Now what do Ido?

SVanderkolff

SVanderkolff

Joined
Oct 31, 2002
Messages
979
Just finished this fighter and I don't like the way it turned out. The knife is 10 1/4" long. The blade is Delbert Ealy damascus, wonderful damascus by the way, the bolster is 416 satin finished and the handles are mammoth ivory with domed pins. Not sure what didn't work but somehow it just does not come together properly and now I have no idea what to do with it. I am sure there will be customers out there who will like it. I don't think I can take it apart and start over with out completely ruining it. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Steve
 
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Steve, I think it's a great looking knife. I'm not a fan of damascus, so that's going to turn me off right away, but the overall appearance looks quite good , the slight recurve and shape I really like, and the bolster and ivory are gorgeous. I'm not sure exactly how to word this, but I'm a fan of the front bolster face angle being more from spine back and not as much from the bottom back. Did that make any sense?

I'd leave it alone and realize that it's not always about what's appealing to our eye, but that it's more important to be appealing to the customers eye.
 
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I don't see anything technically wrong with it, indeed it's a pretty attractive knife. With the ivory being tough to take off without damage, I'd sell it. Someone out there will really like it. From here, I can't see any reason why you should balk at having it out there with your name on it.

If I had to analyze what seems a bit odd about it, maybe the ricasso is a little big or the plunge could be angled forward or swept a bit to mirror the bolster angle more.
 
I'm with MHill. The bolster looks backward. I am not a big fan of the recurved blade style. On this one the recurved is so mild that it almost looks like you over-ground the edge in finishing. The downward curve of the entire spine/handle seems to be fighting the edge curvature. If the blade was Persian shape ( the tip lifted a bit) the knife would be stunning with no other modifications...but that won't really be possible now.

All that said ( you asked) ,I like the overall knife. Workmanship look superb.
 
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I agree that it appears to be worth selling, and nothing to be ashamed of. Run it up the flagpole and see who salutes.

The only thing that jumps out to my eye as looking awkward is, the bottom of the ricasso looks a bit clunky. Perhaps if you ground a little relief into it, almost like an abbreviated choil, it flow between the edge and handle better.
 
I am in agreement, very nice knife and would sell. My first thought was to put a Choil or notch in the blade, which may help separate the Bolster from the blade. Similar to what James is saying.
 
I'm with Salem, a swept plunge would make a world of difference. Maybe take it to the grinder and carefully grind in a swept plunge w/o ruining the heat treat? Or, sell it and make another!
 
Steve,
Just put it on the market mate.....everytime i have a knife that hasnt sold and i decide to attempt to rehash it, it sells. Looks like a perfectly good knife, as yours always are, so dont waste it, there is a buyer out there for everything.
Cheers Bruce
 
I think it would look a bit better if you moved the grind closer to the bolster (longer cutting edge).

Richard
 
I think the bolster takes away the natural flow of the knife. You hold it in your hand and expect things to flow forward to the working end. My hat comes off for thinking outside the square and using exxy materials. Perhaps someone will buy it for those reasons alone. It is still a very pretty knife.
 
Put $5,000 worth of engraving and scrimshaw on it. :D

That's what most people would do anyway...
 
I was talking with my uncle (an ardent wood turner), and how sometimes things don't turn out the way we envisioned it. His response was to say "There's a butt for every chair." In other words just because I think one of my knives is not good looking there is someone out there who's butt is looking for this exact chair, speaking metaphorically.

As long as it is well made (which it is) then sell it. Someone will LOVE it.

- Paul Meske
 
I think it looks good but the too long ricasso distracts from the overall look. Sell it and redesign the next one.
 
I'm not sure that it's the bolster's fault. It may be an illusion of the angle the picture was taken at, but I think if the plunge line were about 4-5° back it wouldn't look as much like a V on the ricasso. See the orange line I drew on the picture.

Image1.jpg
 
If you make another ?
I want the ricasso width to narrow to be evenish with the handle & remainder of the blade.
I would also bring the plunge back more too.
& eliminate the recurve.


This one? sell it if you can.
 
If the bolsters were moved closer to the front I believe it would look even nicer than it does.I believe we may be trying to look at it with too much as a "hunter". As it is, it's more into the art thing which is just great !!! Frank
 
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