need an opinion on a handle texturing

T

tmickley

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Apr 4, 2001
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composite1.jpg


Back in the shop after taking the summer off and just kicked this one out.
Sure could use an opinion or three on the texture of the handle. You won't hurt my feelings if think it doesn't work.

This one is 154CM steel with a mirror finish hollow grind, the blade is 4 3/4" long
and OAL is 9 3/4". Bolsters are 416ss and dovetailed. The desert ironwood handle has been textured a bit in the handle. I had mixed feelings at first about the handle treatment but it has grown on me. I'd be interested in your opinion
 
I think that the texturing has to somehow flow with the knife, Ed Caffrey is a good example of this.

I like the radius that you have behind the mosaic pin. I would texture the rest of the handle and leave from the radius forward as is.
 
Tracy, Im picturing the knife with and without the texturing and either way it would look super. I think it added a nice little touch to it, and like chuck said " It flows nicely with the knife.

Shane
 
It looks good to me, only posible concern for me would be with a little use all the crud from the user's hands would collect in the texture. :D Very cool knife.
 
Will said what I was going to say......TAke a small brush and pre darken it with something :)
 
I like it, Tracy. Texturing is a good way to embellish plain wood, but interestingly it seems to detract from highly-figured wood. In any case, looks like you've come back from your haitus refreshed and ready to make knives again. Nice knife!
 
Tracy, Just before the fire I had done a handle with a real plane piece of osage orange and did a texture simular to what you did and I just didn't care for it. I tried dying the textured part darker but it was just to dark and still didn't like it. When Ed Caffery does it I like it. I believe he has a picture of the knife he won Best Hand Forged with at the Blade West Show. Maybe taking a look at that knife real good might give you some idea's.
 
im getting the feeling as i look at dfferent knives that the hardest part is knowing when to stop. thats a beautiful knife, why fix what isn't broke?
 
ok...can we get some pics of Ed Caffrey's method?



I'm very curious about handle texturing. I didn't even think about stuff getting in there...interesting.

What you've done looks very good to me, but I'm looking at it more aesthetically and less practically.

What tools did you use to texture it?
 
I need to go have a look at some of Ed's knives to see what he is doing.
Thank you for all of your input. I've got some things to think about and maybe play with next time.

Here are a couple other pics to better show the stippled handle.
This shows it all at a different angle
knifesheath.jpg



Here is a close - closeup.
handlecloseup.jpg



The technique was:
Pencil mark the basic outline using a french curve. Using a high speed rotary tool (like a high rpm dremel or shaft tool) with a 3/16th carbide round ball bit, cut a groove just up to the pencil line. Remove material 1/8" deep with the larger bit. Switch to a smaller 1/16" carbide ball bit and dabble randomly until you get the pattern density you want.
 
I think its pretty cool......limit how much you use it and it will hold its attraction. Sort of like too much Liquor.....a certain amount can be a good thing :) :thumbup:
 
Did you texture it for non-slip purpose? How about if he fills it with super glue and polishes it up if it was just for looks? wouldn't that keep it the same color and keep it from getting crud in it, but still show up nicely?
 
Tracy, that is one good looking knife, I really like it.
I particularly like the blade shape.
Interesting question from Terry too, what is your take on that or any other clear epoxy. Will has a good point, it will fill up with hand crud for sure although, if the texturing is for grip then I guess it would not make sense to fill it up with something.:confused:
Either way, it is a fine job.thumbup:

Mike
 
the texturing could be filled with something but then it would look like that. i imagine that the texture could fill up with crud but then if it does, it's not all that deep and a little cleaning will take care of it...
 
I keep imagining exactly what you have now, but with a narrow, shallow groove around the entire perimeter. The groove would handle any areas where the dremel may have touched the border a little more than you wanted. In fact, I think I would start with the groove first, then fill in the rest. In fact, I can't even do what you've already done, so what the heck do I know about it! :o) (note: Leatherists do this quite often)
 
The knife looks beautiful!! Why change it. I feel if you add much more, you will overpower the blade shape, what you have now seems to hold a nice balance.
 
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