Handle question.

[dsgibbs1]

While recently looking in the for sale area. I caame across Matt Baileys knife. I like the whole knife, love the hhandle shape. My question is, is there a tutorial showing the how to on this style? Do y'all have any ideas how to get close to it. Shape wise? Thanks.

 

[Bailey Knives]

If you talking about the contours of the handle, then I use a 10" wheel and try to line up the crests and valleys to both sides so they match eachother. I dont have a tutorial, but I will answer any questions you have.

Thanks for your nice comments about my knife.

 

[dsgibbs1]

Mr. Bailey.
Thanks for saying that. I have several questions. Also, for some reason extra letters keep getting added to my words, please excuse them.
How do you go about the designing of it? I have ample amounts of pine to practice on. Do you just go at it or plan? Is the pin placement hard to plan for? Just a few that I can think of for now, pretty sure your answers will produce more. Thanks.

 

[Bailey Knives]

Pin placement is not too bad since I started using two pins in the butt end of the knife. I do this because I noticed that if the handle was going to separate from the tang, it would happen in one of those corners. Using the double pins in the butt had an unexpected benefit, it draws the eye in a different way so that if my center pin is a little closer to the front or back it is more difficult to see than if it were just 3 pins in a line.
As far as the shaping, I know generally where I want to go, and I spend a lot of time grabbing the handle in different positions and seeing how it feels. I usually do one depression at the back and a longer one at the front of the handle meeting somewhere around the middle pin, depending on the length of the handle.

Hope this helps.

 

[Fiddleback]

While recently looking in the for sale area. I caame across Matt Baileys knife. I like the whole knife, love the hhandle shape. My question is, is there a tutorial showing the how to on this style? Do y'all have any ideas how to get close to it. Shape wise? Thanks.

Matt Bailey's knives were an inspiration to me from the very beginning also.

Files are your friend. I start with an 8" wheel as Matt said above, and then move to files.

 

[dsgibbs1]

Matts knives are always awesome. His handles are killer. They look comfortable as all get out. I will practice on some pine blocks to see if I can get similar. Thanks for the information. To the shop I go.... this weekend. Gotta work first, play later.