Design

The first step of knife making is the design process. It can be argued that the design phase is the most important part of knife making. Without a solid design you often end up with something that resembles a shank. When I begin the knife design process, I always have a certain use or application in mind. We will be using the Backpacker as an example.

When I designed the Backpacker I was wanting an ultralight EDC blade that would be my companion on hikes, but sufficient when cleaning fish and game, and performing general camp tasks.

When I sat down to design this knife, I looked at knives from my favorite makers and I combined all of my favorite attributes.

Taking Shape

Once the design phase is complete, it is time to turn the two-dimensional sketch into a 3D object. To do this, I create a template out of G-10. This allows me to keep a consistent shape from blade to blade. Once I have my template finished, I place it on a piece of bar stock for scribing. I then scribe a line around the template and move over to the band saw to remove the bulk of the material. Once the rough cutting is done, it is time to move over to the belt grinder to refine the profile of the knife.

Here I grind off the excess steel until I reach my scribed line.

Pay Attention to the Details

After the knife blank is profiled, it is time to skeletonize the tang. This is done to reduce weight and improve the balance of the knife. I use calipers to scribe a center-line on the tang of the knife and I measure out the spacing between each hole. I then step over to the drill press and skeletonize the tang. I start with a 1/8″ drillbit and make my way all the way up to a 3/8″ bit.

At this stage most knives are ready to have the bevels rough ground. However, the Backpacker requires a few extra steps.

The Backpacker has 4 half-round jimping grooves hand filed on the spine to help improve the grip when the knife is used in slippery conditions. These grooves are filed in by using a series of files. I first mark the correct spacing between grooves. I then use a triangle file to start the groove and get it to the proper depth. I follow up with a 3/32″ chainsaw file and “open up” the groove.

To aid in comfort during use, the Backpacker has a rounded tang. This is acheived by draw filing the tang of the knife to remove and round the sharp edges. Once the edges have been roughly rounded, they are refined and cleaned up using sandpaper.

Heat Treat

It is now time to harden the steel. The first step of heat treatment is to use a proper heat treat recipe which will result in a knife that lives up to its full potential. Once the proper heat treatment recipe is determined it is time to prepare the knife for heat treat.

The first step is to clean and degrease each knife blank (this step may not be necessary, but it puts my mind at ease). Next, I wrap the blades in stainless foil and bring them up to the proper soaking temperature. The next step is to quench the blades. For stainless steels I use aluminum plates to quench the steel, followed by a long soak in liquid nitrogen.

Now the blades are completeley hardened, but they are extremely brittle. I follow up with a couple of temper cycles and the knife is ready for finishing.

Fingers to the Grindstone

Now that the knife is hard, it is time to grind the bevels to their final shape. During this step it is extremely important to keep the steel cool. Overheating the knife at this step can result in a ruined temper and a knife shaped object that won’t hold an edge. A 5-gallon bucket of water next to the grinder and t frequent dunks into the water keeps the knife cool.

Handles

Now that we have a finished knife blade, it is time to give it some handle scales. This is where things can get really creative. Matching woods and synthetics with liners and bolsters is an artform in itself. I spend a lot of time creating handle combinations that bring out subtle details in every knife.

Most of my Backpackers don’t get handle scales, and the ones that do usually don’t get full sized scales. So this portion of the process applies primarily to my other blades.

To create a set of scales I have to make sure that my main material and liner materials are perfectly flat. That ensures that I don’t have any gaps when they are glued together. Once the scale set is complete, it is time to drill the pin holes and rough out the shape. To do this, I mark out the hole positioning using the knife blade and I drill out the pin holes. I then outline the knife tang on the scale set and cut it out on the band saw.

Now that I have scales that fit the knife, it is time to glue it all toghether. I epoxy the scales to the knife and apply pressure with clamps. Once the epoxy is cured it is time to shape and sand the scales. This is acheived by using the belt grinder and elbow grease.

Finishing Touches

Once I have sculpted the scales and progressed through all the necessary grits of sandpaper, it is time for a coat of Howard’s.

I then etch my makers mark on the blade and give the blade a good sharpening.

And we have a finished blade!

The knife hasn’t left my pocket since the day I got it! I’ve been using it everywhere and for everything. I actually love to use it as a pairing knife in the kitchen now also. It’s developing a nice patina and I’m incredibly happy with it.

Chris V.
Outstanding work man! I got the knives in the mail today and I am blown away.

Houston B.
It takes a special craftsman to make a skeletonized knife work well. Jared does indeed knock it outta the park!

Mike H.
I just want to say what an excellent EDC fixed blade the Backpacker is! In its Keyes sheath, it literally disappears behind my wallet. It is unobtrusive and always readily available. Great design Jared.

Cole I.
I am so very happy with the blade and working with you to get it made. It is exactly as I requested and the craftsmanship is top notch. Thanks again.

John C.
I recently purchased the Backpacker Damasteel from Cypress Creek Knives and could not be happier with the purchase. The attention to detail that was put into making this knife is really impressive. The slim profile makes it easy to carry and it is practically unnoticeable until you need to use it out in the field. It is obvious that a lot of time was spent ensuring that the packaging matches the quality of the knives themselves. From the Cypress Creek cedar box to the branded carry bag, it was clear that care was taken at every step of the way.

Jesse D.

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THE STORY OF CYPRESS CREEK KNIVES

Cypress Creek Knives was founded by Jared Beavers in 2017 and all CCK knives are hand-crafted in Jared’s one-man shop in Collinsville, Illinois. Jared’s goal is to make beautiful hand-crafted knives that excel in performance but are also treasured possessions to be passed down from generation to generation.

Jared draws design inspiration from his hobbies such fishing, hunting and bushcraft and from the outdoors including his travels throughout the country. He greatly admires Andy Roy of FIddleback Forge and Chris Reeve of Chris Reeve Knives.

Jared’s three biggest passions in life are the outdoors, travel, and knives. As a kid, it was nearly impossible to keep him indoors; rain or shine, you could find him tromping through the woods looking for the best walking stick or the most impressive rock. During summers, his family would travel around the country visiting National Parks. Hiking, fishing, and camping-these activities filled his time.

At the young age of four (much to his Mom’s dismay), his Grandpa gave him his first knife, a little Swiss Army Knife with toothpick included. It was hardly sharp enough to cut butter, but he was thrilled with it. This is the knife that started his knife passion. As Jared grew older, the quality of the knives he acquired increased. First it was Case and Buck, then Benchmade and finally Chris Reeve Knives and Fiddleback Forge.

In 2014, with very crude equipment (a 4×36 belt sander and hand tools), he began designing and making his own very primitive knives. As he began to hone his skills and gain more knowledge, he started to acquire the necessary equipment to create knives of a much better quality. Today all CCK knives are hand-crafted by Jared and his focus is to make each one better than the previous one.