Making a display box

[Don Barnhill]

I don't know if there is any interest for this, but here it is. I found this type display on Tom Sterling's web site and adapted it to my knives.

REVISED

 

In making this display case I followed the basic design of Tom Sterling as shown on his web site. I made the case larger to accommodate the size knife I wanted to display.

 

Step 1. I begin by selecting a piece of stock (A) and cutting it to size. Then outlining the knife on the selected piece of stock and cutting it out on my band saw. This could be done with a coping saw or a jig saw. The small knife I used was approximately 3/4" thick and I used 3/4 material for this part.

 

Step 2. The sides are 3/8 thick material that I ripped on my table saw. Material is available in several different dimensions and thicknesses at Lowe's Stores which is suitable for this project. I cut the sides (B ) 1 1/2 inches wide X 11 3/4 inches long X 3/8 inch thick. These will be glued to part (A) using gorilla glue.

 

Step 3. The top is cut to size, 2 1/4 inches wide X 11 3/4 inches long X 3/8 inches thick.

 

Step 4. Cut part (E,the bottom) to size. It is 8 inches long X 2 1/4 inches wide X 3/8 inches thick.

 

Step 5. Glue part (E) to part (A).

 

Step 6. I make the pivot piece (D) by gluing stock together to get the thickness I need. In this case it was 1 1/8 inches thick X 1 1/2 inches wide X 2 1/4 inches long. This is glued and doweled to the end of the top piece ©. Be careful to keep the dowels back far enough from the edge that you have room to put the pivot dowels in place.

Step 7. Drill the dowel holes in the sides and the pivot piece, drill the dowel holes in the top and pivot piece and glue the top to the pivot piece. Put the dowels into the top and after it dries, sand them level.

 

Step 8. Assemble the sides (B)and bottom pieces (A,E which are glued together) and clamp them together to dry.

 

Step 9. Assemble the top © with the bottom (A) and sides (B ), put a drop of glue into the hole in the pivot block and push the dowels into place. Be careful not to get glue on the dowels where they contact the top.

 

Note: The distance between the pivot block and the body of the case (A) is relative to how far the top will open. I wanted to use the case as a display stand and so I made the distance 3 3/4 inches. This allows the top to open far enough that it will stand up easily.

 

OOPS! I found a bad measurement. On the side view of the bottom section the 3/8" measurement should not be there. It should only show the thickness of the bottom as 1 1/8". When the top is added to the measurement it becomes 1 1/2". The top fits between the sides.

[Don Barnhill]

Sorry about the photo size. Seems I can't get them any smaller and I have tried.

 

This is my next project.

[Katrina van Aperen]

Hallo Don,

 

You knife liiks very nice, I think it will feel good in my hand. What is the style please? It's traditional?

 

I think the box is intresting idea but puts me in mind of pencil box. Your knife is more than a pencil so...

It's a pity there is a poor mark on the front piece of wood. I spoilts the nice clar feeling but I think the duck is very cute.

 

Thank you,

Kat

[Don Barnhill]

The knife is a "skinner" used for skinning game. It is ground from a piece of industrial hacksaw blade. The handle is Pecan wood.

The box is made to open and make a display stand when at a knife show. The "poor" mark you speak of is a knot in the wood and I think it gives character to the piece. It does look rather like a pencil box, though it serves it's purpose.

Thank you for the critique.