Kyle Royer Lightening Fast Fighter

Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones

Joined
Oct 28, 2006
Messages
13,363
Here's the feather pattern Fighter Kyle made for me several weeks ago.
I have been following Kyle's work for a while now, and becoming more impressed with every knife.

I love feather pattern damascus because of it's beauty and the difficulty in executing it well. IMO, success in it's execution is measured in it's uniformity and how well the pattern center line (quill of the feather, so to speak) follows the centerline of the blade with as little distortion as possible. It should start at the center of the raccaso, following center and curving up uniformly meeting the point. This is the second best example of feather damacsus I have examined. The first being my Harvey Dean El diablo fighter which came in second in the balloting for BF best bowie of 2007. I miss that piece as it now recedes in China.

When ordering this piece from Kyle, my expectations were so/so, as it was a difficult piece to execute considering one of the most difficult damascus patterns, progressive blade shape w/re-curve, pronounced clip, and damascus fittings which Kyle had only attempted once before. I was most concerned with the handle as Kyle has struggled here in the past. I was even more concerned after he totally aced the blade in that I would have hated to see that beautiful blade brought down by the handle.

Well he aced that too with a perfect shape IMO, and a so slight palm swell more noticeable by the feel than by the eye. I have thought Kyle's handles a little long in the past so I really stressed to him a need to shorten the handle to the point that he over compensated a bit as the handle could have been a quarter of an inch longer to be nearer the perfect fighter.

The fighter is "lightening fast" as the best fighters are. It would no doubt serve it's master well if called upon for self defense as it seems to turn your entire arm into a weapon. The blade and clip are of course razor sharp. Many were extremely impressed with this piece at the Blade Show.

At seventeen, if Kyle keeps his head into this and continues to soak up knowledge with a passion, in my opinion he will be among the greats of forgers before thirty.

Thanks for the wonderful photo Coop.

See it made @:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=555440

Feather pattern of 1084/15n20
Premium Ironwood handle
OAL 11-1/2"
BL 6 3/4"
Spine 3/16"
Blade width 1 3/16"
Balance @ the guard
Fitting steel as blade
Well have a Paul Long custom sheath.

Let us know what you think good or bad as Klye enjoys criticism. ;) :D

Royer_B08_01-copy.jpg
 
I caught myself saying 'wow' out loud. No one else here. Just feelin the love:thumbup:
 
That wood handle and its grain pattern along with the Damascus pattern are an excellent match. Very nice indeed.
 
Wow. Looks great. And you got that photo pretty lightening fast! That knife really has a nice clean and contrasty looking damascus pattern that is very appealing.
 
That is a great looking knife.

Thanks Kevin for the peek.

You did good Kyle, can't wait to see your next.


Take Care
Charles
 
Very nice knife and the thread on it's making was very informative and neat. Thanks for sharing. John
 
Nothing to criticize from where I sit. That is a beautiful fighter - great lines, rockin' damascus pattern.

Roger
 
That IS absolutely FANTASTIC!! That looks like it just melts into your hand. I really LOVE everything about that knife!
 
Absolutely a fine knife by any measure. Knowing it was made by a newbie 17-yr-old makes it stunning!

I had the priviledge of shooting a few knives for Johnny Stout, who is an old master at forging, and does a wonderful job on his own feather pattern. I took the liberty of showing him this.

He had nothing but praise and was VERY pleased that someone so young had such talents. He said young makers like this are wonderful for the industry. Right on!

Thanks, Kevin. This was fun.

Coop
 
Excellent Fighter,Kevin!
Great work,Kyle!
Ultra Damascus,gorgeous Ironwood and the pattern on the fittings works well with the patterns on the handle and blade.
Masterful image by Coop.

Doug
 
The photo came out wonderfully, :thumbup:This is the first knife I've made to have a professional photograph.

Thanks for the encouragement, Kevin was very good to work with.:thumbup:

I had a good time making this knife.:)

Thanks.
 
Simply awesome is the only way to describe this piece!!There is a large amount of talent and skill packed into ths young man! Keep up the good work Kyle, and nice addition to your collection Kevin.
 
Wonderful damascus, great fighter. More than deserving of a Coop shot. Great job, Kyle. Congrats, Kevin. :thumbup: :thumbup:

- Joe
 
I WANT THAT KNIFE!!

Seriously, Kyle, you are some kinda knifemaker. I know people who do work but are afraid to do their best too quickly, because it leaves them nowhere to grow. Just think about it - if you are WOWing us now, figure how over the top we will all be later over what you put out.
 
A 17 year old made that? OMFG...

I don't like fighters much at all, but that is beautiful.

It makes me wonder. A famous writer once said that young men make better poets than older men. Something about not having too many preconceived notions about what a poem should be- and fearlessness. I wonder if the same thing is true to some degree with knives. If a younger person, if taught the appropriate skills, can make something beautiful more easily than an older man might. Maybe they more easily keep things simple, and just make a knife, instead of getting all freaked out about what goes where, and whether to drop this more or shorten that.

Maybe not, I don't know, but seeing this and some of Josh Smith's knives really make me think.
 
I'm glad I have one of his earlier pieces that he won an award with. Great young talent in the knife world.
 
Doug C said:
Excellent Fighter,Kevin!
Great work,Kyle!
Ultra Damascus,gorgeous Ironwood and the pattern on the fittings works well with the patterns on the handle and blade.
Masterful image by Coop.

Doug
Click to expand...

using Damascus fittings along with a damascus blade can be tough. Sometimes patterns complement one another or at times they can look horrible together.
I had never seen feather pattern damascus use in fittings.
It's generally used for blade steel in conjunction with engraved or plain stainless steel guards.
 
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