First pics of new work, feed back wanted

P

Paliden

Joined
Mar 26, 2006
Messages
40
I would appreaciate some feed back on some of my latest work, a set of skinning knives. I just loaded my first few pics onto photobucket and have the link to them but am unsure how to post them here. I hope this works.
Thanks,

HPIM2222.jpg

HPIM2215.jpg

HPIM2211.jpg

HPIM2207.jpg
 
They look like workers to me. Tell us a little more about them. Steel? Handle Material?

Tell us a little more about you also. Your profile doesn't say too much.

Robert
 
here is some info on each one
#1 is Hand forged 1095HC full tang blade, Gaboon ebony and cherry burl join with custom denium composit to make up the handle.
#2 is Hand forged 1095HC full tang blade, Cherry burl and Gaboon ebony highlights with curly maple accents make up the handle.
#3 is Hand forged 4" 1095HC full tang blade, green corian and maple burl highlights the tiger-maple handle, bronze pins.
#4 is Drop point skinner, Hand forged 1095HC hidden tang blade, file worked back of the blade, Gaboon ebony and maple highlights with hack-berry body form the sculpted handle.
 
I like 'em all. They look like they will be good skinners. The grind line/ridge by the ricasso is nice and graceful. The finish on the steel looks like you've gone beyond 600 grit. Am I seeing excess glue at the seams between handle and blade in the ricasso area or is that tallow from skinning out deer?

#1 Just a personal thing, to me the fabric type composite handle material doesn't seem to go so well with the wood used in front of and in back of it. Maybe if it were a different color that blended better??? or another piece of that pretty golden wood. What is that gold wood?

#2 I LOVE the handle. Please explain how you put the different woods together. I notice that they are not just flat layers but curve. What woods are put together here?

#3 Do you have anything holding the different segments together? There are pins or bolts (??) holding the main wood of the handle on, and the thong tube holding the pommel end on. What's holding the other segments on, especially the first one (bolster)?

#4 My favorite. The blend of wood horn (or bone) and shape of handle and blade come together well.

LonePine
AKA Paul Meske, Wisconsin
 
In general I like your handle color choices, nice work.

If I was still hunting the last one would be my choice. I always liked a short/fat and razor sharp blade for skinning. Mostly to keep a needle point away from my other hand working the hide. They all look good though.

I skinned a lot of deer with a little (2.5" maybe) drop point folder. I just kept it scalpel sharp.
 
Your handle compositions look great.

the blades aren't my style, but they are well executed. compound curves on the plunge lines must have been interesting to do. i don't know how i'd go about that if i tried.
 
less of the crazy angles of the photos - they make it hard to get a true sense of the knife's proportion.

I like the handle on 2 and the last one best.
 
Thanks Guys,
unfortunetly there was a little excess glue that showed up in the photos and i was able to clean up most of it after i took the pics. i am still trying to figure out how best to clean up those tight little areas.
the "gold wood" is actually some cherry harvested a few years ago here in Kentucky, it has a nice figure and an interesting color.
the woods in #2 are Gabon ebony, maple and some of that cherry mentioned earlier. to make that handle i first made a billet with the curves cut in with a coping saw then laid in the accent strips, 1 ebony the other maple. then scribed the curves into the ebony and cut them to fit. i used a good waterproof wood glue that i got from a furniture builder. i then covered the surfaces with it and clamped them up using quiet a lot of pressure and allowed the billet to dry for a couple days. the joint turned out to be stronger than the woods themselves. i then cut the billet like i would for any other handle. pretty much the same process for #3.
i don't have much in the way of equipment (and most of it is crude at best) so most of the work is hand work. i know that i've got a long way to go to catch up with some of you guys, but i am doing it. a lot of reading, and a lot of trial and error. and it never hurts to ask those who have been doing it longer, the only dumb question is the one never asked.
 
thanks to all of you,
if any of you have suggestions for ways to improve, they will be much appreciated. i really want to step my work up to the next level.
j
 
First let me say they all look like good users. They all should function for the designed purpose. You asked for some areas of improvement so here is what I see;

The edge bevel seems a little wide indicating a thick edge before sharpening. On a skinner/utility the edge does not need to be really thick. A thinner edge will cut more efficiently. Unless you are designing a chopper thin out the edges.

Your handles and blades do not flow into each other. This is purely a design aspect and has little to do with the function of your knives. Collectors look for a better flow, no radical jumps in size.

From your pictures the handles look a little small for the average person. Too small a handle will cause you to tire quickly even more so than too large a handle. This can be corrected with the flow thing mentioned above.

Some of your finishes appear to be uneven. Especially on the ricasso. I finish out the blade and ricasso area before installing the handle. Occasionally you may have to touch up the ricasso but if you are careful all you have to do is finish the handle. Also finish the front of your bolsters before final assembly. Then all you have to do is wipe off the glue while it is setting up.

Keep up the good work. Also just a pet peeve of mine please update your profile to indicate were you live. It may just result in a shop invite.
 
thanks, that is the kind of feedback that i was hoping for. i want to improve but like many am to close to the work to always see the areas that need more attention. a good critique is a valuble tool.
thanks
j
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top