Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
Moderator: The Motley Crew
Forum rules
There are a few things you should know before posting in these forums. If you are a new user, please click here and read carefully. Thanks a lot!
There are a few things you should know before posting in these forums. If you are a new user, please click here and read carefully. Thanks a lot!
Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
I noticed that Mr. Panak, on his website, mentions that he actually hand forges his back spring lock tabs for his stilettos. I'm wondering why he might do that and why. Is he actually forging the back spring with all that the word forging implies? ie: hammering the back spring and tab on an anvil to shape that part while it is red hot. What might be the advantage to that versus simple stock removal followed by heating the spring and twisting the tab?
Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
Can he be contacted through his website? If yes perhaps you should ask Paul. Why he forges his springs instead of the stock removal method.
I’d like to know why too.
I’d like to know why too.
Your friend on the web's most friendly community on knives and blades,
John
Massachusetts Where Everything is Illegal or Taxed
John
Massachusetts Where Everything is Illegal or Taxed
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7367
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
I doubt he forges the entire backspring.
Most backsprings are cut out of sheet stock-and the spring is then heated at the end and the locktab twisted into the horizontal position.
Paul used to mill backsprings out of one piece of thick steel. This wasted a lot of metal to avoid the simple task of heating/twisting the tab. It's good to know that he learned to do it by twisting instead.
Most backsprings are cut out of sheet stock-and the spring is then heated at the end and the locktab twisted into the horizontal position.
Paul used to mill backsprings out of one piece of thick steel. This wasted a lot of metal to avoid the simple task of heating/twisting the tab. It's good to know that he learned to do it by twisting instead.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
Thank you for that follow up Bill. I noted Paul's description information about how he makes stilettos has been unchanged for many years and just wondered about the odd mention of "forging" the lock tab. I love how well finished his stilettos are especially those early Sam Polk tribute squarebuttons.
-
- Posts: 4038
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 7:18 pm
- Location: Indiana
Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
Can you post his web address?tedmen wrote: ↑Fri Dec 20, 2019 5:32 pm I noticed that Mr. Panak, on his website, mentions that he actually hand forges his back spring lock tabs for his stilettos. I'm wondering why he might do that and why. Is he actually forging the back spring with all that the word forging implies? ie: hammering the back spring and tab on an anvil to shape that part while it is red hot. What might be the advantage to that versus simple stock removal followed by heating the spring and twisting the tab?
2024 candidate for president
-
- Posts: 2215
- Joined: Sat May 03, 2003 11:10 pm
- Location: Forest Grove, OR
-
- Posts: 4038
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 7:18 pm
- Location: Indiana
- JimBrown257
- Posts: 2053
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:50 am
- Location: Michigan
Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
Bill DeShivs wrote: ↑Fri Dec 20, 2019 7:14 pm Paul used to mill backsprings out of one piece of thick steel.
Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
Would it be best to free hand the final twist of the tab or do guys use some kind of forming fixture?
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7367
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
Most people just heat it and twist it freehand.
I'm sure the Italian manufacturers have a fixture to do it.
I'm sure the Italian manufacturers have a fixture to do it.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
Watch the video at the 2 minute mark you can see how the Italian do it on the larger ones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZvUlVJl9m8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZvUlVJl9m8
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7367
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
I think he's just adjusting it, rather than doing the complete bend.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
Bill, After the red hot heating of the back spring to do the lock tab twist.....should the spring be oil quenched and then tempered after that? [Assuming you were using some of the easier home treated steel].
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7367
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
Yes, it should be heat treated.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos
Thanks. He's really torqueing it around there to make his 'adjustment' isn't he...it looks like it might be cold too although he's gripping it with the scales/liners. I'd love to see a video of someone actually making this piece. I've looked but haven't found anything.Tom19176 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 22, 2019 10:57 am Watch the video at the 2 minute mark you can see how the Italian do it on the larger ones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZvUlVJl9m8