Tombstone Defender

[John Cahoon]

This is my Tombstone Defender model at 14.5" one of my biggest in 52100. I sent the twin to FL some time ago but holding this one until a friend decides if he wants it. I have smaller versions called Tombstone Marauders with various configurations on the swedge. All are recurve, have sharpenable swedges and all have blued guards and pommels.
I know, I know.... needs more spacers!

 

[Richard338]

I like it. There are many elements that I like, such as the blade profile, grind, finish on the flats. I like the handle and how the butt cap has some shaping to match the natural material in the handle. I like the multi component guard.
There is however one design element that keeps bringing my eye back. The handle is slightly tapering where it meets the guard. The guard is convex towards the handle and this creates an abrupt junction. For me, I'd love to see the guard concave to flow into the handle smoothly.
Just my taste, please don't be offended.

 

[John Cahoon]

Hi Richard338 thank you for your compliments and especially the critique... of course no offense... for 1 I have thick skin and for 2 only a fool would be upset by constructive critiques. So the guard is tapered front to back, meaning the front is thinner than the back all around. The top and bottom of the guard are actually concave into the handle, but not by much. The smallest wheel I have is on a 3x21 belt sander. I think that's what you're saying and you'd be doing me a huge favor if you could sketch out what you are seeing onto one of the photos and PM it or post it here so I'll know for sure. And anybody else should feel free to do the same for any element.

 

[Richard338]

Hi John, I'm talking about the junction areas I highlight in your photo below. I grabbed an example from Sam Lurquin that has the flowing junction I'm talking about.
Anyway, of course this is a matter of taste, so you can do it how it looks feels and functions best for you.

 

[coldsteelburns]

Great looking knife, John. Nice blade and handle shape. I tend to agree with Richard regarding the shape of the guard breaking the overall flow by causing one's eyes to stop abruptly at the handle to guard transition. As Richard mentioned, even a slight concavity to the finger sides of the guard can greatly improve the flow from handle to guard, especially if it's a relatively thick guard (e.g. over ~1/8" thick) that is not a simple flat "coin" guard.

One other small detail of the guard that confused my eyes a bit were the scallop details ground into the front edges of the guard, which from the side view make it almost seem as if the guard was shaped a bit backwards with the concave being ground on the front face.

Sam's Bowie above is a great example. Another example that might be a bit easier to envision being done to your guard (due to it's lack of a finger choil/groove) is this Bowie by Josh Fisher:

~Paul
My Youtube Channel
... (Some older vids of some of the older knives I made)

 

[John Cahoon]

When I saw the Lurquin my first thought was "breathe John breathe" and my second was "PFFFFFT, I wish". That's gorgeous and I certainly see what you guys mean for sure. Thanks for the inputs.

 

[Murray White]

Very nice looking knife. Love the sheath also and it is matched with the handle material also. Have to agree with the others related to the guard. Curves always are nice to see and help with the overall feel of the knife in the hand. See that mentioned a lot on Forged In Fire episodes.