Alpha Knife Supply™ - AKS™
The Exclusive Dealers of:
Bark Bone™ - Talonite® - Timascus™
Phone: 425-868-5880      Fax: 425-898-7715

Knife Making Supplies:

Click On the Link to Go to the Page Last Update Type of Change
 Adhesives Inventory  Jun 11, 2006  New Items Added 
 Blade Steel Inventory  Aug 6, 2008  Inventory Updated, New Items Added 
 Bone, Horn & Stag Inventory  July 11, 2008  Inventory Updated, New Items Added 
 Damascus Inventory  Sept 28, 2007  Inventory Updated 
 G10 & Micarta Inventory  Aug 6, 2008  Inventory Updated, New Items Added 
 Hardware & Tools Inventory  Mar 31, 2008  Inventory Updated, New Items Added 
 Fossil Ivory & Bone Inventory  July 11, 2008  Inventory Updated, New Items Added 
 Knife Case Inventory  Feb 13, 2005  Inventory Updated 
 Knife DVD's  Sept 28, 2007  
 Miscellaneous Metals Inventory  July 11, 2008  Inventory Updated 
 Mosaic Pin Inventory  July 11, 2008  Inventory Updated, New Items Added 
 Mosaic Pin Picture Galleries  Oct 21, 2007  New Pin Pictures Added 
 Sale/Clearance Inventory  Aug 6, 2008  Inventory Updated, New Items Added 
 Stainless Steel Bar & Sheet Inventory  July 11, 2008  Inventory Updated 
 Stainless Steel Rod & Tube Inventory  July 11, 2008  Inventory Updated 
 Talonite® Inventory  July 11, 2008  Inventory Updated 
 Timascus™ Inventory  Apr 7, 2008  Inventory Updated 
 Timascus™ Knife Gallery    
 Titanium Block Inventory  Sept 3, 2007  Inventory Updated, New Items Added 
 Titanium Rod & Tube Inventory  Aug 6, 2008  Inventory Updated, New Items Added 
 Titanium Sheet Inventory - .099" and Smaller  July 11, 2008  Inventory Updated, New Items Added 
 Titanium Sheet Inventory - .100" and Larger  July 11, 2008  Inventory Updated, New Items Added 
 Wood Inventory - Natural  July 11, 2008  Inventory Updated 
 Wood Inventory - Stabilized  Aug 6, 2008  Inventory Updated, New Items Added 

Inventory Updates
If you would like to receive an e-mail notification when we add new items to our inventory, click . The e-mail will contain the following information where applicable:

  • Items Added to the Inventory
  • Descriptions of Items Added
  • Items With New Photos
  • Items Moved to the Sale/Clearance Page

Your e-mail address will be kept private. We will never sell or give ANY customer information to anyone.

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Home Page Table of Contents:

The links below go to information about a specific item. The links do NOT take you to a page with items for sale. Knife Making Supplies is a list of pages with knife making supplies for sale.

Background Information:

Welcome to www.alphaknifesupply.com. AKS™ is a family owned and run business. Everyone in the family is an avid knife collector. The business started as a way to support our knife collecting habit. In 1999 we sold titanium to some of our knifemaker friends. The friends suggested that we sell to other knifemakers. As time passed knifemakers asked if we had other supplies. As a result, we slowly branched out into other materials. Chuck quit his job in 2003 and Brenda quit her job teaching in 2004. We love working with knifemakers. If there is anything we can do to help you, let us know.

Brenda Bybee is my wife and the owner of the business. She answers the phone and makes sure everything is working smoothly. Brenda collects folding knives that catch her eye. Some of her folders are tactical and others are art knives. She also likes to cook and uses custom cutlery in the kitchen.

Jessica Bybee is our daughter, the shop foreman and wood buyer. She finish sands, buffs and grades most of the wood inventory. She also answers the phone and fills orders. Jessica works with Chuck when the titanium sheet is being surfaced conditioned. She is the photographer for the website. Jessica likes to commission one of a kind knives. She likes to work with the knifemaker to design her knives.

My name is Chuck Bybee and I do what Brenda and Jessica tell me to do. When we first sold titanium a knifemaker called me "Titanium Man" and the nickname stuck. I do the heavy lifting and I'm also the designated driver. I cut the titanium and wood on the bandsaw. I also grind the titanium sheet and bevel the edges. I do all the geek computer stuff and update the website. I collect anything sharp and/or pointed. Slip joints, tacticals, users, art, stock removal, forged, folders, fixed, swords, spears, hatchets, I like them all! Knives with exceptional fit and finish are my weak spot.

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Custom Knives & Guns Forum:

We were asked by Custom Knives and Guns (CKG) to have an area within their forum. CKG is a private forum. You have to register to before you can read or post information. If you would like to join CKG click here and then follow the directions.

In our area within CKG we discuss materials being tested and new product availability. Feel free to stop by our area and participate.

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Customer Satisfaction Information:

We want to have satisfied customers. If you like our prices and service, please tell your friends. If you are not satisfied, let us know and we will do everything we can to make you happy. If we cannot make you happy, return the material to us within 30 days and we will return your money. You will NOT be charged restocking fees.

There are exceptions. There are no refunds on special orders without prior approval.

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Talonite® Information:

Talonite® is a Cobalt-Chromium alloy. When it is made, the chromium and molybdenum combine carbon to form chromium and molybdenum carbides. The cobalt forms a soft and strong matrix that holds the carbides in place. This means that a Rockwell or other hardness tests will test the cobalt matrix and give relatively low readings. However the hardness and wear resistance are in the carbides, not the cobalt matrix.

To cut Talonite® we recommend using a thin abrasive cut off wheel. The four inch diameter .040 thick models work very well. We do not recommend cutting with a band saw. We tried this once and the result was $400 damage to our saw.

To grind Talonite® we recommend using new ceramic belts. The high lubricity will prevent older dull belts from removing material.

To drill holes we strongly recommend carbide drill bits. We do not recommend trying to tap Talonite®.

For more information about Talonite® contact AKS™. For Talonite® prices click on the links below.

AKS™ is the exclusive dealer for Talonite®.

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Talonite® Inventory
Talonite Information & Composition
Talonite® Prices - .063 Inch
Talonite® Prices - .125 Inch
Talonite® Prices - .156 Inch
Talonite® Prices - .188 Inch

Timascus™ Information:

History
Timascus™ is the creation and collaboration of Tom Ferry, Bill Cottrell and Chuck Bybee. The goal was to create a corrosion resistant, non-magnetic lightweight damascus that would lend itself to adding an upscale look to a knife without the disadvantages of steel damascus. Months of trial and error experimentation resulted in the development of techniques and process that resulted in the first successful titanium damascus. Timascus™ achieved the goals we set and it not only adds to the look but in many cases can enhance the overall performance of a knife. We are still experimenting. In the future we will be offering a multitude of Timascus™ variations as well as a potential blade material based on Timascus™.

Composition
Timascus™ consists of two or more titanium alloys laminated and patterned resembling steel damascus. Currently the alloys are CP and 6AL4V. More combinations will be available in the future. The various alloys color differently through the use of heat or anodizing. Each type of titanium alloy has the potential for a new color combination. The boundaries seem limitless.

Coloring
The pattern in Timascus™ can be obtained through various techniques, two of which are heat and anodizing. The current mix of CP and 6AL4V seems to show more contrast through the use of heat than anodizing. Although anodizing does show contrast in the higher voltage ranges. A highly polished finish will produce the brightest colors where as a satin finish can produce the most visually contrasting appearance. All of the current titanium coloring techniques can be applied to Timascus™. We appreciate input and success stories.

Working Characteristics
Timascus™ works virtually the same as other titanium alloys and we recommend you follow those guidelines. The one operation that is slightly different is in the milling of Timascus™. Multiple types of titanium in Timascus™ result in different hardness throughout the barstock. The hard and soft areas cause wear on cutting edges of tools. We recommend using a round cornered cutter whenever possible. We found these tools held up better during machining.

Review
Timascus™ is a cutting edge material and only the future will reveal its full potential. Timascus™ adds to the value and performance of knives. Its current use is that of knife furniture such as guards, bolsters and scales. We are in the process of developing blade material based on Timascus™ as well as other variations in the types of alloys used in Timascus™. We offer Timascus™ as an alternative material for making knives. We feel Timascus™ is the next generation of high-tech, high-end materials that enhance a knifemakers work. Knife collector Russ Jenkins wrote the following comments:

"The creators of Timascus™ did more than join together two types of Titanium. They forged the beauty of the past with the technology of the present."

Timascus™ is trademarked. The material and processes are patent pending. Timascus™ is sold exclusively through AKS™.

Technical Information
Tom Ferry
- www.tferryknives.com
Phone: 253-939-4468

Bill Cottrell
- www.billsblades.com
Phone: 360-446-2713

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Timascus™ Inventory
Timascus.com

Titanium Information:

Grading The Titanium
We separate titanium sheet and plate into two grades. The grades refer to the quality of the titanium, not the alloy or composition of the titanium. Our two grades are Knifemaker Grade and Standard Grade.

AKS™ Standard Grade
This is the average everyday titanium that is available everywhere. It sometimes has slight bends, scratches and blemishes on the surface. This is the titanium to use when appearance is not an issue or cost is an issue.

AKS™ Knifemaker Grade
This is the highest quality available. This means the titanium is flat with no gouges on the surface. Our definition of flat means if a piece has a slight bend you can hold the piece by one corner and gravity will pull the bend straight. We surface condition the titanium to remove the ink from the mill. We found nasty gouges under the ink. This allows us to see any imperfections in the surface. The surface conditioner also leaves a nice surface finish. We round the corners and bevel the edges. Knifemaker Grade titanium is the best available titanium.

Special Requests
If you don't see a size or type of titanium you want, send us an requesting what you need and we will try to get it for you. We have access to many different sizes and types.

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Titanium Rod Inventory
Titanium Sheet Inventory - .099 and Smaller
Titanium Sheet Inventory - .100 and Larger
Titanium Block Inventory
Titanium Information & Composition

Special Requests
If you don't see a size or type of stainless steel you want, send us an requesting what you need and we will try to get it for you. We have access to many different sizes and types.

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Stainless Steel Rod & Tubing Inventory
Stainless Steel Sheet Inventory
Stainless Information & Composition

G10 and Micarta Information:

G10
G10 is a composite made from laminated glass cloth and epoxy resin. It has very high flex, impact and bond strength.

Micarta
Micarta is a composite made from laminated cloth or paper with phenolic resin. Micarta is not as strong as G10, but it still is very strong. Micarta has been called "The Steel of the Plastic Industry". We only stock natural micarta. It is an excellent material for making jigs and fixtures.

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G10 and Micarta Inventory

Specialty and Stabilized Wood Information:

Caution
Working with wood may cause allergic reactions. Always wear a respirator, eye protection and proper clothing.

Pricing
Each piece of wood is individually graded for figure, color and chatoyance. Chatoyance is defined as "Having a changeable luster." It is a fancy word for the three dimensional effect you see in woods like curly or fiddleback maple. The best wood is priced higher. For example; if two pieces of wood are the same size the higher priced piece is higher quality and/or looks better.

Photographs
Most of the wood we sell is in block form. This allows the wood to be used for a hidden tang, or cut into scales and used on full tang knives. However we do also offer some book-matched scales. You may notice some of the wood item numbers are links. To see the piece of wood click on the item number. We photograph both sides of each piece of wood (except for book-matched pairs). Most of the photos look like a pair of scales but it is two pictures combined to show both side of a single block.

Inventories
We have three different inventories for wood: natural, stabilized and B grade. The Natural Wood Inventory has pieces of wood that have been sanded and shellaced. The Stabilized Wood Inventory has pieces of wood that have been stabilized, sanded and buffed. The B Grade Inventory contains pieces of wood that have cracks or holes. We added the B-Grade list in August 2003. The wood on this list has cracks or voids so we would not sell them as regular pieces. However, many times the cracks and voids result in wonderfully figured wood. If you have a knife with a small handle or need some scales for a folder, you may want to look at the B-Grade inventory.

Stabilization
Some of the types of wood we offer are stabilized. Stabilized means the wood has been impregnated with acrylic resin. Stabilization minimizes cracking and checking. Expansion and contraction are also minimized. If you submerge a block of stabilized wood in water it will go into the block but will not be absorbed by the wood. When you remove the block from the water and place it somewhere to dry there will soon be a puddle around the block. If you try you can crack stabilized wood. If you force a pin or screw into a hole that is too small the wood will crack. Stabilized wood allows you to have the beauty of wood with the stability of a man made material.

Moisture Content
All of the wood has been carefully dried to 6% or less moisture content. Both of the ends of each block of wood are checked with a digital wood moisture sensor. If the moisture content of both ends is 6% or less the piece is processed for sale or sent out for stabilization. We have our own kiln for drying wood. As wood dries it will occasionally crack, check or honeycomb, all of which are cracks. Most of the cracks will be sanded off when the piece of wood is processed for sale. Sometimes the crack cannot be sanded out. These cracks can be fixed by filling the crack with a mixture of super-glue (cyanoacrylate) and sanding dust.

Wood Stabilization Specialists - WSSI
Our wood is stabilized by Mike Ludeman of Wood Stabilization Specialists International. Mike is recognized as an expert and we are happy to be working with him.

Special Requests
If you need a piece of wood that is odd or special sized let us know. We always have over one thousand pounds of wood drying and may be able to cut what you need.

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Wood Inventory - Natural
Sale/Clearance Inventory Wood Inventory - Stabilized
Wood Information & Sample Pictures

Bowie Block™ Information:

At the April 2004 Oregon Knife Collectors Show we introduced Bowie Blocks™. The response was great. We now carry Bowie Blocks™ as standard items in the inventory.

Description
A Bowie Block™ is a block of handle material. Rather than being a rectangular block, the material is cut at an angle on one side. The shape allows knifemakers to make handles that get wider at the pommel with minimal waste. Or the handle can be curved. To see examples of Bowie Blocks™ click here.

Advantages
The advantage to knifemakers is cost. One of the factors we use in pricing is cubic inches. A block with a wedge missing has fewer cubic inches so it costs less. In the width column two measurements are shown. The first measurement is the width at the top of the block. The second measurement is the width at the bottom of the block.

We will continue to carry standard rectangular blocks.

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Micarta & G10 Inventory
Sale/Clearance Inventory Wood Inventory - Natural
Wood Inventory - Stabilized

Carbon Fiber Information:

We sell several different kinds of carbon fiber (CF) sheet. Most people are familiar with woven CF that resembles a checkerboard. However, there are several different patterns and sizes of weaves. The checkerboard is woven so one group of fibers run over another group, then under a group and repeats the pattern over and over. We call this "Over 1 Under 1". Another weave is to have a group of fibers go over two groups and then under one group. We call this "Over 2 Under 1".

Another factor in the pattern is the size of the group of fibers. Some fibers are gouped into bundles as small as .063" and other as large as .250".

Another type of CF has the all the fibers in a layer running the same direction. The next layer has the fibers running 90 degrees to the previous layer. We call this type straight carbon fiber. This CF looks good if the handle is contoured.

Some CF in bonded by clear epoxy and other is bonded by black or dark gray. The clear epoxy combined with the carbon fibers has a three dimensional look or depth when you look at it. The black & gray expoxy hide the layers but do look nice when countoured or rounded.

All CF has voids or air bubbles. When working CF and a void is found we recommend cleaning the void throughly and filling with clear or black cyanoacrylate (super glue).

Click here to see examples of CF sheet. We may not have all the examples in stock.

Some of the advantages of carbon fiber sheet are high strength, light weight, dimensional stability and corrosion resistance.

The disadvantages are tooling wear and health concerns. Carbon fiber dust is VERY VERY BAD FOR YOU. Always wear a respirator when working with carbon fiber. Keep the respirator on when cleaning your work area. Do everything possible to avoid breathing the dust. The dust will make your skin itch. Every time we work with carbon fiber we spend the next few weeks digging little black splinters from our hands. I keep saying that when our current inventory is gone we will not sell it again. I truely hate working with this material.

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Carbon Fiber Sheet Inventory

On Site Titanium Cutting Information:

Individual Cuts
If you find the size you need but the piece is too big, send us an requesting the size(s) you want and we will attempt to cut what you need. Please understand that with our equipment the size will be approximate. We try to cut the titanium slightly larger than you ask but charge for the size requested.

Multiple Cuts
If you want many pieces cut there will a cutting charge. This is determined on a case by case basis. Call us and we will work with you to resolve your needs.

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Waterjet Cutting Information:

We have been asked by several knifemakers if we would recommend a waterjet company. On October 10th 2000 we visited JetPoint Technologies in Sedro Woolley Washington. The owner John showed us around the shop. We were impressed by John and his shop. If you need a waterjet cutting service we recommend JetPoint. We plan to use them in the future. Our only connection with JetPoint is our recommendation through this website.

The following information is from the JetPoint brochure:

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    JetPoint Technologies - Precision Abrasive Waterjet Cutting

    Abrasive waterjet cutting is a process used for cutting materials with a stream of high pressure water and abrasive.

    Hardened materials are easy to cut. No change of temper. No discoloration.

    Large parts are handled on our 12'x6' table. Our waterjet tables are the highest quality equipment available on the market today. The cutting heads are firmly supported and can hold tolerances of ±.005.

    We can cut any two dimensional shape. We start with your sketch, pattern, CAD file, or actual part, and bring it into our CAD system. We can scan or digitize a part up to 48"x36". Another program converts the CAD file into CNC machine code that determines the cutting path.

    We can cut up to 10" thick: stainless steel, carbon steel, plastics - UHMW, honeycomb, aluminum, titanium, composites, glass. Nesting of parts allows us to minimize your material costs.

    Second operations are available at JetPoint or through one of our associates. We work with local machine shops, welders, fabricators and others to complete your project. Modern communications and shipping mean we can service our customers regardless of location. We can receive CAN files by email, drawings by fax or mail, and return your completed parts by UPS or other shipping company.

    Clean Edges Does Not Heat or Harden Material Fast Service High Quality Competitive Pricing

    Toll Free 1-888-819-7699 - Fax 1-360-854-0618 - Email jetpoint@jetpoint.com - www.jetpoint.com

    JetPoint Technologies
    609 Sunset Park Drive Unit W
    Sedro Woolley WA 98284

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Ordering Information:

To place an order call 425-868-5880 or send an listing the item numbers of the pieces you want. If you send a note please include your mailing address, zip code and phone number. If there is a problem with your order we will call to discuss your order with you.

If you want to pay using your MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover call us. If we do not answer, leave a message with your credit card number and expiration date or your phone number and we will call back. Or you can fax the card number and information to 425-898-7715. Do NOT send your credit card number by e-mail.

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Links To Other Sites:

Knife Information and Discussion:
Badlands Forums
BladeForums
Blade Magazine Forum
Custom Knives and Guns
Don Fogg Bladesmiths Forum
Ken Onion Knife Forum
Knife Forums
The Knife Network
The Usual Suspects

Purveyors:

Arizona Custom Knives
BladeArt
BladeGallery
Bob Neal Custom Knives
Classic Guns & Knives
Custom Knife Directory
EDC Knives
Exquisite Knives
KnifeArt
Gary Levine Fine Knives
Omega Tactical
Robertson Custom Cutlery
Triple Aught Design

Other Interesting Sites:

Broadwell Gallery
Cane Companion
Omega Leather
Online Knife Show
Timascus.com
Whisper Creek Consultants

Web Hosting, Website Development, Knife Photography:

BladeGallery
Mitch Lum

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Phone 425-868-5880         Fax 425-898-7715

Copyright © 2002-2007 Alpha Knife Supply™ - AKS™