Handle Suggestions

[colu41]

So I was trying something a little different. A double sided guard. I'm sure there may be a name for it. Anyways, my problem really is that I didn't really picture it or plan how I wanted it. I managed to get a good shape from the handle itself, but now I'm stuck with this very large guard. I may have kept it too thick. Could I get some suggestions on what I could do to this?

I'm thinking I should try to thin out the outside of the guards, but I can't go too thin as I don't want to cut into the handle, making that too thin also. Any tips or suggestions would be very helpful.

 

[S.Alexander]

You could thin out the lugs if you used a smaller radius where they meet the handle. If you don't have a small wheel attachment for your grinder you could use some files to do it. Maybe thin the lugs down to something like this

 

[colu41]

Thats my problem I dont yet have any small wheel attachments. I'll have to finish this one by hand. Thanks.

 

[Will52100]

Even the small wheel attachments only go so far. I've found a lot better lines if I do most of the guard shape before attaching the handle, makes it easier to get the tight radius. Take a pencil and draw the shape on the sides, then use round and flat files to get the shape you want.

 

[colu41]

Thanks Will. Ill have to try that out

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

What makes it look "off" is that you have a double edge guard on a single edge blade and handle. The blockiness of the guard also creates a visual problem.

There are three things that will help.
1) Grind down the upper lug down to a regular guard top so it comes back straight from the blade spine. Then taper the lower lug so the guard is pear shape when viewed from the front. Round the front side of the lower lug back a bit, and file out the back side into a tighter curve ( like Shane drew) . This will make the side view a reverse "comma" shaped.

2) Re-shape the guard so it is not so blocky and large. Taper the top and bottom lug of guard so it is an ellipse when viewed from the front, and use a round file to take the back side curves forward like Shane suggested in his photo.

3) Remove the handle and make a properly matching handle for the blade.

 

[colu41]

Thanks Stacy. I sort of knew I was starting something a little out of the ordinary. And I just stopped grinding when I realized it was working lol. I turn it into a one "lug" guard on the edge side of the blade, and try to blend in the top of the guard with that curve in the handle. If I can't getting looking some what decent, I will remove it and start over.