A Knife You Didn't Like To Work On.

Tom Militano

Tom Militano

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Has anyone besides me ever made a knife they didn't want to work on? I have one that ground with no problems, heat treated fine, looks good, I just don't like working on it. It hung on the wall over my work bench for about a year before I decided to finish it. All that's left to do is the satin finish and I really don't feel like picking it up. I'll get it finished sooner or later, just to get it out of the shop.
Tom
 
Oh yes, I've done a few knives that were just not fun projects. I once had a customer ask me after I shipped his knife if I had any last minute thoughts about it. I said, "yes, good riddance!" It was a very difficult grind, and just wasn't enjoyable to pull off.
 
My brother made a deal with me: he'd buy me the TKS hobby grinder for my birthday if I'd make him a big butterfly knife. I foolishly agreed.

I made every single part of that knife twice, then stalled on it for 8 full years, before I finally finished it for him.

It has bit everyone who's held it, is aptly named "Delilah." The good that came of it (there always is some) is that finishing it restored me to knife making, and I'll never quit again.

Dave
 
Yep!!! Whe everything starts going backwards on a knife I would rather start something new until the feeling hits and I can work on it with a clear mind,Or else make something else out of it that will work beter..;)
Bruce
 
I'm working on one of those now, a folder, started at noon on Saturday and spent the next 8 hours on my hands and knees on the floor chasing itty bitty little screws and such. I'm not set up for that type of fiddly work and don't like it at all but the fellow that I bought a whole pile of red deer antler from asked me to make a hawksbill folder for himself from the antler of his favourite stag and like an idiot I said "Sure, no problem". I have given it a break but will have to get back to it before long because my next heat treat run is going in on Thursday and I sure would like to see the back of this order.
 
some days it don't pay to get out of bed..
George, I now what you mean.
  some times I think I must have had a mini stroke
while sleeping the night before,,
  I'm all thumbs at times.

 I think motivation is some what within our
artistry if it don't feel right, you
know it's not going to come out right,
so you have to wait on it..
so you know it will be right.
Am I close to the feeling..??:confused:
 
Well it just so happens.....yes I do one once in a while start one that I just hate and as with George it is almost always one that I agreed to do because I'm too stupid or make that too nice to say NO!.....I am putting the finishing touches on a sword for the brother of a friend. It is a a copy of "He Man's" sword. I feel stupid making the thing. HMMMM...I guess I am stupid for just agreeing to make it.

I don't really like modern fighters and everytime I start one it just drags and drags. I've gotta hand it to Dave though. I think he holds the record...8 Years! :eek: :D
 
I hear you Tom. I've had those blades, but instead, I turn them over to Mr. Vise and say "Hello Mr. Vise, I have a friend for you to play with". Then I find Mr. 15" Plumbing Pipe and well, you get the idea... I talk to my tools. Oh and its helpful for testing too. :p

-Jason
 
What I can't figure out is why it always happens on knives that you are doing as a favour for someone.

Of course my record holding knife is 5 years and counting in process. It is a dagger with a maple leaf carved in the 440C handle, looks great so far but I am suffering a mental block about the quillion guard and handle scales...Just can't visualize the thing finished.
 
For me it's a 6 grind short sword.
about four years now.
I don't know buffalo or an Ivory handle..
:(
 
one thing to remenber is that beating your self up over it is'nt going to help. i learned that it will be done just as fast if i put it down and going put all my attention on another blade for a while.
 
Been there, I had a blade that bit me once real good and sent me for 10 stitches....never finished that one..3 years ago
Also a dagger that I started around 7 to 8 years ago, all ground and heat treated. I just never finished it for some reason.
And a damascus drop point, heat treated and ready for handle, just never finished for some unknown reason. about a 2 1/2 year old project.
Luckily I have someone to hand these knives down to and they actually get finished. the dagger and damascus knife are now finished...there is nothing wrong with the blades, just the little man that operates your hands just never picks up that particular piece!..I blame it all on him!!lol:D
 
I went out to the shop with the intention of working on that knife this morning and the power went off for an hour. Back to the shop this afternoon and it went off again. I think the thing needs an exorcist. Hmmmm, maybe I'll give it to one of my brother-in-laws to work on. I wonder if Alabama Power is in cahoots with this thing. It will be a while before I pick it up again, it's at the very bottom on my list of priorities.
 
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