1st Knife!!!...Please provide CONSTRUCTIVE tips / advice

T

talf904

Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Messages
10
Hello all,
I am new to the forum and new to knife making. I have posted links to pictures of my first knife. There are obvious flaws and I would love to know ways which I can improve. I used 440 stainless, an antler from a deer I killed two years ago, red fiber spacer, and a brass guard. I still need a pommel but I am unsure if I want to try inlaying something (I would love to try a cross inlay). I tried to get a mirror finish but that too needs some work. I greatly appreciate any advice or tips that will help me to get better. God bless

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The grind of the blade looks great. The way you attached the guard is interesting. The join between the blade and the antler is a bit odd. Why did you choose to insert it at that angle? How does it feel in your hand?
 
Nice popcorn handle and nice first knife.



I see some things

First is the hump back
If you could have fit the handle so it is even with the guard
Maybe you still can by cutting it back into a straighter section of antler, and also using a bit of anbling there to keep it straight.
Maybe turn the antler around swap it end for end.

how long is the handle now




I do see some scratches in the buffed finish.
You need to do all the foundation work before you take it to the buffer.
The actual buffing time should be very low.
There should be no straight lines lost or rounded during buffing.
You shouldn't see any grind or sanding lines below the polish.

You could go back and continue to hand sand until you get a nice finish.


I don't like a high polish personally because even if it's well done, it reminds me of bad buffing jobs.



In pic 3 it looks like there is a gap at the bottom of the guard.
If so I don't know a simple fix.


Are you using JB weld as epoxy ?
If so try a clear one like Gflex
 
Thanks guys for the feedback and suggestions.

12345678910 - I did use JB Weld (hillbilly at heart so I have plenty around here) but I will definitley use a clear epoxy next time. The handle is 4 1/8''. When sanding a blade what should I take it down to before starting the buffing process, I went down to 400 grit. You are correct on the gap - I am finding it difficult to get erfect 90 degrees on the small areas (any tips on this?).

tryppyr - it feels ok, but not great, in my hand. I was overly concerned about getting to close to "surfacing" the drill bit if I flattened it out. How close can you typically get to the surface before worrying about strength?
 
The idea isn't to flatten out the antler piece, but to angle the front cut such that the arc of the antler flows from the spine of the blade.
 
I've only brought a rusty straight razor steel from rusty to mirror, so take it with a grain of salt, but you can go low down around 100 grit (though I often start around 320) to get all scratches out, and then remove the lowest grit scatches going up. On a razor, I go to 2500 grit for a mirror. On a knife? Probably don't need to go quite so high.
 
Thanks again! I am going to start my next one this weekend and will take all this advice and use it. Once complete I will post pics of that one.
 
Great job for a first knife. Not a project I would have attempted so more power to you.

I agree with the count 100% in that it would be much better if you went in from the other end.
 
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