Questions regarding handle design

[wadedeeper]

Hello All,

I made my 1st 2 knives and I can say I failed at both of them in some way. Since I did everything myself including heat treat, I warped 1 blade slightly on the blade edge and the other I sanded right through the damn handle loop hole on the other. Originally I had blade 1 perfect except I didn't like how thin the handle was and after finishing the handle on blade 2, I decided to remove blade 1's thin handle and put something thicker (The reddish wood handle). In the process of reshaping the handle, I was going a little too fast and sanded through the loop hole and ruined the knife for what I wanted it for (planned to give it to my brother as a present).

Anyways, Since I screwed it up, I ended up sanding the new handle a different way than I did before and I really liked how it turned out...or at least felt but I seemed to be the only one. So I figured I'd ask you all about how you shape the handles and whether it comes down to personal preference or there is something more to the shape serving a purpose. As you can see from the pics, the darker wood handle is more oval while the Maple wood is more squared off and blocky.

Also, please know, I was planning to post these pics and the question in knife gallery but I don't have permission to post there so I was forced to post here. I realize there are probably a million things I screwed up beside what I see (ie sanding through loop hole, slightly warped edge, widow maker not quite right, bevel to shallow, etc) but I'd love any input you guys have. I'll be trying again real soon because I want to make a good hunter for my brother who loves to go camping regularly and he'd really enjoy a custom one from his brother.

 

[MarkJeffrey]

I'll be honest, I was reading that and hadn't scrolled down to the pictures yet,. and was expecting a LOT worst by the way you made it sound. I can only see one of those pictures, the one of the butts, and from that angle the handles look fairly well done. Did you end up just rounding off the one you sanded through?

Everyone will be different in what they like for a handle. That's why you see so many different handle profiles.. I wouldnt hate those.

With the warped edge, it sounds like you went too thin on your rough grind before heat treating. Try to leave a little bit of meat on the edge to prevent this, then grind to finished thickness after heat treat, being sure to dip the blade in water quite often so you dont ruin the temper.

 

[wadedeeper]

I'll be honest, I was reading that and hadn't scrolled down to the pictures yet,. and was expecting a LOT worst by the way you made it sound. I can only see one of those pictures, the one of the butts, and from that angle the handles look fairly well done. Did you end up just rounding off the one you sanded through?

Everyone will be different in what they like for a handle. That's why you see so many different handle profiles.. I wouldnt hate those.

With the warped edge, it sounds like you went too thin on your rough grind before heat treating. Try to leave a little bit of meat on the edge to prevent this, then grind to finished thickness after heat treat, being sure to dip the blade in water quite often so you dont ruin the temper.

I haven't done anything with the one I sanded through yet. I have been trying to decide if I can make it into something useful like a bottle opener or something but I haven't done anything to it yet.

I agree, I did make it way to thin before HT. I was worried about it and should have gone with my gut to begin with and won't make that mistake again.

Thanks for the suggestions though...Live and learn...

 

[E.Carlson]

Whenever I make an error that I can't correct, it just means that I get to keep it. They are both fine looking knives. Use the one that has the messed up lanyard hole. It will give you a good idea of how your knives preform and feel in the hand. You will know what changes you will want to make on the next one after you have whittled with that one for an hour.

 

[S.Alexander]

Great first efforts there! I find something on every one of my knives that I could improve on. It helps me to do better.

I wonder if the one with the messed up lanyard hole could be saved? You could try putting a piece of tubing through that hole and see how it looks.