Question for custom makers: Whats the most difficult pattern to make?

[Will Power]

Norfolk with sunk-joints and single-spring can't be very easy I'd suspect.

 

[J. Oeser]

It's definitely a tricky one. I'm actually working on one now. That congress Ken posted is like two of those in one knife.

Norfolk with sunk-joints and single-spring can't be very easy I'd suspect.

 

[Bigfattyt]

It's definitely a tricky one. I'm actually working on one now. That congress Ken posted is like two of those in one knife.

J., stop goofing around and get to work!! You got something special that needs attention.........so I hear..........

 

[Bigfattyt]

J., stop goofing around and get to work!! You got something special that needs attention.........so I hear..........

Great thread.


I think I need one of each posted, in several handle materials. (A Plats rope knife is on my list...........wonder if any one has a piece tortoise big enough, and takes bear hugs as payment!)

 

[Gevonovich]

What a pleasure to see such fine knives! Thank you

 

[Mike Robuck]

Here's a five-blade congress that Kerry took pictures of a while back:

 

[eisman]

I have enough tortoise, but only take cash.

I always figured those 100 blade patterns would be pretty hard. Guess not. Maybe some of y'all need to whip out a couple of those instead of fighting the tough 4 blade stuff.

 

[stingray4540]

The whittler pattern is a difficult patter to do well. Getting the center spacer taper correct is a challenge along with the hole drilling.

That being said there are so many difficult patterns in the multi-blade arena.

Hope a few pictures are ok as I will show a few that presented major challenges to my knife building skills(in no particular order).

The knives with either a locking mechanism or corkscrew adds a lot to the difficulty of build.

Sorry to go OT a little here, but I need to know what the heck those two tools are. One is like a flat hook/scoop of some sort? I don't even know how to describe the other one. Triangle on a stick?

 

[ddml]

Hoof pick. Don't know about the triangle in a stick...

 

[ken erickson]

Yep, hoof pick/nut cracker. If you look at the hoof pick near the hinge point you can see serrations. The nut is placed in the rounded cut-out and the hoof pick is brought down cracking it open.

The other tool is called a "fleam" used for bloodletting.

 

[pertinux]

That's just crazy talk, right there.

My word.

~ P.

 

[Will Power]

It's definitely a tricky one. I'm actually working on one now. That congress Ken posted is like two of those in one knife.

Jared, I'm really eager to see how your Norfolk rendering turns out.

Thanks, Will

 

[Will Power]

Ken's hoof pick is impressive, but that stag he hafted it with must come from a secret century old stash! Knobbly