Havent posted here before..but just finished this....Fighter? Bowie?

David Schott

David Schott

Joined
Sep 27, 2004
Messages
3,041
Hey everyone!

Here is my latest...

15" OAL
10" 1095 differentially clay hardened blade with active hamon
Nickel silver sculpted bolsters
Exhibition ironwood scales, bookmatched and offset for grain flow across spine

I love how this came out...it feels great and balances very nicely. Blade was clay treated and has all kinds of action if viewed from the right angle, but I focused on the overall knife here. The ironwood is amazing....best I have had. Bolsters were sculpted and flow nicely. I modified the spine to have positive forward grip, as I did with the handle shape.

Let me know what you think!
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That's a neat-looking knife. And some outstanding ironwood. Very nice!

Roger
 
You have a very recognizable style. Not a bad thing. Do you make blades by forging or stock removal?

You need to put more information on your website.
 
Thanks everyone! I appreciate the kind words!

I currently stock remove, as my location does not allow forging (soon to change with upcoming house purchase!)

My website is brand spanking new. I haven't put much up and am populating all the galleries daily. I will most likely post in the website forum once it is fit for human consumption:D

...and yes, the ceiling of my porch is blue.....hence the overly blue hues on all but one pic.
 
:D For some reason, that knife really appeals to me... It's not really like most of what I collect, but there's something about the overall flow that grabs me, I would love to know all about the blade, and I'm with everyone on the wood - outstanding ironwood!

But I really want to know about the blade :D - if you're into stock removal, did you do the heat treat, including the clay-wrapping? And were you working for that kind of Hamon? (Sorry for all the Q's, but I usually don't see this kind of work without it having been forged and then treated by the 'smith!!! :eek: I like it!)

Now, for my only critique, and it's a minor one at that and merely a reflection of my own tastes... In the last pic, showing the lines of the bolster.... Instead of a straight line marking the boundry between the wood and bolster - make an "S"-shape... For me, that would make the overall flow so much more... well, sensuous is the only word I can think of... :D

TikTock.. that is an excellent looking piece of art! Now, for a totally different kind of test... I've got a sushi chef who has test driven a few of my blades - I'd like to see what he thinks about your work! (One of those he tested was the Camillus/Fisk OVB Bowie in curly maple.. He said it was sharp... but not real useful for making sushi!!! LOL!!!! :D )
 
As for the HT...heres one for you clay hamon lovers...
I do the HT, Clay satinite coating, partial quench.
Here it is from the forge to full polish. The final pics shows it all, but was a tremendously fragile carbide finish that would neverhold up under normal use...and I want my knives used! Under the right angle light, you can still see all that action!
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:) You guys are too kind!

Good call on the "S" bolster....maybe next rendition with a regular style guard....
 
excellent hamon activity you got going on there...definitely reminds me of a nice walk on the beach. very relaxing and pleasing to my eyes.

is it available?
 
A few comments;

1. I think that the nickel silver was the wrong metal choice for the bolster. Bronze, shakudo, shibuichi or copper would have been better choices IMHO. Why? Well, nickel silver is like white brass, and always has a yellowish or greenish tint to it, that sort of clashes with the other materials in this case.

2. I don't care for exposed tangs on carbon blades one bit. This would have been a more utilitarian knife with either

a. a frame of stainless steel
b. a mortise tang or,
c. a through tang.

Heck, you could have even set it up like a traditional japanese tanto.

3. I agree with Joe about the "s" shape to the rear of the bolster.

4. The hamon looks a bit narrow, would be stronger looking piece with bolder hamon.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
a tapered tang would have been more appealing but the whole knife is interesting and nicely done. will look forward to see more of what you do.
 
TikTock,
Great looking knife! :thumbup:Just the right size,IMO.Nice active hamon and that Ironwood IS exceptional and love the way you've used it.
Thanks for posting. :D
Doug
 
I appreciate all the feedback and comments, expecially the critique. I am a relatively new maker and am always looking to improve, so feedback will not be discarded but instead put into action in future designs.
 
TikTock said:
:) You guys are too kind!

Good call on the "S" bolster....maybe next rendition with a regular style guard....
Click to expand...


I kinda like the knife the way it is without an actual guard... How about, when you redesign the bolster to add a little more shape to it (if you decide to!!! :D ), you actually carve a psuedo - guard into the bolster itself? I mean, with a little flair to the forward top of the bolster, and an outwards flair to the leading edges of the bolster, it would create enough area to act as a 'false'-guard and it wouldn't interfere with the lines you have flowing...

Just an idea... but I still appreciate your original concept!

Don't think you'll have much problem finding this one a home!!! :cool:
 
Nice work, I really like the overall lines of this one. That wood is out of this world. I agree with some of the rest of the folks about some improvements, not that it needs much. Along with a tapered tang I think a little bit of curvature to the handle would improve the looks. A wider hamon would look good too but the main thing I'd like to see is for it to reach further back down the edge. Real good job though...:thumbup:
 
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