My latest, critique please.

[AlaskanHunter]

Blade: 1084, 7.5" long

Guard: 1084/15N20, etched in boiling lemon juice

Handle: English/black walnut graftwood

The guard doesn't fit quite as tight as I'd like, and I have a few inclusions in the damascus. I'm not quite happy with the quality of the etch, but for my first attempt at damascus, I don't think it's too bad. I guess the plunges could be more even, and the blade isn't quite in line with the handle. It's probably my nicest blade yet even with all its flaws, and the wood turned out much nicer than it appeared from the original block. Anything else that I'm overlooking? What can I do better next time?

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[Nic.]

What kind of tools are you using?
You pointed out the flaws I see with a quick look. How many knives have you made? It looks a lot better than my first few! Are you using a flat surface ( some sort of sanding stick) to hand sand your blades? Even something as simple as a paint stir stick really helps.
Something I've learned, while your learning, you might want to stick to smaller blades

 

[JTknives]

Im driving right now so just with a quick glance it looks good but the thing that really stands out is the ricasso area between the gard and the plunge cut. Generally it's comes out stright and the same level as the handle and then blends into the plunge cut. Like such

 

[AlaskanHunter]

Nic, I'm using a forge, Esteem grinder, lots of sand paper, and several sanding sticks for the blade. I used a drill press, jeweler's saw, files, rasps, and many other hand tools for the remainder of the knife, but I doubt that's what your wondering about. My main sanding stick is a thin scrap of 1x.065 AEB-L, but occasionally I'll use a wooden one.
This is my 5th knife since making a concerted effort to make knives instead of KSO's (I've made far more of those than I care to admit). This is the largest I've made yet, and yes I probably would be better off mastering smaller blades before attempting larger ones. What can I say? I like the challenge of trying new styles, even if it causes me to struggle with flaws. This knife has a lot of firsts for me in it: handle of this style, "S" guard, damascus (both forging and etching), clip point, and first Bowie-ish fighter design, not to mention largest blade yet.
JT, I see what you're saying there, I curved the choil the wrong way and maybe didn't make the ricasso long enough.

 

[Nic.]

I just now made my first Bowie, so good for you for wanting to challenge yourself! For me, starting on smaller knives ment less waste when they didn't turn out like I wanted.
Your doing a lot better than I was at first, and your knife looks like a really usable knife, keep it up!!!

 

[LARRYZ10]

Blade: 1084, 7.5" long

Guard: 1084/15N20, etched in boiling lemon juice

Handle: English/black walnut graftwood

The guard doesn't fit quite as tight as I'd like, and I have a few inclusions in the damascus. I'm not quite happy with the quality of the etch, but for my first attempt at damascus, I don't think it's too bad. I guess the plunges could be more even, and the blade isn't quite in line with the handle. It's probably my nicest blade yet even with all its flaws, and the wood turned out much nicer than it appeared from the original block. Anything else that I'm overlooking? What can I do better next time?

f



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I think you made a very fine knife. They will only get better. You put a lot of work into the knife and it shows. If my opinion counts for anything I think you just make another knife and correct what ever flaws you see. I have made a lot of knives and have never made a "perfect" knife. You have only to make another knife and after that another... Larry

 

[i4Marc]

AH,

That's a good looking knife and a great effort. You already know the big stuff. Once you have identified the issues you have a plan for the next one. The two biggest issues for me are the choil/underside of the ricasso and the handle alignment. The ricasso is not a matter of functionality, only aesthetics. It just looks a bit odd which is a shame because it takes attention away from an otherwise very attractive piece. The handle is curious. Did you notice the misalignment before you glued everything together or did it develop as you sculpted the handle? Naturally you don't want to glue up the handle until you've test fit everything and checked for tight seams and straightness. If it happened while you were sculpting it, the use of a scribed center line and a contour gauge can help a lot. When working with burl woods you often find checks and pits. Those are usually filled with the use of CA glue while sanding. The wood dust mixes with the glue and fills the gaps becoming invisible. Perhaps a similar technique could be used with the damascus. Maybe sanding the steel with CA glue would fill the gaps. Fitting the guard is a tricky thing until you learn the secrets. Even with careful drilling and filing you will still likely end up with gaps. The way to a good fit is to make the hole slightly undersized so that when you slide the guard up your gently tapered tang, the guard should stop about an inch from seating at the ricasso. It should be hammered into place. Then take a look at the fit. The places that still have a gap must be peened. Remove the guard and take a small hammer like a tack hammer. Place the guard on a heavy dense surface like an anvil, scrap of marble counter top, surface plate or whatever. With light careful blows, peen around the edges where the gaps are. This will spread out the metal on the surface of the guard and close up the hole. Hammer the guard on the tang again and take another look at the fit. Repeat this until the gaps are gone then refinish the face of the guard.

 

[Fiddleback]

Looks nice to me. I'd say either more ricasso, or no ricasso would be an improvement. I like the handle shape. Good work.

 

[biker bo]

I think it's a nice knife for your fifth one. This will be a life long journey you have chosen enjoy it.

 

[Cody Hofsommer]

Search for old Bowie of the year threads and look how most make the ricasso area. You kinda have a mix of two styles, either one would look better then a hybread of the two.

To tighten up your guard fit, try making a a small ball pein punch and run it down both sides of the guard slot. It will push steel into the blade, then drive it down onto the tang. Makes a perfect fit.

Looks good, now go make another!