5th Knife, Imput Needed!

N

Nic.

Joined
Dec 8, 2014
Messages
814
Hey all! I've been it by the knife making bug, I love it! I want to get good at this, so I appreciate any advice, harsh critiques, or any comments! My blade is a table saw blade (heat treated and tempered) which I acid etched, I think it looks neat, like old and rustic like. My bevels are cut with a filing jig, and unfortunately the etch hides my plunge lines. Scales are Koa held together with carbon fiber pins, which aren't spaced great I'll be the first to admit. My next knife will be made out of 1084, but this is sharp enough to shave easily with! Overall, I'm pretty happy with it! But please give me your opinions, I'm open to any of them!


 
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I like it. Looks like an old patch knife.
If you want input; I'd have the spine drop earlier and a bit less abrubt
 
I guess if that's what you like then you have it literally in your hand. I do what I want as do most. Would it help you if I told you none of what you have done there is what I like? I don't think so. But hey, I had someone tell me with what I expect was a brave heart that he didn't like my knives. Well now, my reply was I wish he was one of only a few but that isn't so. There are many that don't and I accept that. There has to be a great deal of satisfaction in the doing but also in what we see as the results we come up with. I encourage you to make what you want and if it leads you in another direction, then so be it. Yes, the making is the thing for many of us and I honestly believe it has to start with being for the maker.
With honest respect for what you have shown me you can do.
Frank
 
The basic shape is good.
I can't see much of the fit and finish because of the forced patina and blotchy handle finish. I think both those detract from the knife.
The handle looks a tad round. Maybe a little more oval or egg shape would help.

Overall an excellent job.
 
Frank Niro said:
I guess if that's what you like then you have it literally in your hand. I do what I want as do most. Would it help you if I told you none of what you have done there is what I like? I don't think so. But hey, I had someone tell me with what I expect was a brave heart that he didn't like my knives. Well now, my reply was I wish he was one of only a few but that isn't so. There are many that don't and I accept that. There has to be a great deal of satisfaction in the doing but also in what we see as the results we come up with. I encourage you to make what you want and if it leads you in another direction, then so be it. Yes, the making is the thing for many of us and I honestly believe it has to start with being for the maker.
With honest respect for what you have shown me you can do.
Frank
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Well thanks! I've seen some very nice, elegant knives that I've hated just because it's not my style, so I understand what your saying, I respect that!
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
The basic shape is good.
I can't see much of the fit and finish because of the forced patina and blotchy handle finish. I think both those detract from the knife.
The handle looks a tad round. Maybe a little more oval or egg shape would help.

Overall an excellent job.
Click to expand...
I was very on the fence about that handle finish, but this is for a friends birthday who is really into that look and asked for that. If it was mine I'd redo it:). Do my pictures make it look blotchy? As all I did was oil it, and it doesn't look or feel blotchy when your holding it. Ok, I'll try that next time. Thank you and I hope you are healing well!
 
Hengelo-drop spine sooner. Your own note on pin placement (first one further back) try breaking your grip length into 1/3s, and eyeing pins at hose points before drilling. Mr Apelt's note on slightly more egged or teardrop shape for handle scales. I like your work. I like a slightly longer, slimmer point, but that is also personal. Be proud of your work, and if your customer liked it, even better!
 
It's hard to tell but looks like the pins in some places are recessed below the handle?? This might not be the best way but I do a little draw filing around the pin and handle area to try to get the pins and handle flush. Also like others mentioned the handle is a little..."plain" for my taste. Maybe taper it from back to front or contour a little more. That's just my opinion nothing more. I think the shape of the blade is ok. How did you heat treat?
 
FL_Jimbo_K said:
Hengelo-drop spine sooner. Your own note on pin placement (first one further back) try breaking your grip length into 1/3s, and eyeing pins at hose points before drilling. Mr Apelt's note on slightly more egged or teardrop shape for handle scales. I like your work. I like a slightly longer, slimmer point, but that is also personal. Be proud of your work, and if your customer liked it, even better!
Click to expand...

Ok, that makes sense. I will try that with my pins! Thank you very much, I appreciate that!
 
629hugo said:
It's hard to tell but looks like the pins in some places are recessed below the handle?? This might not be the best way but I do a little draw filing around the pin and handle area to try to get the pins and handle flush. Also like others mentioned the handle is a little..."plain" for my taste. Maybe taper it from back to front or contour a little more. That's just my opinion nothing more. I think the shape of the blade is ok. How did you heat treat?
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They aren't recessed below the handle, they are flush. Ok, I'll try that! I heated it up with a MAP torch until it was past being magnetic and quenched it in oil. Then I tempered it using a propane torch until it turned barely straw colored.
 
I was at a Muzzleloading Shoot all day yesterday, we had a blast. The look of that knife I was going for was an old late 1800's patch knife and all the guys out there loved it and I got quite a few requests to make them...I'm pretty happy with that. I will continue to improve on all this, I love it! Thanks for the input guys!
 
Nic, 1/3s don't always look right, but somewhere yo start. Other grips look good if you divide by 4 and use the 1/4 and 3/4 point. Try Drawing a scale handle on graph paper and moving them with the eraser. Look at pictures of other grips and examine the placement. It will come to your eyes before know it...
 
I did a forced patina on a few of my first knives. To be honest, I did it to cover up a poor blade finish. I started taking my time with the finish, going through a bunch of grits with hand sanding. Although it started taking me longer to finish blades, I was much happier with the outcome. Sandpaper and patience are your friends.

All that said, I like your enthusiasm and you are asking all the right questions. I look forward to seeing what else you come up with especially when you get some 1084.
 
S.Alexander said:
I did a forced patina on a few of my first knives. To be honest, I did it to cover up a poor blade finish. I started taking my time with the finish, going through a bunch of grits with hand sanding. Although it started taking me longer to finish blades, I was much happier with the outcome. Sandpaper and patience are your friends.

All that said, I like your enthusiasm and you are asking all the right questions. I look forward to seeing what else you come up with especially when you get some 1084.
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Thanks! Understood there, a lot of the old patch knives looked like that, and I was trying to capture that look, my next one will have a smooth finish. Sanding can suck come times huh:). Thank you so much, I really appreciate that! I have my 1084 now so I'll start on a new one soon!
 
Looks good for #5 nic, I would try tapering the scales a bit front and back next time, it will give less of a blocky look and feel. On a knife that size, thinner in the front will help the handle fill your palm and lessen the pressure on your thumb and pointer finger when you hold it. Just my opinion, and we know what opinions are like.
 
lessismore said:
Looks good for #5 nic, I would try tapering the scales a bit front and back next time, it will give less of a blocky look and feel. On a knife that size, thinner in the front will help the handle fill your palm and lessen the pressure on your thumb and pointer finger when you hold it. Just my opinion, and we know what opinions are like.
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Ok, thanks! That seems to be a reoccurring critique so I'll try that with my next knife! Haha, understood:). Thanks!
 
Hey guys! So now that I'm getting somewhat descent at doing this, I'm starting to consider selling a couple here and there at some of the black powder shoots I go to. One knife maker I talked to said this knife was worth about 18 bucks. Considering the wood was that much, I don't think that is accurate. What are your opinions? What would be a fair price fir a knife like that?
 
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