Alec, I imagine the thin tang is due to the WWII heritage, a little more metal on the tang doesn't matter for one, but it adds up when you make a couple million. Combine that with wartime restrictions on material, less is more.
I always hate to built a jig to make the work easier, I just have the feeling it takes more time than it saves but in the end I realize that it would have been so much faster!
I second both of these options and I also say that Jamie should plan it all out and not tell Alec what Alec is building. Basically “hey Alec, forge up some Demascus” and he goes “how much?” And Jamie just goes “eeeehhhhh about 3.65 kilos” or some random number because obviously Jamie doesn’t know how calculate steel as good as Alec. Then he will say “make it 16 inches long” and “give it a head like a hammer” then build an axe on it. Just keep him guessing only to have him end up with a claw hammer that you could buy at Home Depot for 5 dollars lol
two tips: 1) stainless steel needs always the foil or you'll mess up the chrome 2)if you put the steel between aluminium on a side and the steel of the welding table on the other, you might mess up the quenching since those two material conduct heat in different ways. That means there might be residual stresses due to the different heat absorption
@@lask007 I’m willing to consider that it’s not that he doesn’t care. But he is in the middle of a new house renovation that takes up a lot of time. That being said half asssssin’ videos for months on end is probably not the best way to go
Let's revisit another classic series from the days of Sam and Barker Street. Make about 80 hammers by yourself in a few days. Those were good times, for me anyway.
I like your method of finding the grooves for the flutes. That was my one complaint about the cavalry saber; trying to create even fluting on a contoured grip is so hard, but it looks really uneven if you don't get it completely perfect
It might have to do with balance, as well. I don't know if this was ever used as a throwing dagger, but it certainly looks like it could be used that way.
The thickness of the blade for darn sure is because of the required stiffness. This is a blade that’s fairly thin overall but has to be capable of penetrating without braking.
Jamies comments/feedback are great to have in the video. Love it when you two discuss stuff, makes it more inviting in the videos (not sure if correct word..) but it's great
My grandfather was a commando in ww2, I didn't actually know they had a dedicated knife. I'll definitely have to make one in his honour. I will always be proud that he was my grandfather.
I had one of these knifes handed down to my from my grandfather, I been looking to refinish it since it has a significant amount of pitting in the handle. i may just have to use this as guide.
O.K. Alec, Now, do another set of spirals in the other direction, and for sure you will have a great looking surface that won’t slip when your hands are covered in blood. Keep the aspidistra flying!
I learned that stainless steel either needs a super special setup to eliminate the decarb, or just grind after heat treat, Ive had some thick decarb even with a stainless foil wrap.
The second Alec said he was leaving the lathe to work on something else and ponder the handle design. I knew hand filing flutes was in his future. Something just screamed it in the back of my head
Suggestion that might be stupi: dip the handle in liquid rubber/latex, then file down to the metal leaving the rubber/latex filled grooved. Gives grip stability and beautiful appearance
11:39 YES, a lathe can do that. You need a taper attachment. Essentially a means of automatically directing the cutter towards the shape, irrelevant of the shape (by following a premade shape).
Might be a cool engineering project to build a jig using a rack & pinion set-up to rotate the piece x° for every xmm the scribing tool advances. Can use different gear ratios to achieve different twist ratios.
I made the same mistake with a bit because I just started my apprenticeship in tool and die repair/machinist learning. I didn't know this before but bigger bit means slow down the rpms. I burned out a bit this way and now I know..guess that's how you learn!
I've always admired the FS blade but never had a use for it. I try not to stab people. With a blade like that my resolution might falter. It's a pleasure to watch you work. Excellent videography!
Cool! I just got done rewatching the Viking sword, gladius, and Falchion playlists (in that order) finished rewatching Falchion today just in time for this to land!
My guess is the tang has those radius cuts in them to remove any crack or sharp stress concentrations. The normal stresses in that necking won't be that bad compared to a straight right angle, and they can be machined in pretty easily.
Camera man came in clutch for catching those mistakes you wouldn't catch yourself. Interesting how manny eyes on a project creates different manufacturing dynamics for a better product.
The reason you were slipping with the bit was the bit had worn down, I've used those same bits when making knee implants for multiple years. They get dull pretty fast, so pay close attention. The sharper, the more grip. That and obviously going for speed lol
The company (companies) that made the Fairbairn Sykes, when it was in production for war, had a tendency to not properly temper the blade causing the tip to snap off at the worst possible moment for the wielder. I’m grateful to the men that did the proper research on tempering before the USMC adopted the blade for the Marine Raider program. I carried a replica of those blades in Iraq because I had complete confidence in the blade.
To be fair in the 40's they were manufacturing them to very tight deadlines and budgets. Modern military spend, especially in the US, makes anything possible.
On the theme of world war equipment... could you try a Kbar style knife. The knife its self doesn't really matter but the leather handle could be really cool. I cant actually remember if you have done one before but could be a cool learning experience.
Been wanting to make one of these for ages, super pumped to see this video. I love the artistic stuff, but more than anything I love useful metal working projects. I was wondering if you'd hammer in the bevels or heat treat and grind. Last knife I tried to forge with a sharp tip warped like a bastard during heat treat then snapped when I tried bend it back.
One potential thought for such a thin tang, would be manufacturing. If they are cutting them out of a sheet of steel, then having a thinner tang would enable them to fit more per sheet than a thick tang.
Hey Alec, please make a video on how you would make a knife with absolutely no power tools.Use a charcoal fire to forge, files to profile and bevel the blade, make the handle using mallet,chisel or saw, hand sand every part of the knife and sharpen on a whetstone or water stone.please do..
“All those years ago when I was a young whipper snapper “ god bless you buddy , you’re still a young whipper snapper , I’m 45 been doing the same job for 23 years
Why didn't you drill the grip in the lathe? I understand that the side holes would've needed offsetting the workpiece in a 4-jaw chuck, and you might have needed the mill to make the smaller holes into full width slots (or manually filed it).
It would be cool to have one of those remote tools. that turns on when it feels the pressure on the object you're working with. and turns off when is no longer touching it.
From what I saw and calculated in my life that cut in in the tang should actually lower stress concentration insted of causing it, the only way it impacts the strength of a piece is smaller cross section. Anyway great vid as always.
Few years back, I purchased the Case V42 reproduction. Of course, with it being so expensive I can't bring myself use it. I've taken to sitting it on a coffee table covered in memory foam and staring at it from across the room.
Alic, Have you forgotten that you have a heat treating kiln. That is what you should be using for stainless steel. They can easily get to the needed temperature and stay precisely there for as long as needed. Trying to do the same thing in your forge is unnecessary.
hello @alecsteele , do you know that you can drill almost square holes with a rotating tool : you should shape reuleaux triangle drill bit... quite an exercise, and quite a video in sight....
On the one hand, I can appreciate you wanting to do your own thing, make your own mark on this....on the other hand the Fairbairn-Sykes knife/dagger is a legend and used til today for a reason. Do we really wanna mess with excellence just because you feel it doesn't look fancy enough ( I mean, they make designs to be used, not to be pretty )
Alec, I imagine the thin tang is due to the WWII heritage, a little more metal on the tang doesn't matter for one, but it adds up when you make a couple million. Combine that with wartime restrictions on material, less is more.
Now make a Leatherman multi-tool. :P Love the content
no no no, a damascus multi-tool, with different patterns for each part
@@MrGoesBoom that would be awesome if he wouldn't turn it into 27 parts stretching over a whole year.
I have wanted to make my own multi tool for ages, would be nice to see Alec try it first
@Damien Irvin yeah I disagree I want a 30 part series
@Adventurous Hermit yes! All the detail!
Alec: I want to focus on function over form on this one.
Also Alec: Let’s make it flamboyant with some spiral fluting!
I could cut this on a lathe in 10 minutes, but instead..........
As a former Royal Marine Commando I’ve been waiting for this again ever since you did the first one. Commando daggers are awesome 🗡️
I always hate to built a jig to make the work easier, I just have the feeling it takes more time than it saves but in the end I realize that it would have been so much faster!
I'm exactly the same
Same with me lol
lol same
Faster and/or Safer in some cases
@@michaeltilly6208 Yeah sometimes it saves a finger as well^^
i love how Jamie is becoming a second set of eyes and has learned Alecs tunnel vision and when he can help by piping up.
As a machinist, you make a mighty fine blacksmith 😂
My son is doing VOTECH for CNC machining, but also has a lot of interest in blacksmithing.
You should do a challenge where you have to make a blade but Jamie says what he wants for each of the steps and you cannot plan it at all
Or like the exact instructions PB&J where Jamie has to write very specific directions, then Alec has to follow it perfectly.
I second both of these options and I also say that Jamie should plan it all out and not tell Alec what Alec is building. Basically “hey Alec, forge up some Demascus” and he goes “how much?” And Jamie just goes “eeeehhhhh about 3.65 kilos” or some random number because obviously Jamie doesn’t know how calculate steel as good as Alec. Then he will say “make it 16 inches long” and “give it a head like a hammer” then build an axe on it. Just keep him guessing only to have him end up with a claw hammer that you could buy at Home Depot for 5 dollars lol
two tips:
1) stainless steel needs always the foil or you'll mess up the chrome
2)if you put the steel between aluminium on a side and the steel of the welding table on the other, you might mess up the quenching since those two material conduct heat in different ways. That means there might be residual stresses due to the different heat absorption
Since Jamie is the only one paying attention, he’s becoming the better craftsman in this nuthouse.
Yea I think Jamie is reaming Alex out as well.
Jamie's playing the long game to take over Alex's shop.
In this one I saw a change, no judge, somebody knows more then he's aware of at the Moment. ;)
@@SiiideSa it’s been like that for a while. Fruit loops
@@lask007 I’m willing to consider that it’s not that he doesn’t care. But he is in the middle of a new house renovation that takes up a lot of time. That being said half asssssin’ videos for months on end is probably not the best way to go
Let's revisit another classic series from the days of Sam and Barker Street. Make about 80 hammers by yourself in a few days. Those were good times, for me anyway.
I like your method of finding the grooves for the flutes. That was my one complaint about the cavalry saber; trying to create even fluting on a contoured grip is so hard, but it looks really uneven if you don't get it completely perfect
I love Jamie giving you directions! Go Jamie!
I think the tang being so thin on the original was probably a combination of adequate strength, cost saving, and lightness for the user
It might have to do with balance, as well. I don't know if this was ever used as a throwing dagger, but it certainly looks like it could be used that way.
The thickness of the blade for darn sure is because of the required stiffness. This is a blade that’s fairly thin overall but has to be capable of penetrating without braking.
When this is done, you could make a series with battle knives. I'd recommend the german km2000.
Yes to everything this guy said 😅
German instruments are precision built. Alec is anything but precise.
@@garyhost354 It's not that serious.. it would just be his own take on different knives... for fun. Literally means nothing if it's not precise..
Jamies comments/feedback are great to have in the video.
Love it when you two discuss stuff, makes it more inviting in the videos (not sure if correct word..) but it's great
The F/S dagger is a gorgeous blade, super stoked for this one!
My grandfather was a commando in ww2, I didn't actually know they had a dedicated knife. I'll definitely have to make one in his honour. I will always be proud that he was my grandfather.
I had one of these knifes handed down to my from my grandfather, I been looking to refinish it since it has a significant amount of pitting in the handle. i may just have to use this as guide.
O.K. Alec,
Now, do another set of spirals in the other direction, and for sure you will have a great looking surface that won’t slip when your hands are covered in blood.
Keep the aspidistra flying!
Being a CNC programmer it's funny to watch the struggle with the hand filing. I'd just get it done on the 7 axis with no complaints at all.
Been waiting for you to remake this knife ever since you made that first one!.. beautiful peace of British military history
Thank god, a classic Alec Steele video
I really miss the old (young) Alec.
This is my favorite knife of all time. The British Special Forces Commando knife. Been trying for years to find one in better than crappy condition.
The red dyekem song was beautiful
I learned that stainless steel either needs a super special setup to eliminate the decarb, or just grind after heat treat, Ive had some thick decarb even with a stainless foil wrap.
The second Alec said he was leaving the lathe to work on something else and ponder the handle design. I knew hand filing flutes was in his future. Something just screamed it in the back of my head
The thin tang is for balance and material reduction. This knife was designed to poke mea and slide past bone , It doesn’t need to be bombproof.
Suggestion that might be stupi: dip the handle in liquid rubber/latex, then file down to the metal leaving the rubber/latex filled grooved. Gives grip stability and beautiful appearance
would love to see some darts made with tungsten on the lathe. some great unique grip while hitting weight target and match weighting.
Aw man that's a damn good idea. Damascus steel tips. 🤌🏼
That's actually a really fun idea...
Cool idea, ordered some tungsten this morning!
Excellent!!! Love the FS, V-42, and V-12 OSS Knives, fantastic blades, awesome that you're making one.
11:39 YES, a lathe can do that. You need a taper attachment. Essentially a means of automatically directing the cutter towards the shape, irrelevant of the shape (by following a premade shape).
Fantastic video! I love how involved jamie had become!!
Yeah Jamie involved, Alec not so much
Might be a cool engineering project to build a jig using a rack & pinion set-up to rotate the piece x° for every xmm the scribing tool advances. Can use different gear ratios to achieve different twist ratios.
Sounds like a rifle cutter with extra steps.
I made the same mistake with a bit because I just started my apprenticeship in tool and die repair/machinist learning. I didn't know this before but bigger bit means slow down the rpms. I burned out a bit this way and now I know..guess that's how you learn!
I've always admired the FS blade but never had a use for it. I try not to stab people. With a blade like that my resolution might falter. It's a pleasure to watch you work. Excellent videography!
The urge to stab someone is one that is hard to resist.
They make great letter openers.
lol
Love to see Alec still thinking 3 steps behind
Behind?
Cool! I just got done rewatching the Viking sword, gladius, and Falchion playlists (in that order) finished rewatching Falchion today just in time for this to land!
My guess is the tang has those radius cuts in them to remove any crack or sharp stress concentrations. The normal stresses in that necking won't be that bad compared to a straight right angle, and they can be machined in pretty easily.
I actually have an original one from my grandfather
Amazing history on this dagger
Camera man came in clutch for catching those mistakes you wouldn't catch yourself. Interesting how manny eyes on a project creates different manufacturing dynamics for a better product.
The reason you were slipping with the bit was the bit had worn down, I've used those same bits when making knee implants for multiple years. They get dull pretty fast, so pay close attention. The sharper, the more grip. That and obviously going for speed lol
we want blue dykem!! bring back the old days!!!
Wow, I remember this channel when it had 10 or 20k subs, what a journey this young man has been on
The company (companies) that made the Fairbairn Sykes, when it was in production for war, had a tendency to not properly temper the blade causing the tip to snap off at the worst possible moment for the wielder. I’m grateful to the men that did the proper research on tempering before the USMC adopted the blade for the Marine Raider program. I carried a replica of those blades in Iraq because I had complete confidence in the blade.
To be fair in the 40's they were manufacturing them to very tight deadlines and budgets. Modern military spend, especially in the US, makes anything possible.
Man it’s good to be back, haven’t watched your channel in over a year
Great to see a return to blades. I love it when you do the historical stuff especially. Can't wait for the next episode 😂
I once made similar flutes by hand in a piece of wood - not an easy task. 👍👍👍
On the theme of world war equipment... could you try a Kbar style knife. The knife its self doesn't really matter but the leather handle could be really cool. I cant actually remember if you have done one before but could be a cool learning experience.
Can you do an episode where you make something using only Alec Steel Co products? Would be great to see it all being showcased!
Been wanting to make one of these for ages, super pumped to see this video. I love the artistic stuff, but more than anything I love useful metal working projects. I was wondering if you'd hammer in the bevels or heat treat and grind. Last knife I tried to forge with a sharp tip warped like a bastard during heat treat then snapped when I tried bend it back.
One potential thought for such a thin tang, would be manufacturing. If they are cutting them out of a sheet of steel, then having a thinner tang would enable them to fit more per sheet than a thick tang.
Can't wait to see the finished product. So far, so good. I like the design.
I appreciate the jig idea and how you did this with a rotary tool. You're one of us still :)
Please try : Quench in GALLIUM! Quench in some metal!! 😉👊🍻
Twisted gold would look awesome in those grooves you cut!
I miss your bladesmithing. Thank you. 👍
Hey Alec, please make a video on how you would make a knife with absolutely no power tools.Use a charcoal fire to forge, files to profile and bevel the blade, make the handle using mallet,chisel or saw, hand sand every part of the knife and sharpen on a whetstone or water stone.please do..
He does... Well atleast there is a video on his channel about it, I believe Will was the one actually making it.
As Alec started the grinding the flutes, all I could think of was the saying, "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast."
“All those years ago when I was a young whipper snapper “ god bless you buddy , you’re still a young whipper snapper , I’m 45 been doing the same job for 23 years
I love all your content but I'm very happy to see you making a dagger. Maybe a sword next? I need another 20 part series
I was there for the first dagger lookin forward to this one
Loving the return of your build series videos!!
From cameraman to mentor of Alex. Well done Jamie!
That fairbairn-Sykes dagger was the first video of yours I had watched. Time flies
The smallest of renditions of the dykem song made me so happy.
I like the twist you put into the handle. Definitely looks better than the original.
Strength of the tang isnt really an issue as the knife was designed to be stronger than, um, wet fleshy objects that offer minimal resistance.
The purist in me winces at the spirals, but I can't deny the craftsmanship.
Seeing Alec make a Damascus Swiss Army knife would be so cool
Thank you for sharing your expertise
Ooofff I love the faibairn style especially the 1st and 2nd pattern with the gnurling on the handle! I have one saved on etsy
I actually met a guy that owned and used a genuine WWII dagger as his edc knife.
how about a skeletonized handle for some future modern knife? that might look good and possibly grip should be ok as well
Why didn't you drill the grip in the lathe? I understand that the side holes would've needed offsetting the workpiece in a 4-jaw chuck, and you might have needed the mill to make the smaller holes into full width slots (or manually filed it).
I scrolled through all the comments until I found yours. I knew someone else saw the lathe as the obvious tool for boring the the handle.
This is cool dagger, i have done similar at handicraft class at school but ive lost it because its been 4years
It would be cool to have one of those remote tools. that turns on when it feels the pressure on the object you're working with. and turns off when is no longer touching it.
I do love my F/S knife, and making another is near the top of my list as soon as I get set up with a forge
From what I saw and calculated in my life that cut in in the tang should actually lower stress concentration insted of causing it, the only way it impacts the strength of a piece is smaller cross section. Anyway great vid as always.
Not wrapping the blade steel in foil led to decarburization of the outer layer of steel, maybe .020" to .040". That's why it felt soft to the file.
Ok, now I'm really interested in seeing Alec forge a clinch pick.
Few years back, I purchased the Case V42 reproduction. Of course, with it being so expensive I can't bring myself use it. I've taken to sitting it on a coffee table covered in memory foam and staring at it from across the room.
Alec Steele, once a blacksmith now a machinist. I still enjoy your videos but I miss the good old days making weapons with a forge and hammer.
What an iconic blade to choose! Very much looking forward to see both the process, and the result!
I still remember your first fairbairn sykes dagger, personally it has been the most memorable video you ever did
Yo...I sent pictures to you back in 18 from the US Army Infantry museum. So happy you're doing one of these knives.
Alic,
Have you forgotten that you have a heat treating kiln. That is what you should be using for stainless steel. They can easily get to the needed temperature and stay precisely there for as long as needed. Trying to do the same thing in your forge is unnecessary.
You should forge a WW2 trench shovel next! Not unlike the spetnaz throwing shovel, but a more technical build.
hello @alecsteele , do you know that you can drill almost square holes with a rotating tool : you should shape reuleaux triangle drill bit... quite an exercise, and quite a video in sight....
Finally back with some real work :) I miss you pre US videos !
You should definitely make a cast of the inside of your handle ❤
Nice, I got one of these knives from ww2 at home. They were issued to the Australian commandos
I too love daggers and this is one of my favorite designs, great start alec ,cant wait to see the finale
On the one hand, I can appreciate you wanting to do your own thing, make your own mark on this....on the other hand the Fairbairn-Sykes knife/dagger is a legend and used til today for a reason. Do we really wanna mess with excellence just because you feel it doesn't look fancy enough ( I mean, they make designs to be used, not to be pretty )
Hey, Alec, when you're done with this knife can you try your hand at the classic American k-bar commando knife??
That subtle “huh yeah” ☠️
I think it would be awesome to see you make a Gravity Knife!
Hell yea the best dagger ever made!
I'm not kidding, was thinking about commenting to make one early hours this morning! Mad haha
That design of soldier's sidearm is so effective that it's remained essentially unchanged since the iron age.