Something different for me

Phillip Patton

Phillip Patton

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jul 25, 2005
Messages
5,344
This is the first knife I've done with an oval guard and spacer/ferrule. (not really a ferrule, since it doesn't wrap around the end of the handle...)
It's also the first knife I've made with damascus fittings. I kind of like it.
I actually started this knife about a year ago, and got "stuck" for a while. Yesterday I decided to get it over with, and here it is.
One of the things that slowed me down is, I couldn't think of a handle shape I liked, that would fit with the piece od wood I was using. Last night I sat down and started drawing, and this is what came out. After I shaped the handle, I realized it looks just like Shiva Ki's handles.... Oh, well. :D
Since this is my first time with this type of handle construction, the fit isn't as good as I would like, and you can tell in some of the pics. Also, the handle looks too big for the blade...

Any comments, positive or negative, are welcome.


Steel: 1080 with an interesting natural hamon

Guard: ladder pattern damascus

Spacer: straight layer damascus

Hardness: 58-59

Blade length: 9"

Handle material: Desert ironwood


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Thanks for looking!
 
I really like that knife. I like the shape of both the blade and handle. The fittings are very nice also. The only thing I would change is the butt. The corners look square in cross section. I would just round them off a little to match the rest of the handle. Overall, it's great and probably my favorite from you that I can remember.:thumbup:
 
raylaconico said:
I really like that knife. I like the shape of both the blade and handle. The fittings are very nice also. The only thing I would change is the butt. The corners look square in cross section. I would just round them off a little to match the rest of the handle. Overall, it's great and probably my favorite from you that I can remember.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

You're right Ray, about the butt. I think I'll round it off.
Thanks!
 
Really nice overall. :thumbup:
I agree about the square edges, particularly at the butt. They're uncomfortable (as a rule) and are easy to damage (chip) when using the knife.

Another little thing, when you have wood meeting up with a steel fitting (as it does just below the guard) I think it's usually preferable to have the wood slightly "proud"--a tiny bit oversized-- compared with the steel rather than the steel being "proud" and the wood a bit undersized where it meets. (It's better to feel a tiny rounded wood ridge than a metal ridge). [Incidentally, this is something you look out for when buying old guns. If the metal is even or proud compared with the wood, the stock has almost certainly been refinished--probably a few times. It's an undesirable condition.]

I find that sometimes if I shape it to be dead-on, the wood will shrink or move a bit and the mating of wood-to-steel will be off in the end. A small bit oversized, with a tiny radius on the wood to the joint, and you're safe.

Hope this makes sense.

Again, nice job! Great proportions!! Clean joints! :thumbup:
 
I like the butt end. A lot. I don't care that it might be uncomfortable or prone to damage. It has a nice understated flair to it. It's only my opinion though. I like it!

Ickie
 
Very nice... I really like the damascus guard. I like the butt end, but can understand the way Ray mentioned rounding it as well. Either way I think you've got a great knife. Is this one for sale or did you make it for someone?
 
Striking presentation, I been watching the pieces PP makes for 1 1/2 to 2 years now, all as I can say is WOW you come along way in a short period of time IMO!

A true artist and craftsman, the man's got talent :thumbup:
 
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