First blade completed

J

JamesBro

Joined
Aug 21, 2012
Messages
231
1knife.jpg


Well there was another which did not survive...criticisms welcome...not real happy with the design...the original guard was larger but that also died in creation. I'm also waiting on a 2 x 72 belt grinder to get a better finish...initial grind was with a 8 in. bench grinder and hand sanding after.

this could get expensive..
James
 
That looks great! I see some Scagel inspiration there, very cool!

My advice would be to keep at it and try to make each one better than the last.
 
Way cool! Where are you located in NorCal? Welcome to Bladeforums! Personally I would grind the spine down to extend more or less straight from the handle. There is a very large unground area that is adding unnecesary weight to the knife and it makes the handle appear small. What steel did you use? Also I will say excellent work with the bench grinder! I know that is difficult!


-Xander
 
I'm always amazed at folks' first knives. They never ever seem to look like first knives.

Nice work. As with everything else, your skills will only improve with each project.
 
That grind is crazy good for a bench grinder grind. I like the shape, but would agree on the spine shape. You are off too a good start.
 
I already have a line drawn down the spine......great advice and thanks for the kind words. Great forum here.

(Livermore)
 
Good first knife. My comments below are to help with the next knife, not to demean this one.

What catches my eye first is that you tossed all the ingredients in the cupboard into the cake. The problem is that some things taste good by them selves, but don't go together. No need to mix too many things in the handle and blade design. Simple is good. Mixing copper, with steel, with striped wood, with stag, with spacers, with a mixed feature blade.....well you get the idea. Every one is a good ingredient, but they don't work together well sometimes.

As said, the blade is a bit large for the handle and the spine is not aligned with the curve of the handle. Grinding down the spine will shape it into the handle and narrow the blade to make that go away.

The guard is too small for the knife style and the blade size. It gives the comic contrast effect of Stan Laurel's hat brim (tiny brim on a large hat).

The ricasso is quite long, and makes the blade look unbalanced. It should be rectangular with a 2:1 ratio at the max. Yours is square.

The blade finish needs more work. The hollow grind looks good.
 
Thanks for your review....I started out to see if I could make something knifeshaped with a thin hard edge cheaply, evolved into wanting a knife that I would not be embarrassed to show anyone. Now I want to make good knives which led me to this forum and needing experienced advice. Its got to be the first knife to get a Scagel and a Stan Laurel reference. I deserve the latter but will remember the former. Thanks,

James
 
gimmejr said:
Good to see another California beginner like myself. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I still need to make the trip to meet a couple of the other NorCal makers here. The closest one is an hour away and with $4.20/gal for gas, I really think twice about drives like that!

OP: if your ever in the Valley, shoot me a message and we can meet up for a beer (or coffee).

-Xander
 
1knife2.jpg

Thanks, I think I may sand a little more, make a sheath and move on to the next one. (with a shorter ricasso)
 
That modification made a huge difference for the better. Keep it up. BTW Grew up in San Ramon. Graduated from Cal High. Joined the Navy and moved out of the area. Good to see someone from SFBA
 
Huge improvement:thumbup::thumbup:

Notice how the handle and blade flow together and match each other in size much better now.
The primary bevel is not being overpowered by the spine flat, either, which makes the blade look sleeker. Even the ricasso looks more balanced.
 
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