The snub nose skinner-Knife #3

[montana guy]

This one is my best one so far as it should be, certainly not without flaws though. Got 2 pics and the camera died so I'll have to post more when I get more batteries. Have some minor sanding to do still and have to seal the handle. Need to sharpen it also.

Blade is a touch over 3 1/4" long and 2 1/16" deep. Overall is 7 3/4". Handle is Afzelia burl, brass pins and finger guard. Fold count is 12-24-96-288-864. 1095 and 01 are the metals used.

There is a really small gap that was not there before I put the handle on at the bottom of the blade by the finger guard, must have tweaked something when I put it in the vise to set the epoxy. Also has a small gap on both sides of the blade where I pushed just that tiny bit to hard on the file. Had it almost perfect then blew it. Tried to make the gap even on both sides. Would have just made another one but I am out of brass and broke....Middle of next month cannot come quick enough. ( I go back to work). Good thing is I can replace it once I get some money in my pocket I guess.

Top of the handle meets a end of my thumb shaped brass that is very comfortable. There a lot of shape to the handle that you can kind of see in these 2 pics. It is a very comfortable knife to hold. (for me anyway)

Let me know what you think.

 

[KB1SYV]

I'm new to the craft, but I think you did a fabulous job on the knife. It's a little thick for me, but I like the pattern, it looks almost like a contour map! You did a great job on the handle. I have yet to make it past the plunge cuts on my knife, scene 1 take 6!!!

Good Job,

Jeff

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

I'm by far not an expert but I'll give my 2 cents (from a user/customer POV as I am a slow amateur). I would have made the top of the handle flush with the guard and blade, or given what you have now put a shallow thumb rest concavity to blend handle/guard/blade. Also it looks like the guard is not flush with the sides of the Afzelia, I would try to make it so there is little transition in size from handle:guard as the guard is not large enough to properly stop the hand on the sides and your knife does not seem to be a bowie/fighter, which is the only time I would find an oversized guard useful. By changing these couple of things I think it would improve it's usefulness, and be small improvements to make your design flow a bit better.

Again only my suggestions, it looks like it would be a mean skinner! (P.S. random damascus is my favorite "pattern").

 

[montana guy]

Thanks guys, always looking for other perspectives to make a better knife. Cuts Like a Cris, I see what you are saying about the Afzelia not meeting the handle properly, I noticed that in the pic also, what we both saw is actually excess epoxy that pushed its way out when compressed by the vise. I saw that in the pic and had to look at the knife. It gives the optical illusion of a gap, but it is just excess epoxy I have to remove. The handle marries the finger guard with no gap. That gap is somewhat easy, the one where I messed up filing the brass is the one that bugs me. Had it and lost it just that quick. As a machinist and welder who can weld anything together and machine any part I want to a zero tolerance, it bugs me that I cannot hand file a part to perfection...

Thanks again for you input.
Ronnie