Ironwood Hunter w/hamon

Ben, my opinion of you just climbed up a notch. :thumbup:

Ben Seward said:
Thanks, guys. I really do appreciate Stevens opinion...let's keep self-esteem for Boy Scouts and Taikwondo, lol! This is the street and we're trying to survive. Garssonistic criticism has made me a better maker...yeah, he's the red pepper of the earth and some people can't take it in large doses. I understand that. I personally like the knife, but I see why Steven doesn't. I've taken what he said in consideration, sat down at the paper and am working on bettering the design. No hard feelings. I'm trying to make a living and Steven's pithy commentary helps me do a better job.
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I agree with Karl. You demonstrate a level of humility and practicality way beyond your years. I think it shows in your work. That said, I don't think a "harpoon" adds anything to a hunter. The hamon is a nice touch and the handle looks almost as comfortable as it is beautiful.
 
I like it overall, I would not make it harpoon, never really understood the need for a harpoon. Although this harpoon is subtle, not outlandish. I would work on the shape of the blade a little, maybe a clip point style. Handle very nice ironwood. The maker shows a lot of poise and character without taking it personally, improving his skills.
 
This may be a dumb question, but since Mr. Leedy brought it up its a good time to ask. What is the intended purpose of a harpoon blade on a knife? Historically or currently, what purpose did/does it serve on a knife in general? Was it to attach to the end of a harpoon staff?
 
Some one else could answer for the historical aspect but as a hunter it makes for a finer tip. I think when opening up an animal it makes it easier to keep out of the guts...just my opinion, fwiw, I clean more ducks than deer though.
 
I also have difficulty to understand the harpoon feature, and visual impact consideration aside i'm interested into opinions of itìs functionality.
For example i don't get why should it make for a finer tip vs an ordinary swedge
 
I have been told by a M.S. that is its mostly aesthetic - one could say that on a larger blade it puts more mass out front, but with them being generally being ground thin it wouldn't seem to have that much of an impact.

Its just a reverse swedge .. and I would say that I do not like "harpoon" style raised clips 9.9x / 10
 
I'll venture an opinion that too fine a tip on a knife used primarily as a hunter is not useful (other than on a small caper). Even the slightest, downward curved "dropped point" helps a lot to avoid cutting too deep when using a reverse grip on the knife to open a deer or peel back the hide on the legs. Depends on how you do your work, I guess, and on the specific chores intended. This is not, by the way, a comment on this particular knife so much as my view generally on what I would look for in a dedicated big game hunter. To each his own...
 
OOpps iwas carried away reading all the commentary and wondering about the harpoon's function that i forgot to say that i like the knife very much!!!
regards :)

Stefano
 
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