Photos Not so discouraged!

N.W. Gean

N.W. Gean

Joined
Oct 10, 2018
Messages
463
https://imgur.com/gallery/3dq7xnE

I just finished this up on Friday. Is it perfect? no. The plunge lines are a little crappy. The grind lines are a little wavy and not perfectly symmetrical. The handle has some hot spots and looks a little muddy, maybe I could have spent more time and higher grits sanding it. I'm not very good at sharpening and I messed up the tip a little.

Am I happy with it? YES. I realized that if I kept scrapping knives that I didn't grind perfectly then I would never finish a knife and I'd never be happy. Onward and upward!
 
N.W. Gean said:
https://imgur.com/gallery/3dq7xnE

I just finished this up on Friday. Is it perfect? no. The plunge lines are a little crappy. The grind lines are a little wavy and not perfectly symmetrical. The handle has some hot spots and looks a little muddy, maybe I could have spent more time and higher grits sanding it. I'm not very good at sharpening and I messed up the tip a little.

Am I happy with it? YES. I realized that if I kept scrapping knives that I didn't grind perfectly then I would never finish a knife and I'd never be happy. Onward and upward!
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It’s amazing how we’re in the same boat almost I got the bubble jig in on Friday, tried to grind a little guy on Saturday, wrecked it out of frustration. Sigh, I need to not sweat the small stuff and focus on just completing something - imperfect and all.
 
That’s a great start. It looks like a functional knife, not a prison shank. Open to feedback?
 
Willie71 said:
That’s a great start. It looks like a functional knife, not a prison shank. Open to feedback?
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I'm all ears.

edit: Though I am a little worried that I didn't do a good job designing the shape. I feel it's a fairly generic hunting/bushcraft shape. I've spent some time revamping the profile and getting feedback from friends and family on it (although I realize that they aren't always critical).
 
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There is absolutely Nothing Wrong with generic Hunting/Bushcraft Knives. Take a look at "Horace Kephart" designed knife and look at how generic it looks and think of how many makers used it's design in their early years of learning to make knives. Your Designs will evolve over time as you get better at grinding and knowing how to manipulate the steel. Make what you Like don't rely on someone else's opinion you can't please everyone, but you certainly need to please yourself if you want to have fun making knives....
 
Busto said:
There is absolutely Nothing Wrong with generic Hunting/Bushcraft Knives. Take a look at "Horace Kephart" designed knife and look at how generic it looks and think of how many makers used it's design in their early years of learning to make knives. Your Designs will evolve over time as you get better at grinding and knowing how to manipulate the steel. Make what you Like don't rely on someone else's opinion you can't please everyone, but you certainly need to please yourself if you want to have fun making knives....
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That's true. I'm not much into folders or kitchen knives but that's all the rage right now.
 
N.W. Gean said:
That's true. I'm not much into folders or kitchen knives but that's all the rage right now.
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So what if it's the "RAGE" right now....at some point Knife Enthusiasts gravitate back to Old Reliable Designs...For example I make a handful of Bob Loveless designs each year and I could make more, but I found that true knife lovers will always gravitate back to solid designs like the Loveless models and I don't feel that every knife I display for sale is exactly like one the last guy just purchased. Make a good solid design stick with it develop a few subtle changes that add to it's personality still keeping it a solid performer...Take a Look at Bob Loveless knives they keep making them for a Reason...same goes for Randall and that's a 5 year waiting list...Have fun you don't have to Follow the Crowd.
 
N.W. Gean said:
I'm all ears.

edit: Though I am a little worried that I didn't do a good job designing the shape. I feel it's a fairly generic hunting/bushcraft shape. I've spent some time revamping the profile and getting feedback from friends and family on it (although I realize that they aren't always critical).
Click to expand...

the overall shape is fine. The most obvious way to improve on the next one is to round the front of the scales.

upload_2019-12-31_16-34-7.jpeg

Bushcraft knives use Scandinavia or Sabre grinds. Full flat grinds tend to perform better, but good luck convincing bushcraft guys of that.
 
I'm still figuring out the handle shaping thing. I spent so long being hyperfocused on grinding bevels that I never bothered doing handles. I have a 4x36 with a disc and a 2x72 with a flat platen at my disposal. I used both on these handles.

I have no doubt that full flat grinds work better, but I am a big fan of scandi and saber grinds so I guess I'm one of those guys :D
 
N.W. Gean said:
I'm still figuring out the handle shaping thing. I spent so long being hyperfocused on grinding bevels that I never bothered doing handles. I have a 4x36 with a disc and a 2x72 with a flat platen at my disposal. I used both on these handles.

I have no doubt that full flat grinds work better, but I am a big fan of scandi and saber grinds so I guess I'm one of those guys :D
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Really, build what you like.

as you develop skills, tapering the blade and tang show off skill, and make a better feeling knife in use. I like three pins in my handles, but others like two on smaller knives. There are two black pins in the bolster on the knife I posted. The handles feel good if the have the profile of an egg when looking from the but end.
 
Dovetailed boosters add class if done well.
 

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N.W. Gean said:
I've been interested in tapered tangs for some time. Could it be done with just the idler wheel and flat platen?
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yes. Tapered tangs are not hard, imagine the tang (knife standing on end, with the tip to the ceiling) as a knife bevel. Scribe the Center, and grind the excess away.
 
N.W. Gean said:
I've been interested in tapered tangs for some time. Could it be done with just the idler wheel and flat platen?
Click to expand...
For sure! It’s faster that way for me although I want to try it on a surface grinder attachment. Use the shoptalk search, there’s lots of great tutorials on it.
 
My edc is very similar to that. Only difference is the rounded scale like willie mentions and the scale tapers at the front towards the blade. Looks good. It doesn't hurt to draw out your blade....handle and all before you make it. I get my students to trace their blades and draw some different shapes for handles until they find something they like for their knife. Drawings give you a visual. Nice job.
 
N.W. Gean said:
https://imgur.com/gallery/3dq7xnE

I just finished this up on Friday. Is it perfect? no. The plunge lines are a little crappy. The grind lines are a little wavy and not perfectly symmetrical. The handle has some hot spots and looks a little muddy, maybe I could have spent more time and higher grits sanding it. I'm not very good at sharpening and I messed up the tip a little.

Am I happy with it? YES. I realized that if I kept scrapping knives that I didn't grind perfectly then I would never finish a knife and I'd never be happy. Onward and upward!
Click to expand...
I think it looks great. I do much of the final finishing with sandpaper. 220 grit with a flat steel bar flattens grind lines right out. It is a lot of work but it is all the difference. I still haven't learned how to post pics here ( yes I know really stupid!) but my site can be reached at baltimoreknives.com so you can see my finish.
 
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