My new pack knife, wha'cha think?

NickWheeler said:
Criticism or thoughts are welcome though.
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The guard might be a little long, and the edge could come a little closer to the handle, for delicate close-in and/or thumb-to-edge work like peeling apples and whittling. That's just a personal preference, though. I really can't think of anything else to complain about ;)
 
I agree with Blue. The blade looks like a Wheeler. Like a small version of one of your fighters. I like it a lot. The lines of the Cocobolo flow well with the knife's profile.

The one thing to me that is a bit off is the size of the Corbys. I assume they are .250 shoulder? Maybe .185 would look better? Or, since it's a smaller knife, a Corby in front and a lanyard hole in back?
:o Honestly though, I feel like an art student criticizing a Van Gogh....:D :foot:
 
Good points guys!

James, I actually intended to bring the edge almost to the guard (right over top of where my mark is now) and use synthetic handle scales that would come up to the top line of the guard and just go straight across. I think it would look more cohesive and give a broader range of use, just like you mentioned. But I have had several small blocks of wood for going on 16 years that I really want to use but are too small for my fighters/bowies.... so I cut into my original plan a bit in order to use them. Good eye and good thoughts! :)

Brian, you got me! :o :D I actually wanted to put two 1/16" pins in the handle, but I screwed up and drilled the bottom hole off center!!! :eek: :foot: :D LMAO--- so these were the easiest fix.

Van Gogh?!?! I think I'm more like Picasso.... Or is it Pikachu??? Hmm...... ;) :p LOL
 
NickWheeler said:
Patrice- Angi offered to hold the knife for me, I probably should have taken her up on that! LOL :D
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Then somebody would've teased you about having girly hands. :p You can't win 'round these parts. ;)

As always Nick, your execution is crisp and clean with a consistency that I admire. :thumbup:

I didn't originally notice it myself, but James' comment about pulling the plunges back to the front of the guard seems good... though it wouldn't have left you with much ricasso for your mark.

Now I want to see you do another fancy integral... maybe with some of Mark's gem-grade koa. ;)
Erin

Erin
 
Erin- Have you been peeking in the shop windows?!?!? :eek:

That's EXACTLY what I was working on when one of those major failures occurred. Just goes to show no matter how anal you are about your process, sometimes $hi! just happens. :grumpy: Got the bolsters to an 800 grit stone finish, when I found a tiny hairline crack in the bolster. No fixing that... gotta start over. It really really sucks ballz when it's a mortgage payment. :( I could make 25 of the pack knives in the time it takes to do one of these.


OH WELL!!! :) Second attempt is moving along now. :)

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I don't think you can see it in this photo, but it's there... trust me, it's there. :foot:

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Erin

wow - you have ESP !

I had that same thought awhile ago....which is how this current knife began :D

I actually saw it in an earlier phase, even etched a little, and it looked perfect - but as Nick continued finishing....well, you saw what he said :eek:

I'm sure that "crack" is barely visible, even under mag....but Nick wouldn't be Nick if he didn't seek perfection :p

So....on to blade #2....which is shaping up to be a beauty of course!

Bill
 
NickWheeler said:
Erin- Have you been peeking in the shop windows?!?!?
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Nope... but I've been tempted. ;) I like to watch... :p

That sucks Nick (and Bill) :(. Is the handle salvageable?... I'm guessing that you hadn't glued it up yet. Can you match the new tang to the old and avoid scrapping the koa?

I'm stoked to see this knife when you wrap it up... as is Bill I imagine.
 
NickWheeler said:
But I have had several small blocks of wood for going on 16 years that I really want to use but are too small for my fighters/bowies.... so I cut into my original plan a bit in order to use them.
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Nick, I'ma pick at you for a minute, in a respectful way.

That's a cop-out, son. It's sheer folly to build any knife based on the materials on-hand. A knife like that one should be built for pure cutting utility; all aesthetic considerations are secondary at best. (I know that you already know this, I'm just being a PITA :D )

If your pretty piece of wood is too short for the handle, please consider adding a bolster to make up the difference. I've found black paper micarta works really well in that regard; it doesn't add any weight and visually, it kind of draws the eye to the figured wood used for the bulk of the handle. Metal bolsters can do the same, although personally, I don't like the weight they add.

No offense intended, my friend. I'm just thinking out loud.
 
Erin Burke said:
Nope... but I've been tempted. ;) I like to watch... :p
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Watch it there Erin, this isn't late Wednesday night chat with the Rat Pack., ;)
But drop by tonight and you can let yourself loose. :D
Invitation extended to everybody of course.

We now return you to your regular programming. Sorry Nick.
 
James-

After looking at my first response, I can see where we got our wires crossed.

No cop-outs, no utter foolishness......son ;) The wood blocks I'm talking about aren't too short, in fact they're 18" long. They're too NARROW for my big knives, so I was excited to have a smaller (narrower) blade to use them on.

Aesthetics played NO part in how I shaped the front of the handle, in fact the exact opposite. What I was saying in my first response, is that I think aesthetically, it might have looked more cohesive if I had taken the wood all the way to the "top line" of the guard. However, from a functional standpoint, that would have left me with a very thin bit of wood on each scale, covering the sides of the guard... which I didn't want to do. Hope that clears up the mud. :)


Erin- we talked about trying to save it, but in the long run it's going to be easier to start from scratch. At some point down the road, I'll probably finish the knife, find some snazzy way to mark it, and keep it for a display at the house/shop. We're always getting people that ask, "So what kind of knives do you make?" That way I could have something to show them, and not feel bad about keeping a knife for myself. :)
 
Looks great. I like the finger guard it looks like it would serve it's purpose for sure. The tang to blade ratio looks good too.
 
RE the integral, Having a display knife on hand is a good idea.
Could you save it by milling down the crack and filing with bronze inlays, maybe a keyhole- or dovetailed fit = and matching both sides. ?


On the little knife
Now that it was mentioned, smaller fasteners make sense.

What would you do for a thong hole?
2 Corby's and a tube, or just 1 Corby and a tube ?


That little guard tit seems a bit odd to me, how would you do it different?
I first thought of taking it off flush, but I like the additional guard protection it provides.

I think that square corner in it bothers me,
maybe half as much stick out with a convex and concave curved radii


Normally I like silver coloured fasteners, but maybe bronze would match the nice ironwood tones.
 
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NickWheeler said:
After looking at my first response, I can see where we got our wires crossed...No cop-outs, no utter foolishness......son ;)
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Please accept my sincere apologies! I admire your work and clearly have a lot to learn from your examples and success. I trust you will forgive me for speaking my mind.
 
I love everything about this knife, except for the skinny, pointy guard with the squared off front to it. Sorry, Nick. You asked. :)
 
Danbo said:
I love everything about this knife, except for the skinny, pointy guard with the squared off front to it. Sorry, Nick. You asked. :)
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Skinny and pointy??? I can get some guys not liking it aesthetically, but it's there purely to keep fingers off the edge. If the front side was rounded out, you would lose cutting edge.



James, no need to apologize. This is America, we still get to speak our minds--- in English and Spanish. ;) :D
 
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