The Confessor

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
5,703
As you might know by now I am not a prolific maker but the little shop time I have these days has made it even worse. So I am really happy to have this one finally done and ready to show to you guys. This is the second in a series of 3 knives. First one some of you might remember was the Inquisitor I finished last year. Somebody mentioned to me that I should follow up on it and the 3 knives idea was born. The last one will be more of a short sword than a knife really. Most likely be done for the beginning of next year. I have a few more designs I want to work on first.

Anyway, this one was fun. I had a few more things planned for the handle but like it's predecessor, I ran out of steam. Hopefully as I get better at this I will have time to implement all the ideas I have for a particular knife. Still, I like how it came out. The only thing that I am not completely satisfied is the hamon. As you can see, it came out a bit shallow, like some of the surfaced hardened in the softer middle of the blade. But I did have to bend the blade to straighten it after heat treat to about 20 degrees all the way up to less than an inch of the point and it is still in one piece so I am satisfied that the core did stay soft enough. Not like I am going to use this one hard but of course I still want it to be a functional knife.

Enough rambling, here are the specs:
Blade length: 10.5” OAL: 16.5”
Grind: Hollow
Steel: 1095, clay/hamon
Handle: African Blackwood
Fittings: Stainless steel (304)
Handle inlay: Fine Silver .999

confessor1.jpg


On the back side I went with a simple domed pin, not another cross inlay. Kind of makes this a right handed knife as it is more comfortable with feeling just a bit of the cross with the index. But even in a left handed grip the cross is not that bad, just a reminder of why you are using the knife. ;) And that is also in part the reason I wanted to go with a raised not a flush inlay. The other part being simply to give it some depth and make it visually more interesting. This was also my first try at an inlay. Can’t say it is fun to do but it has great visual impact so I definitely will do more and hopefully get better at them in the future. Ok, enough rambling. :o

Thanks for looking and of course I welcome your feedback and criticism.
 
Pat, that inlay makes me think "menuki" for some reason. I like it! The whole knife has so much effort and vision written into it, I can't help but applaud! Well done. Oh, and I'm a sucker for blackwood...
 
Thanks for the good words guys. :thumbup:

I had to google menuki Salem and you are right, it even hides the pin in a way like a menuki. Guess I have to add oriental influence to the mix. :)
 
Hey uh, do we get to know what the short sword (!) will be called yet?
The conquistador? Just sayin'.
 
You remind me a little of Tai Goo. Not that this is in the style of Tai Goo, but because it's different, organic, and does not attempt to conform. I think this is a very cool piece and I find it refreshing to see something very different that's well done.
 
I really like it. Very nice work.

May I ask what is the design at the end of the hilt?

Joe Walsh's song could be a good fit for it.
 
Patrice Lemée;13317885 said:
As you might know by now I am not a prolific maker but the little shop time I have these days has made it even worse.
Click to expand...
..........and that is too bad, as you make some great knives.

The Inquisitor, the Ejector and the three small EDC's you made for yourself and your brothers are all great knives.
 
Thanks guys, I do appreciate the good words and even more so since I know that this is a bit "different" like Nathan said and not everybody's cup of tea.

Salem, I was thinking about the Redemptor or some such. Still got to work on that one. ;)

Ohen, it is a cross shaped cutout. Working on my photo setup but as soon as I get it done, I'll post a few pics to show it better.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
You remind me a little of Tai Goo. Not that this is in the style of Tai Goo, but because it's different, organic, and does not attempt to conform. I think this is a very cool piece and I find it refreshing to see something very different that's well done.
Click to expand...
^^^ Rightly said. A substantial compliment as an artist. You're just not as stubborn. ;) LOL! (from one who owns three of Tai's pieces and has always followed his work.)

I'm certain that blade has more going on than your photo allows. Show us that again?

Coop
 
Patrice, I really like this. I have to get me some of that blackwood. With this blade geometry, this would be a great blade to try a clayless hamon on. There would have likely been some very interesting activity. I find your pieces take a while to take all of the elements in. I can recognize your work at a glance now.

Warren
 
Beautiful and unique! Following along with the naming convention, the third knife must logically be called "The Executioner".
 
A little note about the photo layout. I have to credit Coop (Jim Cooper) for it. It was the layout he used for the Inquisitor and I KNOW that if he used it, then it is the best way to showcase that type of knife. I would love to be able to send him this one also for proper shots. But since that will just not be possible I thought that this would be the next best thing. As a reference, here is what the layout looks like with proper photography, not my half ass attempt.

inquisitor_coop1.JPG


Thanks Jim
 
Thanks again for the compliments guys, really does make me feel better about spending so much time outside the box. :o:D

Being compared to Tai, creativity wise, how cool is that. :thumbup:

Jim, I'll try and get better pics of the blades this week with my new setup and technique.

Warren, I never tried a clayless hamon but I think I need to work on the clay ones a bit more before I do. Sounds a bit tricky or should I say trickier.

Kevnkar, that is actually the first name I thought of and I might end up picking that one. :thumbup:

Thanks again guys.
 
I'm really interested to know about the back story. Where and how did you pick up this theme? What's it all about?
 
Another great piece.

I am a big fan of the first in the series as well.

Excited for what you come up with for the last one.



Absolution????
 
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