My latest knife - good features or just overblown ?

J

Jason Cutter

Joined
Oct 9, 2002
Messages
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I thought I'd get some opinions about my latest knife which I posted in the Gallery. There is a link that details all the specific grind / HT features I've done on it to achieve "high-performance status." I know it works, but in my previous testing, I also know that a more simple, straightforward blade with a flat grind and convex edge, achieved the same cutting abilities.

So my question is :- Are all the "added" features any good or is it a waste of time / effort ? Thanks in advance for your feedback. Jason.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=275051
 
Jason, that is very fine. Fine indeed. I like that file work. Just enough to be function yet decorative. That's a fine knife made of a very good edge retentive steel. The only thing I see is the tang could be tapered. On the other hand though, the way it is probably helps to better balance it.

RL
 
Jason,

Great job! To my eye, only the filework on the spine looks a little too fancy.

-Jose
 
I think it looks very cool!! Reminds me a bit of Brazilian Gaucho knives... It begs to be used, you can see that... REAL nice work there...
 
The filework is positioned just out of reach of the thumb, even if you use a fencer style grip. But it is useful as some traction grooves if you choke up your hand right up on top. Maybe instead of filework some hand-cut traction grooves will look more the part.

Yes, in the future, I will probably taper the tang. But I tend to like "fighter" type dynamics in blades and just can't seem to shake it. The balance on this piece is 1inch ahead of the handle junction and thats far forward for me. I like the blade to "float" in the hand and be quick.

A note for the future will be - full flat ground, convex edge, full distal taper, tapered tang, 10inch blade, sharp clip !! I am salivating just thinking about doing such a knife. But the proof will be in the forging/grinding ... I am not so accustomed to building big knives yet... ;) Cheers. Jason.
 
I totaly like it. It looks powerful.

My only coment is that I feel that both the bevel at the back of the grip, and the bead near the front, crowd the rivet placement. That's just my reaction. I loike those two features, just not the spacing of all the points of interest.

You mention about O1 toughness, and your HT. That's cool info, I mentioned my interest in O1 factoids elsewhere. I've been making tools for 20+ years, and it never fails to amaze me that our edges are generaly more accute, in the 25 degree range, our RCs are harder, well intot he 60 range. Things like an O1 plane blade might be dragged over hundreds of yards hardwood cuts before resharpening, in a bevel unsupported scrape, and yet no problem. A lot of knives strike me as doging it a little. I think your on to something.
 
Great knife. I especially like the handle and material its made from. I see you appear to have used brass washers and steel pins. It has a nice look to it.
Have you tried any of the screw rivits. I bought some a couple of years ago and they have been sitting in a draw waiting to be used.

With the screw rivits you don't get the 2 tone effect but you get the larger diamiter on top and the thiner rivit stem. I supose it is not really a rivit. you screw it together and grind off the screw driver slot.

I think your large rivit heads on a knife like yours are the way to go. I think they are a bit stronger than just straight pins.

Good work
 
Jason,

Great lines! I like the dual finish on the scales.

One thing that I offer to you to consider is the finger choil for the index finger. I find that my grip preference is to have some of the scale material extend down into that choil to make the contact area wider...otherwise, my index finger gets bashed under chopping actions.

I tend to look at knives as "users and abusers" as opposed to "glass cabinet knives" - maybe that affects my judgement.

Hope that was clear...I don't think I'd have any problem "using and abusing" this knife.

Great knife! (and a balance point that works for me)

D
 
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