I have this crazy idea. From what I've found so far, I think I want to bezel set a couple of 2mm gemstones in a knife handle. The handle is going to be mother of pearl. I'm thinking I can get some fine silver tube and the proper sized burr to cut the gem setting. I plan to countersink the underside of the scale and flare the bottom of the tube to hold the silver/setting in the handle, and to cut the top of the hole to the dimension of the tube to not have a gap around the bezel.
Any suggestions on technique, considering I've never done this before?
I watched a few youtube videos on bezel setting, seems fairly straightforward.
Order of operations would go like....
Grind and heat treat, etc.
Shape the profile of the MOP 100% including the knife spine
Use a couple of temp SS pins to get the MOP polished up
Install the gem settings/gems
Etch the damascus
Install the gold pins
Jason, Did you get any information about this subject? Did you get any gems set?
I watched a couple of youtube videos and browsed Rio Grande a bit, and even got the gemstones purchased, but then got distracted by other projects. Back burner on that one for a while.
Hi Jason, I just joined the ABS and saw this thread so thought I would chime in here. If you look on the Jantz website and type in "Signity" in the search bar you will find pre-set gems. They don't make these anymore but Jantz still has a supply of them. They can be press-fit or you can put a little adhesive in to help.
Bob
Thanks for the tip, Bob. I've had the MOP for this project for a year and a half, and the gems for at least 6 months, but I don't intend to tackle it any time soon. I originally had it in mind for the ICCE, and may do it for that. Who knows <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
edit... just looked at those... dirt simple! Other than not being "real" gems, they look like an excellent option. Think I'm going to go for it, as the gem setting part of the project is all that was holding me back.
Here's how the knife ended up. I went with the presets that Bob pointed me toward. I have had this little knife design in my head since some time in early 2013. At the Guild show in September 2013, I purchased this set of mother of pearl scales from Culpepper and a bar of feather Damascus steel from Doug Ponzio. I finally got it all put together. The knife is small, 4 1/2" overall with a 2" cutting edge. It has domed nickel silver pins and red gem eyes. I'll be taking it to ICCE in September.
