First post of my work online.

[deker]

This is probably the third or fourth knife I've made, but the first to be posted online for all to see. It's hand forged 1084, brass guard, and a manzanita burl handle. I made this one as my entry for my Blacksmith Guild's knifemaking contest which was held last week as part of our 18th annual "Blacksmith Days" event. It picked up a few handling scratches, but for now I'm letting them go. The leatherwork is my first ever and was done at a sheath making workshop being held at the event. It still needs to be dyed black, but that will hapen once I make my first order of leatherworking supplies.

If you want to be able to see the really obnoxiously large versions, go look at my gallery for this one.

Let me know what you folks think.

-d

 

[Sweany]

Honestly and constuctively.

I love the blade,very nice lines,sexy, love the handle wood, but the handle neeeds a bit of shaping to match the blade IMO.

The handle looks like a cigar.

 

[deker]

Honestly and constuctively.

I love the blade,very nice lines,sexy, love the handle wood, but the handle neeeds a bit of shaping to match the blade IMO.

The handle looks like a cigar.

I honestly thought the same thing, but one of the things we were trying to do for the competition was to reproduce our version of a specific Moran-inspired piece. I didn't match too well on the blade shape (I like mine better though) but the handle is roughly the same. it SHOULD have had a carved spacer that was a little thinner just behind the guard, but I was VERY short of time. Next one I'll be using MY idea for the handle bits.

Thanks for the comments though. I really appreciate the criticism as well as compliment

-d

 

[butcher_block]

I was VERY short of time. Next one I'll be using MY idea for the handle bits.
compliment

-d

sort on time hahah didnt you finish it up the morning of the compition
glad to see you posting some work now

 

[deker]

sort on time hahah didnt you finish it up the morning of the compition
glad to see you posting some work now

Yeah. I got up at 5:30 that morning to do final handle shaping, buffing, and put a little edge on it. Wouldn't have had to if the first blade hadn't cracked, then if I hadn't screwed up 2 other handles and one other guard....at least a learned a lot!

-d

 

[Will52100]

Beutiful blade, but I have to agree that the handle need a little more shaping. If that's your fourth, that's awsome!

 

[Sweany]

Thanks for the comments though. I really appreciate the criticism as well as compliment

wow, most folks, even when they ask for it don't like constuctive criticism. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[Mike Hull]

Nice looking. I like the purity and simplicity of the design, though I know it wasn't a simple knife to make.:thumbup:

A tip on the sheathwork if you won't take offense. Wet the sheath in warm water when finished and set it aside to dry(that makes them nice and stiff). When it's still a slight bit damp, use the handle of one of the leatherworking tools, with the tool part into the palm, the bowling ball shaped ones, and run the curve in the handle along the beveled edges one side at a time, then across the top of it all the way around.
It rounds over the sharp beveled edges and makes for a smoother look and finish. It just takes a very few minutes to do.

Edited for spelling.

 

[deker]

wow, most folks, even when they ask for it don't like constuctive criticism. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

If I wasn't looking for opinions on how to improve that would mean that I had nothing else to learn. Seeing as how I KNOW that isn't the case, any suggestions for improvement are always welcomed. Heck, even just a "I don't really like that because of X" is welcomed as well. If I ever intend to sell anything, I had better know what people like!

Nice looking. I like the puruty and simplicity of the design, though I know it wasn't a simple knife to make.

A tip on the sheathwork if you won't take offense. Wet the sheath in warm water when finished and set it aside to dry(that makes them nice and stiff). When it's still a slight bit damp, use the handle of one of the leatherworking tools, with the tool part into the palm, the bowling ball shaped ones, and run the curve in the handle along the beveled edges one side at a time, then across the top of it all the way around.
It rounds over the sharp beveled edges and makes for a smoother look and finish. It just takes a very few minutes to do.

Mike,

I did trim and burnish the edges of the sheath, maybe it just doesn't show well in the photos. The edge at the belt loop still does look a little ragged, so I'll probably re-do the burnishing there. Thanks for the compliments and suggestions!

-d

 

[Jay_Wyatt]

I wish I could turn out knives like that !
Jay

 

[jhlarri]

yeah, i saw this one in person and i gotta say when you told me you had just taken the forging class in the fall i was shocked. Looks great, im going to have to start taking those classes, i want to start making my own knives soon. glad the sheath turned out so good. nice meeting you this weekend by the way, its always good having a face to put with the words.
Jake

 

[David Schott]

Looks pretty sweet to me! I agree on the handle shaping, but im a big fan of heavy contours.....Is that handle pinned at all?

I'd throw some oil on that sheath to darken it up some, it'd look great with some of that dye thats about the same color as your handle.

 

[Sweany]

deker,
man that sounds just like what these frums are for!
learning, talking, sort of a virtual leaning on the workbench hashing things over.

Most folks just like a little empty flattery.....

 

[David Wesner]

Nice lookin Blade ! Kind of Fisk-ish looking , keep up the great work :thumbup:

 

[deker]

yeah, i saw this one in person and i gotta say when you told me you had just taken the forging class in the fall i was shocked. Looks great, im going to have to start taking those classes, i want to start making my own knives soon. glad the sheath turned out so good. nice meeting you this weekend by the way, its always good having a face to put with the words.
Jake

Jake,

The forging is the easy bit The other important stuff that Walt's class teaches is some of the procedure for finishing a piece. Though, from those 2 pieces you brought along it looks like you'll have a pretty good handle on the finish aspects. If you won't be able to make it to a beginner's blacksmithing class because of school schedules, just make sure you hit as many guild meetings and open forge nights as possible and get some "hammer time" in (Oh, and join the guild if you didn't over the weekend... )

-d

 

[Nowicki]

For the 4th forged blade you got your tapers good. The handle is what it is and you already know what to do to improve it. The sheath is on its way. I'm trying one that way now....Hope it turns out as nice as some of his.
All in all Good job.

 

[deker]

Looks pretty sweet to me! I agree on the handle shaping, but im a big fan of heavy contours.....Is that handle pinned at all?

Thanks for the kind words. Means a lot coming from somebody who's work I admire as much as yours. This handle isn't pinned, just epoxied. I was short on time and managed to ruin one handle while trying to drill a pin hole, so I wussed out on the last attempt. Of course, this brings up a question I had. If I'm working on a hidden tang and have the handle fitted to the tang (I burned this one in), is it just lining up the tang outside and tracing around it to decide where to drill? The one hole I did drill came out too close to the edge of the tang for my liking, which means to me that I was a bit off. I know the cut & mortise method of hidden tang construction, but I know there must be a way to do it without doing that.

I'd throw some oil on that sheath to darken it up some, it'd look great with some of that dye thats about the same color as your handle.

I was thinking either something like that or a black dye to give it some contrast to the handle. I've got to get a few $$ together for an order of sheath-making stuff. I'm going to try and make a head knife out of some 5160 I have to avoid that cost (and to have my own custom leather knife ), but after that I'll have to order some leather, dye, thread, etc.

I'll probably put up some pics of the "completed package" at that point.

-d

 

[butcher_block]

cool deker
im going to try to bang steel over the weekend if i can make the time off work give a call and stop in to see the most getto forge ever :thumbup: and 2 guys that know next to nothing tring to use it
oooo and have a beer we like forgin beer

 

[Reg ELLERY]

Deker I like your blade and I only had 3 images down load the alignment looking from the back is spot on. I copied to photo shop and re aligned the
top picture handle to blade by 3 degrees and moved it a mm or 2 down to line up closer to the line of the back of the blade.

The bottom of the handle I cut away so that it was closer to the width of the ricasso area and tapered it towards the back. I only did a qick job but if you would like to see the difference it makes my email is reg_ellery@optusnet.com.au put blade forum in the title so I know your not one of those messages selling me viagra or swiss investments.

I am not able to post photos here. It is only one of 1000 opinions and it is rough but I think you would be supprised and pleased with how your blade looks.

 

[Mike Hull]

Deker I like your blade and I only had 3 images down load the alignment looking from the back is spot on. I copied to photo shop and re aligned the
top picture handle to blade by 3 degrees and moved it a mm or 2 down to line up closer to the line of the back of the blade.

The bottom of the handle I cut away so that it was closer to the width of the ricasso area and tapered it towards the back. I only did a qick job but if you would like to see the difference it makes my email is reg_ellery@optusnet.com.au put blade forum in the title so I know your not one of those messages selling me viagra or swiss investments.

I am not able to post photos here. It is only one of 1000 opinions and it is rough but I think you would be supprised and pleased with how your blade looks.

I happen to agree with this too. The handle should never be wider than the back of the blade where it meets the guard. I just didn't say anything for the reason Sweany, above, pointed out.