Fogg-like gentleman's integral

very cool Chris, my favorite knife youve done to date... just slick and well done in every way.
 
It's a beautiful piece. Workmanship looks first rate and the Fogg influence is evident - which is a good thing. I really like the treatment of the integral bolster and the full tapered tang. Beautiful wood for the handle.

The only thing I am not sure about is the handle-to-blade proportion. The handle looks a touch long to my eye. On a piece with an overall length of 12.5", my own aesthetic preference for porportions dictates less handle and more than 6" of blade. I appreciate that photo angles can play havoc with perceptions of proportions, but the dimesions given tend to support what my eyes are seeing. A 50 / 50 blade to handle ratio works okay on an 8" piece (4" blade, 4" handle) but less so when the piece is over a foot long. Just my opinion.

Anyway, I hope you will do more of these - I think you did a terrific job of capturing the Fogg-ness of the genre. :thumbup:

Roger
 
I agree with everything above, especially the part about losing the mosaic pins. But that's just me.

Looking very sharp,

John
 
thanks guys!
so.. you think that it would be better to have domed SS pins instead? i can see that.
i wish that the hamon had come out more exciting.. but it polished out really nice.
i used some lapping compound that worked really well.

hopefully there will be a couple more blades soon. i am swamped with school and everything.. but i hope to get some new stuff out.
thanks so much for looking!
~chris
 
Either domed stainless or something slightly larger with some classy engraving.

IMHO. :D

Don't get me wrong, the knife is fantastic. The pins would be the only detail I would change. As for an "active" hamon, well, sometimes simpler is better.
 
jjtjr said:
David Wesner wrote:

Chris's knife is great, very well made and a good example of a Don Fogg stlye knife.

He may in the future be considered among the best but, you don't know how much Don Fogg has contributed to custom knives to make the above statement. He has been considered to be one of the best for 30 years. Have you ever seen his Kemal knives? He is a living legend.

Jim Treacy
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Jim, please don't misunderstand the compliment I gave Chris on his integral. I never meant to diminish DonFoggs contibution to the knifemaking community. It will probably never be equaled. He is indeed a "living legend", no doubt about it :thumbup: :thumbup:

Chris is a young man. If I had to guess I would say in the neighborhood of 20-25 y.o. I was just commenting that at the rate he is moving forward, by the time he reaches DonFoggs age ??, well ................ the sky is the limit.

Kemal :thumbup: I love Dragon and Sufidagger ! They are, imho ;), simply incredible !!!!!



:thumbup:
 
RogerP said:
The only thing I am not sure about is the handle-to-blade proportion. The handle looks a touch long to my eye. On a piece with an overall length of 12.5", my own aesthetic preference for porportions dictates less handle and more than 6" of blade. I appreciate that photo angles can play havoc with perceptions of proportions, but the dimesions given tend to support what my eyes are seeing. A 50 / 50 blade to handle ratio works okay on an 8" piece (4" blade, 4" handle) but less so when the piece is over a foot long. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

If I understand what Burt Foster has told me about integrals, this is a trick the eye plays with you on them. The "handle" that your eye sees starts at the front of the bolster rather than further back behind a guard. I know Burt has put a lot of time into figuring out integral proportions and could explain it better than I can.

Either way, it's a fantastic piece Chris. The fit and finish are excellent and I like the flow overall....I need to get some $$ together for a knife from you before you get too famous :)

-d
 
deker said:
If I understand what Burt Foster has told me about integrals, this is a trick the eye plays with you on them. The "handle" that your eye sees starts at the front of the bolster rather than further back behind a guard. I know Burt has put a lot of time into figuring out integral proportions and could explain it better than I can.
Click to expand...

A very valid point, and one with which I am well familiar, having collected forged integrals for some time, including a number of pieces by His Burt-ness. :) But this is a 12.5" piece with a 6" blade - my eyes aren't playing tricks on me here. I doubt you will find any Foggs or Fosters with these proportions.

But for that one observation, I agree that it's a beautiful piece of work and one that the maker should be proud of.

Roger
 
hey everybody!
i totally understand about the proportions. I was looking at Don Fogg's knives like this and have 5.75" blade for a 10.25" OAl.. so i see what you mean.. however i think some of the confusion is coming of how i measured it. when i listed the blade length, i measured only the cutting section, where Fogg measured to the ferrule. so that would change the ratio somewhat on paper.. however the look doesnt change. On my opinion.. i like the handle.. and it feels good in the hand. However i totally understand where you are coming from.
i appreciate the comments and i hope to use them for the next one!
thanks
~chris
 
Beautiful knife:thumbup:.

I can imagine how much time went into fitting those scales and finishing the whole thing.

Again, nicely done :).

Regards

Marcus
 
I agree with Roger about the blade to handle ratio.

On the next one, may I suggest a domed bronze pin, or a gold pin, with your touchmark, which would be a variation of Don's mon(cherry blossom), he places in a gold slug.

Those that feel Jim came down hard on the "Fogg Legend" comment need to understand that in the grand scheme of the community, Don is one of the LEAST appreciated and known makers who have contributed the MOST...we can be a little touchy.

The work is superb, Chris, some of the best I have seen you post...you should be proud....a compliment from Joss is hard won.;)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Knifemaker87 said:
thanks guys!
so.. you think that it would be better to have domed SS pins instead? i can see that.
i wish that the hamon had come out more exciting.. but it polished out really nice.
i used some lapping compound that worked really well.

hopefully there will be a couple more blades soon. i am swamped with school and everything.. but i hope to get some new stuff out.
thanks so much for looking!
~chris
Click to expand...

I love the pins i think it really sets it off! BTW amazing job! really i love it wish i had the $$ to pick this up
 
Hi..I am the one that bought this knife from Chris. I wonder if you guys can give me any suggestions about what kind of sheath would look good with this knife? I hope to have a nice sheath custom made. :jerkit:

Also any suggestions on someone who makes nice sheaths would be appreciated.

Thanks, Mark Sutherland
 
As for what style? I have no idea. As for who? I would say Paul Long or Larry Parsons.

I believe Mr. Long is from TX and Mr. Parsons is from OK. Both are outstanding leatherworkers.

SDS
 
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