advice on a guard needed

SVanderkolff

SVanderkolff

Joined
Oct 31, 2002
Messages
979
I am in the process of making a dagger very similar to the one in the picture. The problem I am having is that the guard, which is solid 416 is far to heavy for the knife. Although it ensures that the balance point is the guard the whole knife feels way to heavy. Do you have suggestions on how too lighten the guard or change the construction so that the guards weight doesn't overpower the rest of the knife.
Thanks
Steve
 
titanium
 
All that I would know to tell you would be to hollow out the center or at least to drill some holes into the back end of it that won't show.

Gary
 
Make the guard smaller

Use fluting on the outside and remove material if you must in the inside

A mix of all the above with shaping and contouring should work well

Remember some weight is a good thing
 
Along with the other suggestions, the last section next to the handle, could be a ferrule that slips over the handle. That part of the fitting appears to plane out with the handle and the handle itself could be inlet so the ferrule can match exactly with the coined and solid spacer.
 
I looked at this, and though "If the blade was longer then the weight ratio wouldn't be as severe."

Coop
 
I agree with all of the above.

Kind of along the lines of Joe's point, I looked and thought you could remove quite a bit of weight by making the lugs thinner and more streamlined. Take some material off the inner radii of the lugs. Some fullers or fluting on the outside would help too.
 
Some agreement here, for sure.
The overall mass of the guard could be reduced and not detract from the appearance of the knife.
Who knows - maybe the maker used that much guard to compensate for the amount of available handle material?
Steve, just do what you need to do for your knife and your happiness. :D
 
I like the overall design and dimensions, which is why I suggested using a lighter weight material- just to make my input clear.
 
Steve,

Here's my little Ka-Bar model thats similar in design. Reduce the guard to the second inlay material and make it smaller

Are you also drilling out the metal in the handle?

Also. Bolsters on the knife are riveted to the blade steel, so only 1/8" thick. If yours is solid and thicker. Going add a lot more weight

KB2751.jpg


KB2753.jpg


DON
 
SharpByCoop said:
I looked at this, and though "If the blade was longer then the weight ratio wouldn't be as severe."

Coop
Click to expand...

This was my second thought. It would also make the knife look better, IMO.

J. Doyle said:
I agree with all of the above.

Kind of along the lines of Joe's point, I looked and thought you could remove quite a bit of weight by making the lugs thinner and more streamlined. Take some material off the inner radii of the lugs. Some fullers or fluting on the outside would help too.
Click to expand...

This was my first thought. It would also make the knife look much better, IMO.
 
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