All wrong, yet all right...

Matthew Gregory

Matthew Gregory

Chief Executive in charge of Entertainment
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
6,375
Been a long time since I've posted a new knife. Too long. This is a weird one, for me. I based it on my 7" kwaiken, but wanted to increase mass to add some chopping 'authority', so I added the clip on the spine, which worked flawlessly. There's just enough of a sweep for the belly to make it slice well, and the added mass and balance point (just forward of the Turks head knot) gives it some 'umph'. Points great, too. Snap-cuts like a fiend. That clip is almost sharp, certainly enough to be effective for a back-cut.

It's just... strange looking. Not sure what to make of it. It's been sitting on my bench for months, and I abandoned it - and returned to it - over and over again, until I finally committed to finishing it out. I'm really glad I did, as I think it's ugly as sin, but it wants to be! This is a perfect instance of form not following function, I guess. :D Perhaps this is what Joey Paranee refers to as the 'integrity of the steel'...?

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Steel is .250" thick 1084, with a differentially heat treated spine for increased toughness. Just a tiny touch of distal taper, with a full flat grind. The blade is just a touch over 7" long, and the handle is 4.75" to the knot. The red rayskin and resin-impregnated wrap conceals a tapered tang.

I keep picking it up and letting it dance in my hand. Trying to decide whether or not I keep this ugly duckling, or sell it and know that someone else is enjoying it.

Please, critique the bejeezus out of this one - I think this one is tough enough to take the criticism. BUT, the one thing I can't convey in this post is that it feels so good...
 
Looks like an outstanding piece to me.....perfect size and a great job wrapping that badboy. :cool:
 
I love it! Always refreshing to see different blade shapes and styles with this handle configuration. I tried a sharpened clip point with this style of handle, and it turned out about how you're describing. Strange, but not.
 
I think it's all wrong, therefore you should send it to me immediately to get rid of it.;)
actually it looks great.
 
It's not that ugly. I've seen worse. :)

I know nothing about this style of knife, but I think you did a great job of describing it. I can visualize it exactly as you said.

I was expecting something uglier from reading the post.

I think it would be wildly popular with a lot of people. And others..........not so much. :D
 
I agree Matthew, something is not working. Blade looks great, handle looks great...just not together. With the large knot/guard, the smaller end of the handle doesn't look balanced to me. Even unfinished in a way even if I know that this is how it is suppose to look for that type wrap.
Need to look at it some more. :confused:
 
Not a fan of the blade shape but the handle to blade ratio is nice and the wrap job is top shelf.
 
although it's totally different, and maybe it's because I'm inclined to see it, but to me there are echoes of that drawing we were talking about so long ago...
 
I like it. It's different and I tend to like it when a maker goes that route. The handle sets it off, great job.

The idea of adding the clip for mass is great. Without the clip it would look like many others out there. What some people might see as ugly now, can turn into rare and desirable in the future....
 
Matt- First off, it's GREAT to see you finishing and posting up some work!!! :cool:

I'll jump on the wagon and say I think if the raised clip had a longer, more gradual transition, it wouldn't catch the eye right there. BUT, I think it's a great knife.

It's a good kind of different, it's very well done, and it's very Matt Gregory! :cool:

You should come show me how to do a wrap like that. You know, with all that free time you have. ;) :)
 
Hey, I have a Matt Gregory red stingray kwaiken.
I think it's cool you went with the raised harpoon clip and gradual blade taper for tip strength.
Looks to be nice amount of sori ?
Traditionalists might not like it but I sure do.
Great to see you showing stuff again, Matt.

Doug
 
Unique and beautiful, and if it feels good then it is right. I certainly like it. And that handle wrap is so nice. Mike
 
Almost looks like a shortened cloud cutter/ jungle honey to me. I like it.
 
I,m with the raised clip crowd. I think it would look better if it was gone. The blade style doesn't go with the handle style.
 
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