Damascus on Hold Indefinitely

Just an update:
I had been planning on purchasing some damascus to make some keychain/pocket tools from, but due to recent developments, don't foresee that happening anytime soon:(
My house's oven just broke down on me, as did the house's water heater, and the truck needs new tires. In light of slow sales and the depressed economy, it'll be a miracle if I can get the bills paid and continue to do this for more than a couple more months. I can still work from current steel stock I have on hand, but can't even think of dropping the $ on damascus at the moment. My apologies to those who have been anticipating these pieces; you're still at the top of the list if I do ever get the chance to make any.
Stay safe over the Holidays, enjoy the family and friends, and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!:)

Radioactive FireAnts

I made a few Holey FireAnts from the last batch, and as a result of a customer request, filled in the holes with ultra blue glow powder. I liked his so much, I made another (pictured above) to test out for myself. Turned out really sharp! I've got another one with orange glow powder drying overnight in the shop. If it turns out well, I'll post a pic of it.

Latest Damascus

As mentioned earlier, I have done a Thumbnail and a couple of Moai in various types of damascus in the past. Each piece I've done was for the same person, and was finished (heat treated and etched) by Ray Kirk at Raker Knives. Here are the latest two, Pacu Fledglings, made from Devin Thomas stainless raindrop damascus.

I highly doubt that I'll be able to do anything else in damascus anytime in the forseeable future, but I wanted to show off the latest pieces:)

Titanium Signature Fob

Here's a little piece I made either for myself or my grandmother. It's from a round piece of scrap that I Dremeled off and then added a hole to. One side is stamped with the first JDR stamp, and the other is stamped with the Lynx. Smaller in diameter than a dime, but much thicker, and weighs next to nothing.

Little Prymera!

Update: Here's the pic of them from the website.

Just a quick update. I'm hoping to have a batch of fullsize Prymera into heat treat tomorrow, along with a small batch of little Prymera:) These things have turned out amazing, and if everything goes well, there should be a few available soon.

Hammerheads!!!

I've got a small batch of Hammerheads I'm finishing up; two in the natural bar finish, and a larger bunch of the satin Hammerheads with the glow dot. The main pry end is best for prying or lid lifting, and is relatively thin. The other two ends are good for prying or screwdriving applications. The bottle opener is constantly evolving, and I do not believe there is a better one handed, first try opener on the market ( and I've tried many of them;)).

What in the heck is that?!

Here's an interesting little piece I made along with the last batch of Bettas and Barracudas. Made from CPM S30V and sporting a glow dot. Much smaller than a Prymera and around the same size as alot of my other tools. No plans for any more of them; just experimenting;)

Click on the pic for a large view.

New Style Arowana

Just wanted to get up a better pic than that on the website. Several styles on the way. Next on the agenda: Barracudas, Bettas, Hammerheads, and maybe more Prymeras.

Two Prymera Available

I just listed these two on the website. I'm really pleased with how they turned out:)

Click on the pics for a detailed closeup.

My Prymera

Same as the one below, but I added a couple of 1/4" mosaic pins in the handle, and gave it a "glowy eye".

Some news; Could be a change on the horizon

I've been trying to avoid this, but just can't seem to find a way around it. It looks as if I'll have to change up the way I do things soon. Sales just aren't anywhere close to enough to keep me in materials and pay the bills. I've spent so much the last month, and have nothing but debt, scabs, and scars to show for it. I could honestly make more $ with less risk (and of course less personal fulfillment) working at a fast-food joint for minimum wage. I make EVERYTHING by hand, and I have found that though it was rewarding at first, it is very hard work, and very time consuming (not to mention the adverse affects on a person's health and the dangers from shop equipment). No health care, so if I get hurt, that's it.

I've got a few batches of tools to finish up, and will list them on the site. After that, I'm going to try to make this a one day a week thing where I'll fiddle in the shop, watch football, and make gifts for family and friends. I'm likely going to have to search for a proper "job" in my degree field in the meantime, but since I have no options or income until then, will have to keep plugging away with the material I have stocked/on hand.

My website address runs out in December, and I'll try to keep some stuff up and hope things improve. The blog, unlike my website, is free, and I may just switch over to it if the site runs out. I was going to try to purchase a forum on the USN, but of course with the current situation, that's just not realistic.

I can't thank you that I've befriended and that supported me enough. Though it has been a trying endeavor, I've enjoyed it thoroughly and have at the very least found a life long hobby:)
Obviously, I'll be around for at least a few more months, but I wanted to be honest with those that have been behind me, and let everyone know the state of things.

Prymera

Wikipedia lists the genetic definition of the word chimera here:

In zoology, a chimera is an animal that has two or more different populations of genetically distinct cells that originated in different zygotes; if the different cells emerged from the same zygote, it is called a mosaicism. Chimerism is rare in human beings: there have been only about 40 reported cases.
Chimeras are formed from four parent cells (two fertilized eggs or early embryos fuse together) or from three parent cells (a fertilized egg is fused with an unfertilized egg or a fertilized egg is fused with an extra sperm). Each population of cells keeps its own character and the resulting animal is a mixture of tissues. An analogy is two jigsaw puzzles cut using an identical cutter, but with different pictures. A single puzzle can be made out of the mis-matched parts, but the completed puzzle will show parts of both pictures.

Inspired by the Graham Bros.' Razel and Peter Atwood's Son of PryThing, I call it the Prymera.

Features:

4 5/8" in length

~1 1/4" in width at the fat end

just over 5/32" in thickness

Material: CPM S30V

full edge right hand flat chisel ground blade

main wide pryedge/scraper

reversed grippy areas aligned to improve grip with specific tool usage

similar style bottle opener as on many of my tools

large flathead screwdriver/secondary pry edge on end of handle

thong/lanyard hole

two 1/4" holes

New lynx logo stamp

kydex sheath

pictured is the basic offering. I'm thinking of making some with a G10 scale and mosaics and maybe some with a glow dot in the "eye" :)

The New Lynx Stamp

Here is a picture of the new lynx logo stamp on a partially finished titanium Moai. If you click the pic, a large detailed shot should pop up.

The steel also arrived, and I'm working on a batch of Arowana and New Barracudas, as well as some really neat new tools.

Also looking forward to getting satellite tv installed into the shop on Friday. It will make it a little more tolerable in there until the relief (hopefully) of autumn arrives. Also, it's football season!!!! :)

Waiting........but in the meantime

I'm still waiting for my shipment of steel to arrive. There was some confusion and delay because of the holiday, but it's all sorted out now, and should arrive Monday. I'm also still waiting on the new lynx stamp to arrive, and am really excited about it:)
Until I can get to work on the other tools and knives, I've been experimenting with the glow dots, and have integrated them into some of the pieces. Lots more to come!:) Check them out on the website if you get the chance.

Sunday Update: HeatTreat!

Update: Been feeling sort of poorly for the last couple of days, but did manage to finish up my birthday present to myself. Pics above of the glowy Itajara Captain:)

I have a batch of ten of the new knives in the heat treat cycle right now. It's about an eight hour process or more for CPM 3V, as they require three tempers at 2 hours each, as opposed to the usual two required for CPM S30V and many other steels.
I also have my fantasy football draft scheduled for this evening, and will be busy trying to balance both. If I can't get to them for finishing tonight, I hope to tomorrow:)
Also waiting on some big orders of steel, and some glow powder that could show up in tomorrow's mail.
My 34th Birthday is Wednesday, and I'm hoping to put some glowy dots on my Itajara Captain (present to myself):)

New Knife Design Tonight

Here's a new one I ground out tonight. Resembles a FireAnt, but has the finger choil and pryedge/screwdriver incorporated into it. Sort of looks like a Pacu mated with a FireAnt. I haven't decided if I should leave the end as a dedicated screwdriver, or take it down thinner to make it more functional as a pryedge. What would you all like to see on it?

Pictured above is the prototype/template before heat treat and finishing. It'll look better after;)

This one, along with the first batch, is made from CPM 3V. Should be tough and sharp!

Very secure in the hand also.

Last of the Itajara on the Way

Updated: Above is the pic of the final 3 titanium Itajara. The Boss is missing, as I still have some work to do on it;)

Above is a pic of #s 2-4. I'm trying to finish up the last 4 tonight. Not sure which finishes I'll use, but I doubt I'll put the Vnotch on anymore of them. I need to purchase another triangle file as mine is almost done for. The last piece (#8 of 8; not numbered) is going to be the "matriarch" of the "school" and will be even larger than the previous 7. I'm thinking of calling it the Itajara Captain, or maybe the Itajara Boss. I may decide to keep it for myself too, as I've been wanting one of these;) I'll update with a current pic when available.

Leafcutter Ant

Here's one I just finished up. Made from CPM S30V and a little longer than the traditional FireAnts.

Lynx Logo Stamp

Last Friday, I ordered a small lynx stamp that resembles my avatar on the forums. No pictures yet, as it will be a couple of weeks before it arrives, but I'll get up a preview when I can:)

Ready Tonight

Tonight I hope to have a nice batch of Pacu finished, both with and without the tapering Vnotch, in both the regular finish, and the natural bar combination finish. There will also be a few lightly modified Hammerheads; 6 in the batch, but about half are spoken for.
It's hot as the Ninth Circle of Hell outside right now, so I'll have to wait until dark to do the finish work.

Pacu and Hammerheads Coming Up

Standard sized Pacu (pictured) and Hammerheads should be ready in 2 or 3 days:)

Hello:) Setting up the Lynx's Lair Blog

Just testing out and setting up the new blog spot.
Under construction for now, but check back soon for info, updates, and pictures.