Ringed Gidgee Utility

Dave Kelly

Dave Kelly

Joined
Dec 17, 2003
Messages
597
Hi, been away from making knives due to health reasons since 10/06 so it felt great being able to get back in the shop. Still very limited what I can do but happy as can be to be able to do whatever!

4.50" blade, 9.50" o.a.l.
Damascus and wrought iron guard
Ringed Gidgee handle

Kind of backwards but I started with folders so still pretty new to fixed blades, this is #11
Your honest critique would be very helpful and welcome, like to start trying to sell soon.
Thanks,
Dave


Hopefully not too many pics. for dial-ups but wanted to show some close shots....last pic. shows the stock removal raw materials used, just exchange the black wood with a block of Gidgee


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i think it looks good.....one thing i don't like is the stacked guard being two differnt diameters.....i'd say go with one.....it looks like it was an afterthought to me.....other than that i think it looks great.....ryan
 
Now I like everything, especially the stacked guards. But I would have stacked them the other way (big then small). But a beautiful piece!
 
Hi, Dave! Welcome back. I hope you're now on the road to a return to good health.

I see the layoff didn't erode your skills any...nice knife! :)
 
Looks amazing. I'm of two minds about the gaurd, on one hand I love the looks of it, but it puts me in mind of an art knife(nothing wrong with that), on the other hand I don't think I'd want that set-up on a working knife, but the handle shape looks realy friendly and the blade looks like it'd do some serious work. In any event it is a great shape and handle and shows some great workmanship, I just don't know how I feel about the gaurd shape, but it would be boring if we all made the same thing or thought the same.
 
Dave
That's a beautiful piece, with great workmanship all around. I am however going to agree w/ the majority here.... There is just something amiss with the guard, while very nicely done, it does not offer the smooth transition into the handle that the knife in your avatar has. It's kinda distracting to the eye. Really love the damascus!:thumbup:
Just my opinion,
Matt Doyle
 
I like this knife. The damascus is very cool and the handle material is beautiful. The coin edged guard is elegant but the extra smaller spacer on the front of the guard looks like its just not neccesary and would add weight to the knife. I say leave it off on the next one.
It takes guts to ask for a critique on the forums. You will go far, keep it up.
 
Hi Dave , welcome back to the forums :thumbup: Your work is spotless. I love the handle and the spacer but think the stacking of the guard could have been done a bit different too. I love the blade shape and the damascus :thumbup: Keep em coming buddy :)
 
Thanks guys, I know it's difficult to critique a knife from just a photo so I really appreciate your help!!

Thanks for the welcome back David

Dave


I originally had both pieces coin edged (I was thinking stacked coins) but I really didn't like that so I carefully ground down the edge on the damascus piece, I tried being carefull but it was hard to do a clean job with it installed.

This pic may show the re-work better, never do this again :)
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Dave Kelly said:
No need to sugar coat it Danbo.....tell me how you really feel about the guard :)

Thanks,
Dave
Click to expand...

Ok, hate is a pretty strong word. I don't hate it, I just think it's a little too much for the knife. It looks clunky to me. But, I could overlook it, as the blade and that fargin gorgeous wood handle are SO nice. :)

Better? :)
 
:D

The wood looks much better in person, A KNet friend lives in Australia and sells mainly on Ebay sent me a couple blocks along with a couple other very nice Aussie native species. His prices are great, I just tried to quickly find his info. but couldn't, I'll look it up if you want.

Thanks again,
Dave


Here's his email Danbo b.merchant@bigpond.com
I think he uses a similar Ebay name
 
Dave,
Now that you offered the closeup of the guard I just can't help but think how awesome the whole package would look without the coined edge part, and only the WONDERFUL damacus spacer infront of your handle spacer. Man I love that damascus!!
Matt
 
Welcome back,Great comback piece.I have to agree about the guard,but that is just me..

Glad to hear that your being able to get back out in the shop,I definately know how nice it is to finally feel better.
Bruce
 
I agree with everyone, but I also think that it can be redone yet again. If you were to take the coined guard down to the same diameter and shape as the damascus guard, and then file a groove between the two guards to match the spacer behind the guard, then the whole piece would flow nicely. You'll also have the nice contrast of change from the damascus to the wrought iron right in the middle of the guard.

Just my thoughts on the subject.
 
Thanks Matt, I may give Scott's idea a try, sounds like it may be the solution

Thanks Bruce, I know just being able to do anything productive helped not only mentally but physically I also feel better, too many doctors and hospitals isn't healthy for you!

Thanks for the great suggestion Scott! The front piece is a little narrower than the ferrule but I should be able to angle it back and blend it in.
Or just make another one, leave this one alone and it'll give someone incentive to use it.....because when you're using it you can't see the guard :)

Dave
 
dave, how did you make the coin edge? it may be a dumb question but i havent a clue. i think the knife looks cool the way it is....willy
 
willy m said:
dave, how did you make the coin edge? it may be a dumb question but i havent a clue. i think the knife looks cool the way it is....willy
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Thanks Willy,

Just like most everything else, there are many ways of making the coin edge but this is how I do it. Also your material and dimensions can/will be different, basically you're making a plate guard in a oval, clipped oval, tear drop or some other rounded shape.

Cut out your guard and bring it to a finished shape and finish then scribe some 90 degree lines a few places around the edge to use as guide lines.

I like to chamfer the edges so I lay out scribed lines front and back, this guard is .225 thick and I marked my lines approx. .040, set your disk or belt table to 45 degrees and bevel until you just touch the lines.

I use a 20 lines per inch checkering file, use one of your 90 degree edge marks and start filing your lines using the other marks just to check yourself as you work your way around the guard. This is a clipped oval guard so I started at the top next to the clip and worked my way around.

When you finish filing it's going to have kind of sharp points at all the lines so I like to flatten them out so it's smooth and also ends up with (appears) wider spacing. I like to finish by lightly cleaning up the bevel on the disk or belt using a fine grit sandpaper.

Finishing it is a whole different story, you can etch it, blacken down in the lines, buff/polish etc.

Hope that made sense, let me know if you have any questions,
Dave


I've only made a couple of these so maybe someone with more coin edgeing experience will offer advice.:)
 
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