Layout of the LockThe lock is laid out using an Ulta-Fine SharpieŽ and a steel rule. The line toward the bottom of the handle is for a relief notch.
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Layout of the Lock
The lock is laid out using an Ulta-Fine SharpieŽ and a steel rule. The line toward the bottom of the handle is for a relief notch.
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Drilling the Relief Hole
A 5/32 inch hole is drilled and chamfered at the intersection of the long line and the bottom line.
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Sawing the Short Slot
The lock face slot is cut on a bandsaw
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Cutting the Long Slot
The long slot is cut with a carbide saw on a milling machine. The process is slow, with only a few thousandths of an inch removed per pass
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Milling the Relief Slot
A 5/16 inch ball end mill is installed and the relief notch at the bottom of the lock is machined
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Lock Face Grinding Jig
This jig secures the lock side scale for grinding the lock face
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Grinding the Lock Face
The lock face is brought into contact with the grinder platen with the belt running very slow.
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Bending the Lock
The lock is removed from the grinding jig and bent with pliers. The masking tape prevents marring of the titanium
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Drilling the Detent Socket
A shallow, slightly undersized hole is drilled to accept the detent ball.
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Detent Ball Installation
The detent ball is set in place with a punch and hammer.
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Filing
Notches are filed near the top of the lock for tactile verification
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Inking the Tang
The blade tang is coated with layout dye in preparation for scribing the lock interface
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Scribing the Blade Tang
After assembling the blade into the lock side scale, the action is opened and a line is scribed at the lock interface using an X-ActoŽ knife
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Setup of the Grinder's Platen
The blade tang angle is set on the grinder platen using a digital level.
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Grinding the Blade Tang
The blade tang is then ground close to the layout line. Small amounts of material are removed and the blade is checked frequently with the frame. Finer grit belts are used progressively
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Final Lock Fit-up
The final lock fit looks like this, with about half the lock thickness engaging the blade tang.