Please Critique/ Good Enough for a KITH?

A

AlaskanHunter

Joined
Nov 23, 2013
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Here's my latest knife! Just wondering if you guys would mind critiquing my latest knife? Also, for the last few KITHs, I've held out from participating in because I wasn't sure that my skills were up to par. Do you think my work is sufficient quality now? What do you think I could or should have done better on this knife?
Any tips on avoiding the epoxy "halo" around the pin in the bone? I can get the fit tight enough to avoid it on the wood, but cant seem to make it go away when working with the bone.
Steel: 1084
Handle: moose bone and stabilized black walnut
Blade length: 4.25"
OAL: 8.5"
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ColeKiraKnives said:
Im new here, forgive my ignorance but what is a KITH?
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Knife In The Hat

The short of it is, everybody who signs up to participate makes a knife under that KITH's specific guidelines, then the finished pieces are randomly distributed back to the participating makers. Kind of a "give a knife, get a knife" deal. Usually a moderator or the "KITH leader" will mix up the names and randomly pick who sends what to who.
 
OP, looks like a fine knife to me. Any critiques I would have are primarily aesthetic/personal preference. Keep up the good work.
 
I like the general shape of the blade and handle as a simple hunting knife. My only critique would be to round out the front of the bolster face.
 
I've never worked with bone, but a common cause of a dark halo around a pin is heat buildup of the pin when grinding/shaping the handle.
 
The knife looks more than good enough for a KITH.

My only critique would be to round the front of the handle bolster off the knife and then mount it. That way you will eliminate that tiny tit at the heel of the blade. That tiny point of wood will snap off quickly in use. A carefully applied file with a safe edge will remove it on this knife, or just leave it alone and remember it for the next knife.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
The knife looks more than good enough for a KITH.

My only critique would be to round the front of the handle bolster off the knife and then mount it. That way you will eliminate that tiny tit at the heel of the blade. That tiny point of wood will snap off quickly in use. A carefully applied file with a safe edge will remove it on this knife, or just leave it alone and remember it for the next knife.
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Thank you for the tip Mr. Apelt!
 
That looks pretty good. Better them some I have seen in the KITH.
 
Having organized a couple kiths, that knife would be a fine submission. Good job!

I would round the front of the scales before glue up as it creates a better flow, but that's a minor detail.

Edit, Stacy beat me to it. :)
 
Looks like you did a nice job! It's not easy making bolsters let alone double dove tailed bolsters.
Carefully peening your pins can expand them and minimize the "halo"
 
the only comment I could add is that the tip of the knife looks "dull" or rounded...in that it doesn't appear thumb tack sharp.
I'm not seeing that it comes to a nice point.

also it looks like from the light refraction that as you taper to the point, i'm thinking you don't really have a distal taper from the ricasso. I could be wrong on this.
A top view of the spine towards the tip would confirm this.
When I made my first few knives, I had this sort of grind as well... :)

Let me know if I'm wrong in what I see in your pics

nice dovetail detail work :thumbsup:

regards
 
It looks pretty darn good actually. Only thing that stands out to me is the underside of the handle towards the ricasso area looks a bit uneven...the tang is a bit bumpy looking.
 
AlaskanHunter said:
Would you mind sharing them? I'm interested in hearing what other makers think looks good and why.
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Sure thing. As others have already pointed out, I would round off the front end of the handle scales. I'm also not personally a fan of thick liners, and typically like to keep them around .060" or less. It looks like yours have some varying thickness as well. I'd try to keep them the exact thickness if possible.
You did a nice job dovetailing the bolsters, but on fixed blades, I tend not to put a rear bolster on the handle. This is strictly personal preference though.
I like the tapered tang, but I think it's a bit subtle. If you're going to do it, might as well put a little more taper on it so it stands out. It's really close, but I might take just a little more off of each side.

That's really about it. Overall, it really is a nice knife. Keep up the good work!
 
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