Finished Pair

Mike Craddock

Mike Craddock

Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
664
OK guys this is my first post to the customs.
Let's hear your comments

9"X 11/2" 1084 and 15N20 blades
Copper and Nickel Silver hardware
English Walnut and Buffalo Horn

DSC00026.jpg

DSC00014.jpg


Mike
 
Mike,

I love the blades. The steel looks amazing, the grinds are classics and crisp. All and all, it looks like a pair of blades coming out of D'Holder's shop. I'd love to see more, detailed pics of

There are several comments I'd make on the handles:
1 - Personally, I am not a fan of flat guards like that, especially when they have this "rounded rectangle" profile. I just find it a tad boring. This is a matter of taste.
2 - Also a matter of taste, but widely shared: I don't like nickel silver. It's not too bothersome as a spacer, but the wide open surfaces on the guards and the pommel will tarnish. I would recommend 416 SS, bronze, or for upscale pieces Argentium silver. Also, your damascus looks very, very good, and that mould make a great fitting material too.
3 - Flush handles with different natural materials are always dangerous because those materials will move, therefore creating sharp "steps". One way to prevent that is to radius each piece, that produces a viuals and tacile transition and prevents the sensation of sharp edges once the materials move.

Good work so far though. The steel looks lovely.
 
Joss

Thanks for the responce
I will agree that there should have been a radius on the natural materials, I'll work on this on the next ones.

Mike
 
I posted these here for your comments good or bad. I would thank you for the good ones and try to improve on the bad ones (or take them with a grain of salt).

Whats up 130 views an 2 post. Are they not worth making a comment?
I saw a post the other day asking why some didn't post here, so this was my frist post to the customs. Maybe now I know.

Mike
 
Mike, there a lot of people that are just interested in seeing new knives and have nothing to say. It's normal, don't let it stop you from posting. There was also a question that you did not answer, make sure you read thru everything.

I do like the blades and that's coming from a collector that does not comment much on Damascus. Joss, hit it right on with his take on the guards and handle.

A lot of promise here, please keep posting.

Win
 
i like em both...they look great....the only thing i don't like is the guard....doesn't go with the knife if you ask me....ryan
 
paratus said:
I posted these here for your comments good or bad. I would thank you for the good ones and try to improve on the bad ones (or take them with a grain of salt).

Whats up 130 views an 2 post. Are they not worth making a comment?
I saw a post the other day asking why some didn't post here, so this was my frist post to the customs. Maybe now I know.

Mike
Click to expand...

Mike - posting here doesn't entitle you to anything. You might or not get comments, there's no reason to be snippy about it. Now I'm going to regret actually spending the time to write something. If you've got that kind of entitlement attitude that is prevalent in today's world, you're going to run into major difficulties in the custom knife world.
 
I think they are gorgous and wouldn't change a thing.I would be proud to own them. You are quite a craftsman, very talented and should go a long way. You need a website or homepage so the public can view them. I think your work will sell quickly.
 
Joss said:
Mike - posting here doesn't entitle you to anything. You might or not get comments, there's no reason to be snippy about it. Now I'm going to regret actually spending the time to write something. If you've got that kind of entitlement attitude that is prevalent in today's world, you're going to run into major difficulties in the custom knife world.
Click to expand...

Joss
I posted here to get comments to try to improve my work or to see what you guys like and dislike.
I thanked you for your first responce and picked up some pointers.
I thought the forum was to ask questions and get answers. Not trying to be "snippy" if you think so look at your signature ( Question with Boldness )

Yes i do all my own work from start to finish.
and thanks to all others who have responed.

Mike
 
Mike -- I really like the damascus and the grinds of the blade on the fighter but am probably more critical of the handles than some others would be.
Sometimes folks don't recognize collectors by name and as you are new to this particular forum, I'll post a link to my collection just so you have an idea of what I like to see in a knife

http://phymurphotos.fototime.com/welcome

As mentioned, my first impression was "wow, these are really neat". I like the Fighter the best.

After than I then looked at the handles and first impression there is -- too busy, too many pieces and too much bulk to the butts/pommels. then I looked at the guard and find the length of the guard to be too large in relationship to the width of the blade and the handle.

Re the handle, personally, I think it would be improved with a larger piece of the walnut with small pieces of water buffalo if any at all. Small spacers of either N/S or SS (preferable) would help too. the wood is so beautiful, no reason to distract the eye from it. Reduce the size of the pommel as right now, they seem to overwhelm the handle.

Hope you get a website and will post more. I'm sure I could find a nice spot in my collection for a nice fighter by you. Also, as a maker, there is no need to use a "nic" but if you do, include the whole of your name. Hope you can get either a website or get a picture hosting site of your work.

Also, a larger photo of the knives presented in BF would be of great help. Do the knives individual in the photograph presentation also. Make more closeups of the components of the knife such as the guard, handle, pommel etc. Avoid using direct flash as seems to be the case in the closeup provided. Do everything you can to give the view as much information as you can. it does not take long but is so much more useful. HTH.

BTW -- look the Gallery section as there are a couple of threads there on how to do knife photography with lots of commentary and examples. this is info for any of the makers trying to present images in BF or on websites. Good photos can make or break a presentation/sale of a knife.
 
I agree with the other comments regarding the handles. The blades are really nice but I think the handles are a bit too busy and I also don't care for the round pommels.

The patterns in the damascus look great.

Peter
 
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