I think I outdid myself

Looks pretty cool. How about a pic of the spine along the handle? Also is there a secondary bevel on the grind side or does it taper right to edge?
 
I.N.F.K said:
I don't really think one can ask CM to drop hist FTW. It suits the style of knives he makes.
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Nope, I never would.

Consider this CM: if the biggest complaint you're getting is your penmanship, then there's much to be grateful for.

You remind me of Fred Perrin, who has a stylized mark so lack of penmanship is less of an issue. I'm totally cool with the CMFTW; but with even grinds and balanced design, asymmetric signatures stick out when everything else is balanced. For your "uglier yet functional" pieces, totally.

Zero
 
Charlie Mike said:
Sorry to disappoint but I prefer to scratch my mark.
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Well man, you're asking for opinions... People provide them, and then you basically say "Yeah thanks for your opinion, but no thanks."

I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'll agree with a few of the others. Your maker's mark takes the whole thing down to zed. Also, when someone asks what materials are on it, I can imagine it would be good to know.
 
Klutz said:
Looks pretty cool. How about a pic of the spine along the handle? Also is there a secondary bevel on the grind side or does it taper right to edge?
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No secondary bevel.
 
Charlie Mike said:
Thanks for the constructive criticism, I hope we know each other well enough to know that I'm not taking it negatively. :D

I'm a function over form guy. This is a fighting knife. I prefer a chisel grind on a fighting knife because it creates a more aggravated wound channel.
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He could have candy coated it a LITTLE bit!
I agree with with a loft of the comments made, so I'm not going to repeat the same things. I think I would have preferred a shallower choil though.
Overall, this knife definitely shows that you are improving your craft and I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future. The blade shape and grind lines combined with the Damascus look awesome in the first pic!
 
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It looks like a knife that I would be proud to own. I'd only suggest rounding off the edges of the handle and to not grind the choil so deep.
 
It would appear you are more of the "i make what i want and if people like it great, if not? Whatever" kind of maker. With that said if you plan on ever taking orders or really making a career out of knifemaking you might find compromising a bit will go a long way to success. I see lots of makers who resist change and refuse to try new things or evolve. Some of those makers have earned their stripes and they can sell the toothpick out of their mouth. Others however who have not established themselves yet get stuck in their ways usually disappear pretty quickly.

On a plus side i think you abilities have dramatically improved. Your grinds look more precise and the level of fit and finish has noticeably improved. Still i would be lying if i said i didnt agree with a few of tthe comments. For me when i see a chisel grind and a logo like that I too think its sorta lazy. Maybe lazy is not the right word. I think for me fear would be a better word if it were a knife I was making. I would look at how good I did on that side and freak out I couldnt mirror that image on the oher side. When i see your comment "this is a fighting knife. I prefer a chisel grind on a fighting knife because it provides a more aggravatted wound chanel". I think to myself, "Does he really feel that way or is that the clever excuse that was thought up to justify only grinding one side of the blade due to being at the limits of his abilities?"

You have to remember you are a relatively new maker and most are familiar with you and your builds. People see you mostly sticking to chisel ground blades and wonder if that is you limitation. I am all for chisel grinds, toxified handles and the rough look. Some makers really prefer the rustic worn look on knives and some guys really do prefer chisel grinds. What i am getting at is that I will always have more respect for the maker who chooses to do simplified or rustic builds if I know that is truly what they prefer to make as apposed to being at the limits of their abilities. In other words i have a lot more respect for the maker who chooses to stonewash a blade because he genuinely prefers that finish rather than the guy who does stonewash finishes because he has not learned or has no desire to do mirrored or even a hand rubbed satin blade.

With that said again i think its a vast improvement over your previous efforts. But i would love to see you do a double ground blade with a hand rubbed satin finish and fully sculpted and rounded handles. Because then every knife you built afterwards I would know was a genuine form of artistic expression rather than a show of limitations. Either way its still a great looking knife and i love the wood handle. Reminds me of a maple burl that was dyed green. Maybe lacewood?
 
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Here you go...







 
I think it looks pretty good coming along, definitely functional. I myself happen to love chisel grinds I think they look cool and having one side to simply appreciate the pattern of the steel without any contour. If I were to make a recommendation I'd probably suggest experimenting with contouring the handle a bit to sit your own personal preferences. Looks like a blade with some serious intent and quality material, I'd be proud of myself if I had made it! Keep on it :)
 
CM, looking good. I actually like the personal touch of the makers mark. Its like the signature on a painting to me, but obviously others don't all agree. I don't think you're required to listen to others opinions even if you asked for it. Still, it would be a shame to lose business over such a trivial detail. Maybe once you get ur stamps going you can offer an option. If I ever get one I'll want one with the authentic hand scribed CMFTW.
 
Zero_Time said:
Nope, I never would.

Consider this CM: if the biggest complaint you're getting is your penmanship, then there's much to be grateful for.

You remind me of Fred Perrin, who has a stylized mark so lack of penmanship is less of an issue. I'm totally cool with the CMFTW; but with even grinds and balanced design, asymmetric signatures stick out when everything else is balanced. For your "uglier yet functional" pieces, totally.

Zero
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Thanks, that is a serious compliment. I love Fred Perrin's work.
 
My personal preference for knives that see use are single bevel chisel grinds. They take a beating, stay sharp and don't seem to chip or roll at all. I think you executed the grind very cleanly and well.

However, the fact that this blade is damascus clashes with the functionality of the knife as a user. While a stonewashed, acid washed, or tumbled blade made of homogeneous steel will absorb the scratching and scuffing of use, a damascus blade will start to look bad pretty quickly.

Many people purchase damascus blades as an admiration piece that won't see serious use. On such a piece they might expect/want features that indicate a high level of craftsmanship, one of which is a symmetric grind with even bevels. Not saying at all that you are not capable of executing such a grind, since you have made knives like that before.

You could have a blade like you executed this one in a steel like O1 and it would be very desirable for its properties as a knife for use. Or you could have a blade like this in damascus and have a symmetric grind & a higher polish finish - then it would be a really nice admiration or decorative piece. I just can't see there being as much interest in a knife that doesn't fit well into either the user knife category or the admiration knife category.

As far as logos go I think you could do without any logo at all.
 
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Here's the other thing that should be considered. I don't make knives to make the mortgage payment. I do this purely for its own value as a form of recreational therapy.

Every knife I make sells. I make a profit on everything I make.

:D
 
Point of balance... exactly where I want it to be.

 
The grinds looks good and the Damascus looks great. It does remind me of a Perrin.
Oh, and I like your maker's mark. I find it inspirational. FTW means "For the win", right? ; )
 
Honest opinion? Keep in mind it is my opinion only.

Handle too blocky, knife lines too blocky. It looks like you took your stock and just ground off stuff so it looks like a knife but left most of the edges, well, like the stock came to you. If I buy a knife I expect it to not look like a piece of stock, ya know?

Curves are your friend. Even if they are very subtle. Straight lines look simple. (At least to me. Others might love straight lines.)

Otherwise I think you are doing great. I actually really like your mark.
 
riversidedep said:
The grinds looks good and the Damascus looks great. It does remind me of a Perrin.
Oh, and I like your maker's mark. I find it inspirational. FTW means "For the win", right? ; )
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"Buck" The World
 
Keep doing what you do Matt, if it makes you happy at the end of the day thats all that counts....for using a 1x42 and a torch to HT I think it looks great.

Get a stamp, lose the tats, conform and be politically correct and get lost in the crowd.
 
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