Constructive criticism on my first knives

S

Shea550

Joined
Jan 25, 2012
Messages
51
Hey guys, shea550 here. I've just finished a few knives well, almost finished and I think they turned out nice. I'll explain some of it in the video.

They are made out of files and 1095 carbon steel theyve all been heat treated quenched, etc. Red oak handles with stainless steel bushings. I still need to sand blast them. If you have any questions I would be more than happy to answer them. Please leave any constructive critisism or comments, all are helpful!! Thanks guys!! (video wouldnt work. so here are pics!) (only the rounded tanto is finished though i still need to heat treat it, all the others need handles and the dagger needs to be heat treated still, as thats my latest knife)

http://s1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg588/shea550/

(okay guys i suck at uploading pictures and whatnot so i put em on photobucket. hopefuly you can view em there. if not ill try again. tell me if you can see em. by the way, im only 15 and these are my first knives so im deffinitly open to advice from the pro's and if anyone has an idea where to but/get steel please tell me, because im totaly depleating the resources i have( files, leaf springs, and a small amount of 1095 stock) thanks!)
 
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First CC: Test your thread. Post links correctly. Mobile app?

No work.

Coop
 
Sleepy badger: ^^^ Huh? Pictures are better? No pictures.

Shea: You aren't linking to a specific video. Sorry for the technical glitches.

Post photos.

Coop
 
Sorry I took so long to upload. I just got out of a wrestling meet. Anyways check out the knives and post your opinions please!
 
It also helps to fill out your profile. One of us might live next door and never have a clue.
 
tanto4.jpg


tanto1.jpg


skinner1.jpg


dagger3.jpg


all1.jpg
 
I'm no pro, but here's what I think;
-a friend once said that there are lots of 'wannabe' knife makers who never become knife finishers. Make sure you finish one knife for sure. And then get it out of sight somehow and finish another one. Get in the habit of finishing what you started, even if you are hating it. Then you will have the experience to know when to quit.
-sandblasting carbon steel is not a great way to go, unless you have a plan to deal with all the rust, (managed oxidization).
-these knives still look very rough. If you haven't done, (and forgive me, but the pics don't show enough detail to know for sure) sand them with sandpaper. There are a few 'work in progress' threads in this forum, which show how to apply a nice, hand sanded finish.
-I'm not blowing smoke up your ass when I say this, but you do appear to have a very good eye for line and an innate sense of design. Without those two things, a knife maker can make the best quality knife in the world, but it's gonna look like crap. I think you're ahead of the game here. Concentrate on developing that- study shapes and things that you like the look of. Draw them in a sketch book. Draw as many different things as you can. Copy things as exactly as you can. Allow yourself to draw completely without restraint.
-keep cranking out knives, they'll get better and better. Don't take failures as failures, look on them as opportunities.
-imagine yourself, (now, this is super difficult at 15, lol) 5 years down the road, 10... it is obvious that you want to make knives, as you ARE doing it. Do you want to keep making knives? If so, plan for it.
 
Well thanks man, I really appreciate it. And I've sanded them down with 220. And at first I was going to go for a satin finish but sand blasting looks better. I just haven't bought a sand blaster yet. Im also butting them out and beveling them and not finishing them because i still have to heat treat em. And to save firewood i figured id do them all at once. thank you so much for the advice! I'll make sure to do the things you said.
 
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