Feedback wanted on Dagger design

Ben Seward

Ben Seward

Full-time Bladesmith/Part-time Idiot
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
Messages
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I forged this one awhile back. I'm hoping to have it at BLADE. Do y'all think art or utilitarian? It's 1075 so I would probably do a hamon either way. It's a carrying size...about a 5.5 inch blade. Critique or suggestions welcome.
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#1 looks better to me. And I would personally consider a smaller guard, so it would fit the width of the blade. Again, it's just my personal preference.
 
Thanks, guys! I'm considering blackwood or carbon fiber for the handle material.
 
HI Ben,

I'm an admirer of your work...and a big dagger aficionado as well !

IMHO, a dagger that length, with that blade profile, would be better as a utility piece, rather than an art piece.

Longer, slenderer blade more fitting for an art piece....think MS dagger :D

YMMV of course - and I also think CF would be perfect as a handle...

Bill Flynn
 
That was what I was thinking too, Bill. I just did this to start getting the feel for forging and grinding a dagger. I have an order for a full out damascus art dagger coming up. That will be the real practice run before the MS dagger.
 
Make it a little of both Ben. Blur the lines between 'art' and 'utility'. If anyone can, you can. You're creative enough.

A nice blackwood handle with some embellishment of some sort......and maybe some damascus fittings......and a 1075 blade! Right up my alley. ;)
 
looks good to me. I like the utility look of drawing #1, other one looks a little too funky. Carbon fiber handle, ti guard seems about right
 
Thanks for all the feedback, guys! Here's what I'm thinking. Damascus guard with carbon fiber handle.
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I personally think a brass or stainless guard would be swell, damascus seems overkill in my opinion.
 
Ben Seward said:
Thanks for all the feedback, guys! Here's what I'm thinking. Damascus guard with carbon fiber handle.
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[video=youtube;u6ALySsPXt0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6ALySsPXt0[/video]
 
billf said:
HI Ben,

I'm an admirer of your work...and a big dagger aficionado as well !

IMHO, a dagger that length, with that blade profile, would be better as a utility piece, rather than an art piece.

Longer, slenderer blade more fitting for an art piece....think MS dagger :D

YMMV of course - and I also think CF would be perfect as a handle...

Bill Flynn
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This... look @ some Bob Papp daggers
 
I like #2 and done with some nice polished Big Horn Sheep would be nice. I like elegant as frankly there is no need for a utilitarian dagger. Damascus blade and nice damascus on the handle or would be, as they say, the "cats meow".
 
billf said:
HI Ben,

I'm an admirer of your work...and a big dagger aficionado as well !

IMHO, a dagger that length, with that blade profile, would be better as a utility piece, rather than an art piece.

Longer, slenderer blade more fitting for an art piece....think MS dagger :D

YMMV of course - and I also think CF would be perfect as a handle...

Bill Flynn
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.

Cadillac86 said:
+1 for #1 with CF handle. That would be beautiful.
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I Agree heavily with the idea of CF, Personally I would say do a thin blood red or green liner and use maybe 2-3 mosaic pins to really give it a classy but still badass utilitarian look.
 
Nice looking blade,
I suggest you pass on the brass if you are going for a dark handle material. Go with stainless or Damascus which will complement the dark and light combo.
 
Thanks again, guys! Hamon, damascus, and carbon fiber are personal favorites of mine...if I could only work in some blue ti:) had in mind to carry this one when I started, but we'll see;) After I took a class in Kali, I learned a new respect for the dagger as a defensive tool. It kind of got me inspired along with the need to practice for the MS test.
 
Ben Seward said:
Thanks again, guys! Hamon, damascus, and carbon fiber are personal favorites of mine...if I could only work in some blue ti:) had in mind to carry this one when I started, but we'll see;) After I took a class in Kali, I learned a new respect for the dagger as a defensive tool. It kind of got me inspired along with the need to practice for the MS test.
Click to expand...

You could Hot/Cold Blue the Damascus!
 
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