#7 Finished, please comment and critique!

Nic. · Apr 13, 2015

Hey all! So this is #7, same table saw blade steel( I have 1084 on it's way), with walnut scales and brass pins. Blade is heat treated and tempered and acid etched in vinegar. It's a good cutter! OAL is a hair shy of 7.5 inches. People were critiquing me on thick scales, so I took them down. What do you all think? Harsh criticism welcome! The front of the scales turned blade from my dirty hands, I'll have to sand that down and fix that

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Jemblade · Apr 13, 2015

I think it looks pretty good overall. I like the grain on the walnut. To me it looks a little too blocky at the top on the scales leading to the blade. Others may disagree with me, but to my eye I would flip what you did on the scales. Slim it down at the top leave it a bit chunkier towards the bottom. Again, just my preference.

How is the edge retention with the HT?

Nic. · Apr 13, 2015

Jemblade said:
I think it looks pretty good overall. I like the grain on the walnut. To me it looks a little too blocky at the top on the scales leading to the blade. Others may disagree with me, but to my eye I would flip what you did on the scales. Slim it down at the top leave it a bit chunkier towards the bottom. Again, just my preference.

How is the edge retention with the HT?

Thanks! It's one of the more plain woods I've used, but I like it! Ok, thank you . I tried to radius it out and slim the front, but I guess I didn't do that enough. Edge retention is great so far! Thanks for the input!

Jemblade · Apr 13, 2015

Nic. said:
Thanks! It's one of the more plain woods I've used, but I like it! Ok, thank you . I tried to radius it out and slim the front, but I guess I didn't do that enough. Edge retention is great so far! Thanks for the input!

Nice. Well keep it up, I think you are going to be pleased with the 1084 once you get it.

John Katt · Apr 13, 2015

Looks like you could do a little more sanding on the same side your thumb is on to make it symmetrical with the other side

Looks Good ;0)

Nic. · Apr 13, 2015

John Katt said:
Looks like you could do a little more sanding on the same side your thumb is on to make it symmetrical with the other side

Looks Good ;0)

Ok, thanks! What, no jokes at all

? I've come to look forward to them

John Katt · Apr 13, 2015

Nic. said:
Ok, thanks! What, no jokes at all? I've come to look forward to them

OK you asked for it, my two favorite nerd jokes

16 sodium atoms walk into a bar...followed by Batman

and...

Why did the robot cross the road...

Because he was carbon bonded to the chicken

ba dump dump chshshshshshshsh ;0)

S.Alexander · Apr 14, 2015

Blade shape looks good. Others have commented on the handle so I will comment on the blade finish. I think you should try a hand satin finish now. Try it without the etch... Something new to challenge yourself. I try to challenge myself with new techniques or features on every knife that I do. It keeps things interesting.

Keep it up!

Nic. · Apr 14, 2015

S.Alexander said:
Blade shape looks good. Others have commented on the handle so I will comment on the blade finish. I think you should try a hand satin finish now. Try it without the etch... Something new to challenge yourself. I try to challenge myself with new techniques or features on every knife that I do. It keeps things interesting.

Keep it up!

Thanks! Ok, I will, thank you. I was debating on etching this one or not, but I tend to like the look of a slightly gray blade, but I will try a satin finish next time. Interesting is always good, variety is the spice of life I guess. Thank you!

Nic. · Apr 14, 2015

John Katt said:
OK you asked for it, my two favorite nerd jokes

16 sodium atoms walk into a bar...followed by Batman

and...

Why did the robot cross the road...

Because he was carbon bonded to the chicken

ba dump dump chshshshshshshsh ;0)

Apparently I'm not smart enough for the first one, but the second one is funny

John Katt · Apr 14, 2015

Nic. said:
Apparently I'm not smart enough for the first one, but the second one is funny

You don't need to be smart for the first one just old like me

The periodic symbol for sodium is NA

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA BATMAN...

The theme song for the 1960s batman tv series

tommyg805 · Apr 14, 2015

The blade shape is well done. The handle design could use some refinement. Maybe some curves or a birds beak (I think that's what they're called) at the butt. Also the pins look a little small. Overall, I think that will make a sweet little utility knife. I think you're on to something here. Can't wait for the next one!

Nic. · Apr 14, 2015

John Katt said:
You don't need to be smart for the first one just old like me

The periodic symbol for sodium is NA

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA BATMAN...

The theme song for the 1960s batman tv series

Haha, ok, got it, that's clever

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Nic. · Apr 14, 2015

tommyg805 said:
The blade shape is well done. The handle design could use some refinement. Maybe some curves or a birds beak (I think that's what they're called) at the butt. Also the pins look a little small. Overall, I think that will make a sweet little utility knife. I think you're on to something here. Can't wait for the next one!

Thank you! Do you mind explaining what a birds beak is? Thank you!

tommyg805 · Apr 15, 2015

Here is a picture of some AA Forge knives that I saved for inspiration. I think it's called a bird's beak but I could be totally wrong and embarrassing myself. What I'm referring to is that little triangle shape at the butt of the handle kind of where your pinky would go. It's a fairly common design and to me it just seems to look "right".

Fletch Helical · Apr 15, 2015

As others have said the front of the scales are asymmetrical but overall not a bad looking knife. Tip for doing the front of the scales: Tape them together and shape/finish them completely to whatever grit you want don't worry about the rest of them at that point. Once you glue and pin them on the knife then you can do the rest. But having them together makes them a tad bit easier to determine their symmetry and allows you to shape them without scratching up the ricasso area of the knife with files/sandpaper.

Nic. · Apr 15, 2015

Fletch Helical said:
As others have said the front of the scales are asymmetrical but overall not a bad looking knife. Tip for doing the front of the scales: Tape them together and shape/finish them completely to whatever grit you want don't worry about the rest of them at that point. Once you glue and pin them on the knife then you can do the rest. But having them together makes them a tad bit easier to determine their symmetry and allows you to shape them without scratching up the ricasso area of the knife with files/sandpaper.

Thanks! Ok, thank you! I started to do that with this knife, realizing it's impossible to do it any other way, but didn't think about sanding it down all the way, that's a great idea, Thavkz you!