Feedback would be appreciated

[beaster456]

I've been making knives for almost a year now and I thought I'd show off some of my most recent work. Feedback is good, I'm always looking to improve.

This knife is 1095 steel with hickory scales. It's 1/4 thick, pretty beefy IMO.

This knife was made of an old file, I'm thinking 1095 steel also. Hickory handle as well.

 

[Frank Niro]

Well, really no so bad . I do recommend however that when you do the convex grinds, and you may be doing them by hand filing, go higher with the grind. Try to go near spine - back - of the blade. As well go to more finishing work with sandpaper backed with something hard, even a strip of metal 3/4" wide. This will give you a better cutting knife. As well the "beefy" handle is just that. Make them thinner. Stay with it and make more if you enjoy it. Frank

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

More time spent filing and sanding. The bevel should go much higher, preferably all the way to the spine

Thinner steel. A knife like that needs no more than 1/8" steel. Thick blades will cut poorly. 1/4" steel is fine for big camp choppers, but way too thick for any slicing or general cutting blade.

The guard and handle on the second one are both square. They should be more rounded, and slightly narrower on the bottom side...sort of egg shaped.
It looks like the fit and finish of the guard and blade are very poor. There seems to be a big gap. Try and have the joint fit very snugly, and either use low temp silver bearing solder or JB Weld to seal the joint.

While oak is tough, it isn't pretty, and it can be uncomfortable to the hand in use. Try a tighter grained wood, like walnut, or a hard and attractive wood like cocobolo, bocote, zebrawood, etc. All these are fairly inexpensive, don't need stabilizing, and can be brought to a smooth and shiny finish with only hand sanding.