing about this style knife that I wasn't really fond of was that area.  The squared off scales and the extra long ricasso area that resulted from the forged guard seemed to leave the earlier ones you've shared with an almost unfinished look, like it should have a bolster or something.  Kinda like a painting with a big blank white spot in the middle That little carved detail is perfect for filling in that blank spot.  You found the smile for your Mona Lisa.

Matt

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks fellers.

Kenny, the tails joke is a good one.  

I was thinking that I had to do something in that blank area to give it some sparkle. I looked up some flowers on the internet and picked one to file. Its not too hard to make so I will be using that again in a full round on the pommel of a knife.

[D.Ellis]

Cool progress pics Lin.
That's a wicked looking recurve on that blade.    

Darcy

[tippit]

Lin,
Perfect!!  Now I have the concept.  Thanks...Jeff

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks fellers.

Kenny, the tails joke is a good one.  

I was thinking that I had to do something in that blank area to give it some sparkle. I looked up some flowers on the internet and picked one to file. Its not too hard to make so I will be using that again in a full round on the pommel of a knife.

[Steve Nuckels]

That knife is so cool!

Lin, congrats you getting into the finals Best Bowie  On Blade Forum!  Great entries!

Steve
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Potomac Forge
Member, W.F. Moran Foundation

[bjansen]

Excellent and very helpful Lin.  I would not have thought of the first step (making the cut) to get your tail piece.  I am going to try this very soon.

[Locogear]

Wow that's amazing!! I'd love to learn how to blacksmith like that. I've tried it but I could never get the metal to fold right, maybe I just couldn't get my forge hot enough, idk.

[MattyB83]

Amazing work. Very unique knife.