The Rattler

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
5,703
I finally finished this one.

Blade length: 4 3/8”
OAL: 9 1/8”
Grind: Flat
Steel: 5160, 203E, 52100 and 15N20 (Random pattern from Alabama Damascus)
Handle: Stabilized spalted Maple
Fittings: Stainless steel (304)
Take-down construction

rattler1.jpg


First time working with Damascus and surely not the last. Love it.

As far as the design, this one really made me realize something. I need to have a final design when I start a build. I use to design with the build as it was the case with this one but it is just not working. Don't get me wrong, I like it but I am not completely satisfied with it and some of the things I would change, well it's too late to. Not having an exact design to work from also means lots of redoing stuff and eventually I run out of steam or inspiration if you like. I start thinking about the next knife (or the next 10 :o) and loose the focus needed. Especially at the end of the build where you do the final fit/finish and the small touches that take it from “Nice Knife” to “I need that knife, maybe I can sell a kidney”. ;) Not that I am there of course but this is what I am shooting for so I always try to do better. Anyway sorry for rambling. :o

Thanks for watching and feel free to comment on what you like or don't like about it.
 
That's a very interesting knife Patrice! Your imagination is wild.
Did you carve detail on the snake's head? I'd love to see it disassembled. That maple is stunning and really suits the shapes.

I definitely hear you on the process comments..
 
Patrice... very creative and very cool elements. Beautiful blade and nice fit and finish.

My only criticisms would be that I personally don't like mirror finish fittings... But that is just personal and probably obvious from the work I post! Also... It seems to me that the handle is undersized... The taper to the pommel nut would look better it the handle were longer and more robust.

Other than that it is a wonderful knife and really shows your future potential.
 
I like this Knife Patrice It is so different that it is cool it looks like it would feel great in the hand. It sounds like it was a good teacher and those are the best knives as they show you how to think about the next knife. Each knife has something to teach us each time we try something new it is a chance to learn and grow as a maker . There is some truth to the old saying nothing ventured nothing gained .
 
Stuart, I did not carve details on the head. For one thing, my carving skills are not yet up to par. But I did think about a stylized version and drew something up on it to look at it for a few days and it just did not work.
I forgot to take disassembled pics sorry. Will do next photo-shoot.

Scott, I was thinking the same thing about polished fittings. Been thinking that for a while now and this one really made me realized that I need to back off the buffer. :o Since it is a take down, I may still revisit that although in this case I would probably keep some of the mirror and add a mate finish to some surfaces.
By pommel nut you mean the pommel itself not the retaining nut right? I did have the handle a bit “fatter” and did not like the look. Looked like the rattler had a big meal. ;)

David, it does feel good in the hand. I'll add a few in-hand pics when I take the disassembled pics. And yes, a good learner. Learned a few more things but it's all stuff you guys already know so I won't ramble again. ;)

Thanks for the good words and great feedback guys.
 
Very unique and beautiful piece, Patrice. I always like seeing the results of your creative style. Thanks for sharing!
 
Patrice - There's just sooooo much going on in this piece! I'm lovin' that "double guard", and the way you carried the spacer style through to the rattler tail.... or is it the other way? More so though, is the overall shape and look of the piece. Its muscular and graceful at the same time, and I realy like it.

Thanks for showing us this wonderful work of art, and for the inspiration.

What are you drawing up for a sheath?

-Peter
 
You guys are too nice. A big thanks. :o

Peter, I can't even remember which one inspired which. :(
A sheath? Darn, I knew I forgot something. ;) Actually I had something already drawn but I think I want something more minimalist. Problem is that I am thinking about keeping this one as my personal knife and if I do something too minimalist it then shows too much of the knife and that may look a little too "aggressive" for carry anywhere else than at camp. If that makes any sense. I'll draw a few more options and may ask you guys for help deciding.
I did also have an offer a while back (not sure if it still stands) to have a snake skin effect done on the sheath with a laser. We'll see.
 
Looks awesome! The snake skin effect sheath would be awesome, draw a few more options and post a poll!:thumbup:
 
Very creative and interesting piece. :cool:

I would describe it as a small Ring Guard Fighter.

It's a looker. :thumbup:
 
I know I sound like a broken record but I do appreciate the compliments very much, thanks.

Kevin, that's a good description. The hunter vs. fighter has always been a tough for me to fully understand. :o
 
Hey Patrice,
I really like how this knife is just enough "different" to make it jump out. Since you are drawing up a sheath, how about bit of rattlesnake skin inlay?
 
Yes, like to see what you come up for the sheath, lots of opportunity there, like Kevin's suggestion on the inlay.
 
Patrice Lemée;11697701 said:
As far as the design, this one really made me realize something. I need to have a final design when I start a build. I use to design with the build as it was the case with this one but it is just not working. Don't get me wrong, I like it but I am not completely satisfied with it and some of the things I would change, well it's too late to. Not having an exact design to work from also means lots of redoing stuff and eventually I run out of steam or inspiration if you like. I start thinking about the next knife (or the next 10 :o) and loose the focus needed. Especially at the end of the build where you do the final fit/finish and the small touches that take it from “Nice Knife” to “I need that knife, maybe I can sell a kidney”. ;)
Click to expand...

I'd be very interested to hear more about your opinion of the final result, based on what you mentioned above.
 
KevinC, thanks for the good words. That is a good suggestion about the inlay. I've never tried an inlay yet and don't have any snake skin though. Might just make a simpler sheath until I can find some.

KevinJ, I agree, lots of possibilities. Just need to stay inside the box a bit but it is hard for me. I'll probably just shoot for not too far outside. ;)
 
Lorien, let me address the 2 issues separately.

Things I would have done different if I had designed the knife from the start:
1) Blade would have been about an inch longer. I think the proportions would be better, as it is now handle overpowers the blade a bit.
2) I would have added a little up-sweep to the tip. Not too much like a Persian type blade but just something to make it a little “meaner” playing on the snake theme and as I said to balance the blade and handle, visually anyway.
3) The blade would also have been maybe 0.250” wider. This would let me make the handle about that wider too. This combined with a slightly more pronounced handle drop and I could have played around a little more with the curves.

Things I still could change but may not because the running out of steam thing:
1) The pommel nut. Rick Marchand told me I could use a washer adjust the pommel and make sure it indexed correctly and thus foregoing the need for a nut. The pommel itself being the nut. Might have looked a bit better than the angled nut I have now.
2) I've played with finishes on the ring guard itself. I think I should have gone back to a more uniform finish, no texture. I can't redo the finish without thinning it too much. (This is the 3rd guard I made. :()
3) As someone pointed out, there is a little too much shiny surfaces. I had planned to mix shinny and mate a little bit more. I may still do that since it is easier to fix.

So that's basically it. I hope this is what you meant and that it makes some sense.

PS: In my ongoing effort to build up my self confidence I must add that I still really like the knife. I have been told in the past not to criticize my work too much. On every knife I finish I make a list for myself of small improvements I need to make and things to work on in a never ending quest to improve. But I keep it to myself as I see how it may sound like I am putting my work down. :o
 
Lorien, I am curious if this was what you wanted to know.
Sometimes I don't understand the questions too good. :o
 
Patrice Lemée;11714504 said:
Lorien, I am curious if this was what you wanted to know.
Click to expand...

Patrice, your answer was thorough and a great, honest response to my question.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter at all what other people say about how you approach your Art. The only thing that matters when it comes to improving your work, in my opinion, is an open mindedness and overall mindfulness of what you want and whether you are achieving it. Incorporating feedback from other people can be very helpful, but putting pride aside for a moment and looking into the mirror with the sincerity which comes from truly wanting to improve is where one can gain the most, in my opinion.

Beating one's self up over one's own work can be helpful for some- pushing one's self to improve. I know people who are really hard on themselves and who have achieved successes, but that approach is not for everyone. If that approach to self critique comes at the expense of killing your passion to pursue something, and burning out, then it's not worth anything.

There is a big difference between critiquing your own work, and criticizing yourself. Self deprecation should never be confused with self analysis. Each has their place and only someone like Woody Allen can incorporate the two seamlessly :)
 
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