new to knife making, introduction and some questions

[terrinecold]

Hello,
quick introduction, I am a 42 year old (French living in Boston area) working in the software industry and after seeing a blacksmithing demo I decided to start knife making as a hobby, I mention my work just to clarify that I have basically very little experience with making things on a professional level.

I took several classes on blacksmithing including some on simple knife making during those classes I made 2 forged knife:
1) more of a paper opener, this was practice using mild steel so it is not heat treated

2) real knife using spring steel heat treated

Then I took as a project to make one from home (without a forge so by stock removal, and with almost no power tool just a hand drill). I decided to use the same process as for the forge, one practice knife to get some hands on experience with mild steel and one real knife with O1 tool steel.

Here are the pictures of the practice knife almost finished (I think just need a little bit of work on the handle as the tip of the handle is not quite symetrical left side should be filed/sanded a bit more and a bit more sanding to bring the metal parts of the handle (bolster and tang) back to a nice finish where the forming of the handle scarred them, finally adding a wood finish).





I am pretty happy with this and will start with the real one but I wanted some advices on how to make the handle symetrical during the sanding/filing process.
Also any remark, advice or critics are welcome, as mentioned I am new to this, I spent time on the internet finding information and I went through classes on blacksmithing but I know how ignorant I am.

PS:
I also made leather sheath for the first two and will make one for the 3rd one and the real knife from stock removal I am also interested in comments, advices and critics about them but didn't want to overwhelm the post
Thanks in advance
Benoit

 

[HSC ///]

"some advices on how to make the handle symetrical during the sanding/filing process."

I'm still not very good at this...but scribing lines on the handle block helps alot
Also try breaking up the knife handle into portions or facets. Then blend as required.

so you can use a height gage to scribe lines and make pattern templates to guide you as well

 

[terrinecold]

thanks, I see you scribed the center line because yours is a hidden tang knife. Do you also scribe the "profile" as seen from the top?

 

[HSC ///]

Yes. Scribe as much as u can all the way around that guides u. The other way to do it is to learn over time by using your eye. You'll know what it doesn't look right and you'll see the high and the low spots and the variations from side to side.

Btw in the pics is not actually me. It was from when I was being taught.


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