- Joined
- Oct 26, 2005
- Messages
- 1,179
You're just bragging... hmph!
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
BF Ugly knife competition
- Thread starter rfrink
- Start date
Intentional? I think not.
The folly of grinding an edge too thin and then allowing an "expert" to harden it in his back yard to save a couple of bucks for shipping it to real experts who would have realized that a bit of special attention was required.
It hangs on the "wall of shame" behind my grinder as a mute reminder that there are limits and also that communication with heat treatment experts is important!
Ah well....
Mike
The folly of grinding an edge too thin and then allowing an "expert" to harden it in his back yard to save a couple of bucks for shipping it to real experts who would have realized that a bit of special attention was required.
It hangs on the "wall of shame" behind my grinder as a mute reminder that there are limits and also that communication with heat treatment experts is important!
Ah well....
Mike
I think I've got you all beat.
Two wicked ugly kukhuris in 5160. As ugly as it is, I really like the one on top.
Top to bottom: (1) forged W-1 with cocobolo scales. My first and only forged knife with a full tang. (2) little boot knife in 154cm. (3) wrist knife in L-6.
- Chris
Two wicked ugly kukhuris in 5160. As ugly as it is, I really like the one on top.
Top to bottom: (1) forged W-1 with cocobolo scales. My first and only forged knife with a full tang. (2) little boot knife in 154cm. (3) wrist knife in L-6.
- Chris
Fred.Rowe
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- May 2, 2004
- Messages
- 6,848
We wouldn't learn much if we didnt make mistakes. I have one like that on my wall. Makes me proud. Fredmiden said:Intentional? I think not.
The folly of grinding an edge too thin and then allowing an "expert" to harden it in his back yard to save a couple of bucks for shipping it to real experts who would have realized that a bit of special attention was required.
It hangs on the "wall of shame" behind my grinder as a mute reminder that there are limits and also that communication with heat treatment experts is important!
Ah well....
Mike
Fred.Rowe
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- May 2, 2004
- Messages
- 6,848
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
- Messages
- 3,258
I say there should be some clear parameters before we have another Ugly Knife Contest. If everyone is willing to use this thread to discuss the rules I think we could have a lot of fun with this.
I'll go first:
Rule #1
All contestants must make a knife for the contest. The knife must not be one already in existance.
I think this makes sense. Anyone can go grab an old crappy blade stuck in a stump somewhere and submit it. Uh uh. For a knife to qualify, it should me made ugly on PURPOSE... not by accident.
Rule #2
The knife submitted by the maker should have the following features:
a) A hardened steel blade
b) A handle, either wrapped, slab, or tang.
c) A sharpened edge
d) must be a fixed blade
This is sensible also. Without these features, its not a knife.
Rule #3
There should be a panel of three judges to decide the winning knife, and runner up.
Thoughts, anyone?
I'll go first:
Rule #1
All contestants must make a knife for the contest. The knife must not be one already in existance.
I think this makes sense. Anyone can go grab an old crappy blade stuck in a stump somewhere and submit it. Uh uh. For a knife to qualify, it should me made ugly on PURPOSE... not by accident.
Rule #2
The knife submitted by the maker should have the following features:
a) A hardened steel blade
b) A handle, either wrapped, slab, or tang.
c) A sharpened edge
d) must be a fixed blade
This is sensible also. Without these features, its not a knife.
Rule #3
There should be a panel of three judges to decide the winning knife, and runner up.
Thoughts, anyone?
Higgy, who on earth would willfully make an ugly knife, heck, I find it difficult enough to make a good one, the ugly ones just happen, same as accidents.
I suppose you would want people to buy them too!!
Hey, why not, that will sort the phsycos from the real customers.
Uh, it is strange that your buddy Indian George has not chipped in with something yet. Seems like his kind of contest. He might want to forge a piece of that '47 Indian into something that will REALLY turn the stomach.
Okay, I am off......
Mike
I suppose you would want people to buy them too!!
Hey, why not, that will sort the phsycos from the real customers.
Uh, it is strange that your buddy Indian George has not chipped in with something yet. Seems like his kind of contest. He might want to forge a piece of that '47 Indian into something that will REALLY turn the stomach.
Okay, I am off......
Mike
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2000
- Messages
- 863
To heck with rules!!! (hee hee)
It's all about diggin into the back of the tool box, pulling out that skanky old slug that you were all excited about when you first got started. But by the time you finished it...it was just plain embarrassing. Maybe you were too ambitious and artsy...or maybe lacking skills or equipment...
Who knows what happened...but the fact is that it did happen...you made it...and it's not your finest hour. Intentionally making an ugly knife kinda kills the spirit of the contest. That be like watching America's funniest videos..except the clips were staged...it would lose some humor somehow.
My vote is no rules....just post whatcha want...or simply lurk and laugh. It's all in fun...
does anyone remember the Jerry Fisk ugly that IG posted a few years ago?......it had freekin' dry-wall screws holding the handle together !! It was ugly!!
It's all about diggin into the back of the tool box, pulling out that skanky old slug that you were all excited about when you first got started. But by the time you finished it...it was just plain embarrassing. Maybe you were too ambitious and artsy...or maybe lacking skills or equipment...
Who knows what happened...but the fact is that it did happen...you made it...and it's not your finest hour. Intentionally making an ugly knife kinda kills the spirit of the contest. That be like watching America's funniest videos..except the clips were staged...it would lose some humor somehow.
My vote is no rules....just post whatcha want...or simply lurk and laugh. It's all in fun...
does anyone remember the Jerry Fisk ugly that IG posted a few years ago?......it had freekin' dry-wall screws holding the handle together !! It was ugly!!
Fred.Rowe
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- May 2, 2004
- Messages
- 6,848
To keep your sanity, you have to be able to laugh at yourself. I find most makers have a sense of humor when it comes to there work. But asking them to make an ugly knife on purpose, when they have plenty of uglies on hand, might be asking too much. Fred
Fred- Joined
- Aug 13, 2005
- Messages
- 143
Ugly or not this is not for a very very very novice like myself to say..But one thing that it does do is give us newbies hope..With craftsmen and artists like yourselves showing to the world what some would possibly hide forever.
It really goes to show that you all have a sense of humilaty.....
It really goes to show that you all have a sense of humilaty.....
Please tell me where I can pick up my prize.
This is my first knife I ever made. Back in the mid 70's while in high school. It sports a genuine M-16 bayonet blade sunk into a one of a kind exhibition grade plain walnut handle embellished with a number of finger groves. I forgot to count finger groves when making this knife, as I was very excited that they were lining up symetrically. I may have the number right, may not. The excess epoxy from the tang was not wiped off, but merely spread around the "handguard" for asthetic effect. I later drilled a thong hole in the rear which was promptly filled by a dirt dauber while stored at our farm.
While we are all capable of making knives that somehow, don't measure up to our expectations from time to time, I sincerely believe I have a winner here.
This is my first knife I ever made. Back in the mid 70's while in high school. It sports a genuine M-16 bayonet blade sunk into a one of a kind exhibition grade plain walnut handle embellished with a number of finger groves. I forgot to count finger groves when making this knife, as I was very excited that they were lining up symetrically. I may have the number right, may not. The excess epoxy from the tang was not wiped off, but merely spread around the "handguard" for asthetic effect. I later drilled a thong hole in the rear which was promptly filled by a dirt dauber while stored at our farm.
While we are all capable of making knives that somehow, don't measure up to our expectations from time to time, I sincerely believe I have a winner here.
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2005
- Messages
- 1,179
I don't know about Ray, but my rebar with get harder than a file with a room temp water quench.
Islandmike,
if you do not have a sense of humility before you start making knives, the knifemaking gods will see to it that you develope one soon enough!!
Maybe that is why not even the best makers seem to be arrogant about their craft, you will notice they always have sound advice and encouragement.
Mike
if you do not have a sense of humility before you start making knives, the knifemaking gods will see to it that you develope one soon enough!!
Maybe that is why not even the best makers seem to be arrogant about their craft, you will notice they always have sound advice and encouragement.
Mike
Thank you TnMike for your compliment (?). My Dad, God bless him, took my knife and used it in his shop and on his farm until we had to put my folks in assisted living. I felt like I had really made something worthwhile and my dad using it, confirmed it! When moving my folks I found it and just about flipped. I keep it in my shop to remind me how far I have come...glad Dad never threw anything away! Gawd what a piece of garbage.....
Hank Hammond
Hank Hammond