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Mike Quesenberry

Mike Quesenberry

Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
1,564
One of the things I've been trying to do lately is making my handle material proud of the fittings. This was one of the things that Tim Hancock went over while at his shop. I really like the way it feels and plus it looks cool.:D I hate feeling that little something at the intersection of the guard and handle after working so hard to make it not there:grumpy:.

The first one is a 10" ladder pattern fighter(slim version) with a 416 ss double guard, and the stabilized Amboyna handle proud of the fittings.

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[/url]DSC_0016 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

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[/url]DSC_0020 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

This is a 52100 hunter with a 416 ss guard and stab. Amboyna handle proud of the fittings. Blade is 4 1/4" OAL 8 3/4".
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[/url]DSC_0001 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

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[/url]DSC_0004 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

This is a 52100 integral headed to Afghanistan. The blade is 5 1/4" and OAL is 10" with a swedge clip and thumb patch. It has stab curly maple with ss corby's and a thong tube. The customer also requested a Texas star concho on the sheath.

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[/url]DSC_0024 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

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[/url]DSC_0027 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

This is a little hunter that a customer ordered and backed out. He wanted a 52100 blade ground thin with a fine tip and desert ironwood (nothing fancy). The blade is 3 7/8" with an OAL of 8". DISCLAIMER This knife is not designed to go through a concrete block or dropped tip first on a steel plate. It's designed to go through critters. It's scary sharp and holds an edge for a long time. IMO that's what a little hunter is supposed to be.
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[/url]DSC_0008 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

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[/url]DSC_0011 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

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[/url]DSC_0014 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
Wow Mike!!! You've been putting out some awesome work!

I like'em all. Great job on the proud handles also, they add to already great knives.

Thanks for showing us and keep up the great work.
 
Beautiful work as always Mike, But I have to say that I don't like the look of the handle material not being flush with the hardware. I've noticed it more and more on knives, and it is a look I just can't like. I don't care if it is done by Hancock, or anyone else. It breaks up the lines of the knife.
 
Wow Mike, so clean.
I see that ultra-fine blade finish we were discussing.
I like your handle joints as well. I prefer them when they are just
so slightly raised as you have demonstrated.
 
I really like the look of that integral... beautiful proportions, and that curly maple is awesome.

Much like Madbug, I'm really not sure that I like the proud handle material. I remember Nick mentioning in THIS THREAD that he likes to finish {some} handles about 0.01" proud of the guard/ferrule because because "it looks cool and it is a good idea with natural handle material since it can move." I can understand that, but I feel like I've been seeing a lot of knives lately with a bit more than 0.01" (as I type this I have my office micrometer set to 0.01" :)). I probably just have a lot of growing up to do. ;)
 
Mike - Most everything I see you make I love, but your integrals...man, those are always something else :thumbup:

Don't the proud handles still feel a bit funny though? Just in the other way?
 
The integral is really nice. The handle material pulls it all together. The wood grain and shading really connects it to the blade grain and bolster (?).

The integral does it for me.
 
Mike, some don't understand that leaving material a bit tall, and doing it well, is as difficult a method as anything else.
It's also good insurance for later on when that knife ends up in Arizona!
Looks to me like you've got a good grip on the process.
Don't ever change.
(Those knives are killer!)
 
Mike,

Really nicely done all around. That slim fighter, though, is just a deadly vision!

John
 
Really great looking work Mike. I recently tried that "proud" handle treatment and it is not at all easy. Boy you sure did it well though.

Your domed pins look great too.

Thanks for the photos. Inspiring stuff!
 
that stabby fighter is killer- very appealing:thumbup:
 
Mr. Clean said:
Mike - Most everything I see you make I love, but your integrals...man, those are always something else :thumbup:

Don't the proud handles still feel a bit funny though? Just in the other way?
Click to expand...

The transition is smooth and feel rather nice in the hand. I hate the feeling of material that has shrunk and you feel the sharpness of the guard even if it's slight.
 
That fighter, whoah! I love a good ladder pattern and that grind is something else. Very nice work. Thanks for posting it up.

-Mike
 
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