I think I outdid myself

:):)
PURPLEDC said:
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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WOW....Where have you been ? Stonewash and 220 grit are the new hand satin and mirrored .... You would be surprised to know that some of the old hand satin finishes were not "hand satin"....i guess custom makers are getting lazy or lost the ability.
 
Killer blade Mike.
I just got my copy of Blade today & saw your mug. Took the pic at a meeting,:thumbup:
Classy.
 
LG&M said:
Killer blade Mike.
I just got my copy of Blade today & saw your mug. Took the pic at a meeting,:thumbup:
Classy.
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Goes good with this one...

 
Nice appearance in Blade which month/issue is that?! How/when did you go about getting your knives blessed by a priest?
 
Wanimator said:
Nice appearance in Blade which month/issue is that?! How/when did you go about getting your knives blessed by a priest?
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Scottish highland games.
 
Steel looks nice, but I don't like chisel grinds, I believe they are a cop out to not finish a knife symmetrically with an excuse. The 'I prefer a chisel grind on a fighting knife because it creates a more aggravated wound channel' thing sounds like a fun fact the court rooms would cream over when you use that in a 'fight'.

The handle needs shaping as it looks unfinished. I also think you ground the finger choil too deep for the width of the blade, it looks off and weak. And I really like finger choils btw.

And of course the makers mark.. it does look terrible imo, and it's a shame because the overall knife looks quite good for an amateur maker. Use your enthusiasm to find another way to get cleaner lettering on the steel, I think you're a keen enough guy to do that and still feel connected the the rawness of the mark.


Now please don't take what I've said as an attack, it's pure, honest criticism. I'm a hobby modder myself and a meticulous cook.. something I demand complete scrutiny iover when I force feed people my dishes lol. Sometimes it stings, but it's constructive.



One thing I've learned is, not everyone will like your creations, or you as a person, but take from their criticisms and learn, improve and move on a better more evaluated individual.
 
seeing the balance point was helpful. But have you done drills with it? b/c the handle looks like it might be more blocky/edgy than optimal. But if it works, then it works.
Have you tested the wound channel theory? I can't recall his name right now but there was a Brazilian maker who posted her for several years, who did small "pocket swords" with a thick blades and very steep chisel grind, because that's the condition where the grind seemed to make a real difference in slashing meat.
 
I don't know much about what you're doing, but I enjoy following your work...
Keep on doing...
 
the knife looks superb bro, but as mentioned already those letters that look like a kindergartener scribbled them into the knife really need to be changed, it really detracts from the work
 
Great job CM!!!

your Talent is obvious and your workmanship is really good.

No comment on your mark, afterall it IS the Maker's mark!!
 
I cleaned up the handle a bit. Uploading a video that I will post tomorrow.
 
Charlie Mike said:
I'm a function over form guy.
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With this in mind I would forgo the Damascus all together.

I too would like a shallower choil. I'd also probably round the edges on the handle some.

The FTW reminds me of the movie, Blood in, Blood Out(or maybe American Me), when that guy has it tattooed to the inside of his lip. lol

Handle material looks like it has a lot of potential.
 
Charlie Mike said:
Every knife I make sells. I make a profit on everything I make.
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Once you factor in cost of materials, equipment, and labor you are most probably operating at a loss. You do this for a hobby, so you don't need your time to be paid for. Anyway, thinking that you're making a profit on every knife probably isn't exactly right, even if it feels like it.
 
somber said:
Once you factor in cost of materials, equipment, and labor you are most probably operating at a loss. You do this for a hobby, so you don't need your time to be paid for. Anyway, thinking that you're making a profit on every knife probably isn't exactly right, even if it feels like it.
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Of course I don't factor in my labor.

I literally have no life outside of 12 step meetings and the online knife community.
 
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