Harpoon Bowie dressed in Desert Ironwood

Lorien said:
I apologize in advance for the textbookiness of the following, but it's helpful to have a little background. In fact, just answering questions in one's own mind that might otherwise not be thought, is often critique enough :)

can you describe the process starting from sketch to final piece?
you pointed out where some of your inspiration came from, where did the inspiration for some of your other choices come from?
did decisions evolve during the building process, or was everything preplanned?
what would you say was the most challenging part to work through, from the beginning to finished piece?
what would you say is the best success of this piece and why?
what would you say is the part that you are least satisfied with and why?
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Wow Lorien... you wouldn't make this easy would you? ;) :p
It sounds like you have some specific {constructive} criticism in mind, and hope that these probing questions will prompt a moment of self-realization on my part... but sad-to-say, I'm pretty thick. Given that I've stared at this piece for more than two months of construction -- ruminating on most of these same questions -- and still missed something... well, it might be easier if you could just give me a hint. :)

As a broad answer to your questions... my original thoughts going into this project was to make a large Bowie-esque fighter with a flat (non-contoured guard). I'm absolutely sure that I drew inspiration from many makers on this forum including, but not limited to, Wheeler, Knight, and Lurquin. I've really been playing with the Knight/Paranee/Wheeler concepts of aggressive distal-taper to allow for a substantial feeling knife that still has a fast/liquid feel to it. The sharpened "harpoon" false-edge is also a feature that I've been exploring lately... how it allows for a broader profile, while at the same time maintaining a visual slimness.

I very seldom stray much from the original design during construction -- unless something just doesn't work. I'm kind of anal that way.

Interested to hear more of your thoughts.


mohd said:
Cool :thumbup:
BTW, is the butt end of the handle fluted or is it just a lighting effect?
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Yes, there is a bit of a recessed groove in the butt of the handle. Thanks dude.

Erin
 
There are elements to the knife that seem a little constrained to me, while others are wilder. In this knife, the juxtaposition is a little on the heavy side, although I would certainly consider it an overall success. But I can't help but wonder what would happen if you let that wild hair go a little, and throw some of the constraints out the window.

If piercing the blade, perhaps a cutout might be a way to repeat shapes and lines found elsewhere on the knife. Maybe the holes would have more visual interest if they were chamfered. Maybe this is a step toward carving the steel. Who knows? But it think this is a bold decision that could go any direction down the road.

The copper piece seems lonely. There could be a few more accents- perhaps the holes could have copper inlayed, or the pin could be copper, or there could be another copper spacer, or...
I'm a big fan of repetition of form, and even on the micro level, choices related to this can have a big impact overall.

I like where you are going with the Persian ear shaping at the butt of the handle. As it stands, the handle to me is still somewhat constrained even with this feature, so it seems to me a good place to get your freak on a bit more.

A guard whose shape more closely mimicks the sweeping lines of the blade might be neat. I like an oval guard generally, but on this piece my mind wants to see a more dramatic transition from blade to handle. Maybe it's the copper that interrupts that for me, it's hard to say.

*
In general, when I make ANY critical remarks about a piece it is because I see something that, overall, I very much like, and also because I see a door open for further development in future work. If an artisan has an open mind and understands that these are simply statements of opinion, then they can be used or discarded at their discretion. If the stating of these opinions seems condescending or insulting, I would want to know, like the way that Fred Rowe pointed out the error of voicing opinions in a certain way. I have a lot to learn as well, and feel that critiques should also be subject to critique :)
 
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Lorien. Your input is clear and well written... and while our opinions of design aesthetic may differ, I was in no way offended by your feedback. :)
Cheers.
Erin
 
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Hmm, your name looks the same as a guy that came to visit me not too long ago with some curiosity/questions about using his new KMG... but clearly you've been making knives a LOT longer than that guy!!! :eek: :D

Very impressive work Erin! :thumbup: :cool:

I see some influences from different places, but you're putting your own spin on things and making it your own.

Keep up the great work Erin. :) :thumbup:
 
NickWheeler said:
Hmm, your name looks the same as a guy that came to visit me not too long ago with some curiosity/questions about using his new KMG... but clearly you've been making knives a LOT longer than that guy!!! :eek: :D

Very impressive work Erin! :thumbup: :cool:

I see some influences from different places, but you're putting your own spin on things and making it your own.

Keep up the great work Erin. :) :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Thanks Nick... that's why I want to come back down and visit again. If I picked up this much in one day... ;)
Plus, I need to take photos of all of your tools. Oh... and pick your brain about forge design.
I am a bit afraid of those bears that wander around your shop though.
 
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