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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Newly Finished Blackwood Re-curve Hunter
- Thread starter Kyle Royer
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2002
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- 9,948
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2002
- Messages
- 2,845
The blade has great lines, and the blade/handle design work well together. Visually, it looks very balanced, like it would be light in the hand. I like the finger groove in the handle, and the flare at the butt. The recurve is nice, and the clip is a little bit different - I'm not sure what about the clip strikes me. Maybe the width, or the end where it transitions to the full-width spine.
Some constructive criticisms -
The finger groove/choil transition looks a little weird. For one, the finger groove is very rounded, while the choil is very straight. That and the blade-side of the guard are the only straight lines in the whole knife. Also, the handle side looks much higher than the blade side. I think the contrast and curves in the blackwood makes a small difference look bigger than it is. Also, the area around the guard follows a classic design, and it's probably fine.
I like the wood grain in the last pic. It would be really nice if it followed the lines of the blade a bit more - maybe angle upward more.
Finally, the sheath. The grid pattern turned out well - I think it echos the strong yet subtle lines of the blade. Grid near the top (right in pic) of the sheath ends in the strong, dark dot. Then, going down, you drop off to ragged edges (no dots). It makes the bottom look like the design wasn't fully planned or laid out. Maybe you could leave out the fifth dot down, and open up the grid more gradually. Or you could make a very straight border around the grid, instead of the stippled border, which would make it look more finished. If you used a line border, it should be different than the grid lines - a bit wider, or maybe a double line.
Apart from the minor cosmetic criticims (which take up lots of space because I was trying to explain them clearly), I really like the blade. I like it enough to buy and use it. I'll stay tuned for the MS test model!
Some constructive criticisms -
The finger groove/choil transition looks a little weird. For one, the finger groove is very rounded, while the choil is very straight. That and the blade-side of the guard are the only straight lines in the whole knife. Also, the handle side looks much higher than the blade side. I think the contrast and curves in the blackwood makes a small difference look bigger than it is. Also, the area around the guard follows a classic design, and it's probably fine.
I like the wood grain in the last pic. It would be really nice if it followed the lines of the blade a bit more - maybe angle upward more.
Finally, the sheath. The grid pattern turned out well - I think it echos the strong yet subtle lines of the blade. Grid near the top (right in pic) of the sheath ends in the strong, dark dot. Then, going down, you drop off to ragged edges (no dots). It makes the bottom look like the design wasn't fully planned or laid out. Maybe you could leave out the fifth dot down, and open up the grid more gradually. Or you could make a very straight border around the grid, instead of the stippled border, which would make it look more finished. If you used a line border, it should be different than the grid lines - a bit wider, or maybe a double line.
Apart from the minor cosmetic criticims (which take up lots of space because I was trying to explain them clearly), I really like the blade. I like it enough to buy and use it. I'll stay tuned for the MS test model!
I like recurves, false edges/swedges, and single quillions. Therefore, this knife has a lot of appeal to me. But like Kevin, I also don't find blackwood the most appealing of woods. Give me DI, cocobolo, or bocote any time!
Nice job, Kyle. Sorry you won't make Blade this year.
Paul
Nice job, Kyle. Sorry you won't make Blade this year.
Paul
- Joined
- May 9, 2000
- Messages
- 29,205
German silver is the same thing as nickel silver.
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2006
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- 186
I like the way it turned out as well Kyle, I like recurves.
Might have to be a pattern you make more of since it's got a good response.
I think it would look fantastic with the DI as well, but I like the blackwood too.
Was the blade one of the ones you made at the hammer-in?
Beau Erwin
Might have to be a pattern you make more of since it's got a good response.
I think it would look fantastic with the DI as well, but I like the blackwood too.
Was the blade one of the ones you made at the hammer-in?
Beau Erwin
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2006
- Messages
- 1,109
Yes the blade was one that I made at the Hammer-in.
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2006
- Messages
- 186
I thought it was, it looked like it.
Beau Erwin
Beau Erwin
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2002
- Messages
- 13,348
Wow, how the heck did I miss this?
Very nicely done Kyle. Love the combination of the recurve edge and the clip. Great flow. African blackwood is easily among my top three favorite woods - it looks great and it's natural density and stability are both welcome in a knife handle application.
While it is true that a double-guard is the norm for a knife described as a "fighter" it is not an absolute requirement. History is full of guardless fighting knives - of which the Mediterranean dirk is a prime example.
Sorry you won't be at Blade - I would have liked to have met you and looked over your knives. Keep up the great work.
Roger
Very nicely done Kyle. Love the combination of the recurve edge and the clip. Great flow. African blackwood is easily among my top three favorite woods - it looks great and it's natural density and stability are both welcome in a knife handle application.
While it is true that a double-guard is the norm for a knife described as a "fighter" it is not an absolute requirement. History is full of guardless fighting knives - of which the Mediterranean dirk is a prime example.
Sorry you won't be at Blade - I would have liked to have met you and looked over your knives. Keep up the great work.
Roger
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2002
- Messages
- 2,125
Very interesting design. I kind of like the choice of wood. I'm not a fan of cocobolo, too heavy and dense- and when i was a kid, my brother bought a set of cocobolo nunchakus. (if i spelled it right) Well, these things were a royal pain, and they cracked. My plain maple ones were ugly, by comparison, but so much more suitable. So, biased..
I also do not know, when it is mentioned "handle too long" ? this is an entirely rediculous thing unless it is the length of a golf club. People are too picky.
Good job! Knife looks great.
David
I also do not know, when it is mentioned "handle too long" ? this is an entirely rediculous thing unless it is the length of a golf club. People are too picky.
Good job! Knife looks great.
David