The New And Hopefully Improved "W" Feather Hunter

Kyle Royer

Kyle Royer

Joined
Dec 6, 2006
Messages
1,109
I started a post yesterday and I got some constructive criticism about the handle shape on the "W" Feather Pattern Hnuter, I think I understood what you all were saying so I changed it.

I started to shape it different and I realized that I had already taken away to much wood in some places, :eek: so I had to take the knife and lay the handle on the anvil and hit it about ten times with a three pound hammer to brake the handle off.:eek:

After I took off the handle that was shaped wrong, I put a new handle on it and finished it out. Here are the pictures of the knife with the handle shaped wrong and some pictures of it after putting a new handle on it and shaping it differently, tell me if it is better. I would agree that it was shaped wrong but I couldn't tell what it was that was wrong until you all helped me figure it out yesterday.:thumbup:

Tell me what you think now that I shaped the handle differently?

Thanks.

feather-hunter-021.jpg


feather-hunter-015.jpg


feather-hunter-018.jpg


Here are some of the constructive criticisms that I got yesterday before I changed the handle shape.

Handle is better, but still, a bit thin to thick in it's flow.
The handle isn't my favorite part of the knife. I think that the proportions are a little bit off.
I do agree in that the handle could be 3/8" shorter.
Would love to see a new version made per the collectors' specs .
As far as the handle I agree it seems a bit off.

Thanks for all of it guys,:thumbup: here are the pictures of the knife before changing the handle and shape.


feather-hunter-010.jpg


feather-hunter-008.jpg
 
Kyle, that handle went from A- to A+ Great knife!
Those handles are pain to get off.
I think it's funny when people worry about not having a pin in the handle.
 
Definitely much better. :thumbup: Did you change the guard to 416 while you had it apart? :p :D
 
Kyle,

The flow from tip through guard into the handle and to the butt is now much more a unified shape. You've got a winner.

The real prize is the learning process, which you've also got nailed.Go get 'em.

John
 
If this was April 1, I would suspect Jerry Fisk might be pulling a fast one. But since it's not, and forumites seem to know you, I guess you are for real. But, I still would like to examine your birth certificate.

World class! I can only echo those before me on the damascus. The second handle is a tangible improvement, and 1 pin is better than 2, though 0 pins is best of all, as Shawn said.

My only nit-pick, as a lover of fine wood--I'm missing the black figure of the first handle.

Ken
 
As being one of the people who said that the proportions were a little bit off I have to say that you are a quick learner (that comes with your age;)):thumbup: I think that the handle has improved not only in proportion and shape but loosing one pin helps too.

I have to tell you that I think it's great that a guy your age handles criticism the way you do. :thumbup::cool: I have a teenage girl and when I critique her ....well you fathers can imagine what happens:D

Marcel
 
As someone that has torn off a LOT of handles, The easiest way I have found to remove them is to cut from the butt up along the sides of the tang with a band saw, and then grind the epoxy off with a belt.
Dan
 
I really like the new handle. I was in the camp that thought he handle was a little off so I think it is really cool that you took the constructive criticism and ran with it and really produced a beautiful knife.

Trevor
 
Dude, you rehandled that knife overnight?? :eek: You work fast. And very well, indeed. I'd say this is a definite improvement on what was already a sweet knife.

Roger
 
Nice looking knife Kyle. Big improvment between first and the changes. Only item that I'd like to see different is the placement of the pin. I like the pin to be equidistant between top and the bottom of the handle which would mean moving the pin a bit toward the guard.

What I have noted is that the blade appears to be blue which is likely due to photographing the knife outdoors under an open blue sky. It is a good idea to use a "tent" arrangement even outdoors unless you can work in either open shade or an overcast day.

Alternatively, it may take a bit more work in your image editor. I thought this might look more closely related to the way the knife actually appears but of course when one has not seen knife in person, one can not be positive

orig.jpg
 
Peter,

Give me a break. If I'm picky about handle quality it's because I've stood in awe of your parade of knives with electric handles where chatoyance is measured in inches, figure has more shimmy and shake than a Vegas stripper, and more color and contrast than an El Greco oil.

I still have visions of your mother-lode of stag shown earlier this year. I called Masecraft the very next day to received the coldblooded news that some big spender from New York bought them out, but not to worry, they still had plenty of dyed giraffe bone. How magnanimous of you to identifying your supplier's name after you had cornered the US stag market. I may be picky, but at least I'm not greedy.

Ken
 
I felt a little bad last night after you announced you were going to re-shape the handle as I didn't think you had enough material left in the mid section to work with.

I see you found that out, yet didn't allow it to discourage you a bit.

The results are a handle worthy of the outstanding blade. One of the nicest hunters seen here this year.

IMO, the pin is needed as the high contrast blade tends to draw the eye away from the handle otherwise. A mosaic pin would also work nicely here.

Do you have more of that steel that's not spoken for?
 
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