fighter with hamon project

[Matthew Gregory]

I started this one a month ago, and have repeatedly thrown my back out over the course of that month. Today is the first day I've felt up to working in the shop, and this is as far as I managed to get. I might choose to continue the polish on the blade a bit beyond 600 grit, but so far I like it.

Please share your thoughts on this, and thanks!

Blade is 8.5" long, made of 1095 (I've experimenting on quench techniques without the aid of clay).

 

[RogerP]

I like the combination of the recurve and the long clip quite a lot. What do you have planned for guard and handle?

Roger

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

Next time I run into you I hope you'll go into detail on the absence of clay.
I think that's cool as heck, and am sure it takes a lot of trial and error to know when you've got your heat just right!
Sounds like a lot of fun to me.
Looks sweet, Matt.

 

[John White]

Ditto on Roger's comment, and that's some hamon. Your experiments seem to be working well.

John

 

[JParanee]

Matt very nice looking blade . The long clip looks great . I usually do not care for recurves but in this case I think that it is not so dramatic and I like it. Is that a spanish notch I see ?

 

[Keith Montgomery]

A very good looking blade. I'm interested in seeing what you come up with for a finished knife.

 

[nikoknife48]

Haunting looking hamon and yes that Spanish notch adds a nice touch.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

This is the first knife I've made with a spanish notch - it really seemed to need it, as without it looked awfully plain.
As with all of these, I'll agonize over what materials to use for a while. Originally it was going to be a wrought iron guard with a light-weight, darker wood. Now I'm not sure. I'll need to torture myself over it for a bit!

Karl, I'd love to talk to you about it! Really not so difficult, as you've intoned - just time consuming and difficult to stop and say 'enough is enough'!

Looking back at these pictures, I really need to get a lens for this new camera that will allow better light transmission - or a light box. The depth of field is way too narrow.

Thanks for all the comments, gang!