What do you think?

I hope you learned something on the pins. I notice punch marks on many of the ends. No need for them to fit quite that tight if coated with epoxy on installation. Better a little long and then push or tap them in with a small hammer or flat faced piece of material then file, grind and sand them flush. A piece of brass tubing for the lanyard hole can be obtained in most hardware stores and would help match it to the pins. A little more time sanding to get those scratches out on the left side and maybe one grit size higher on the finish. I am sure you realize all of this and your next one will be even better.

But, overall it is a very decent knife. Very handy size and shape. You did good and should be proud to carry and use it. You need to get some stencils and start making your mark!
 
That's a great first knife. I hope you are proud of it.

Like you said, the finish quality has issues but those can easily be improved in your next knife.
The only things I would change are the edge thickness and scale length. It's personal taste, but I like having scales that extend farther towards the ricasso.
Someone mentioned the tall blade. I don't think it's too tall but it's getting there. How would the knife look with a slightly longer blade vs narrower?

Oh yeah, it needs a maker's mark too ;)
 
Frank Niro said:
I think it's kind of good !!!! Now if that's your 50th or so then that might not be my reply. The handle material could have reached closer to the ricasso but it looks well proportioned and I'll just bet very comfortable to hold and use.I believe the shape is more of one for skinning than a more overall use one but it will work for that too. You have a lot going there that in my opinion says you have some good background in what is needed in a knife for use in the bush. Make more ! Stay with the "ideas" you have for shape and size and continue to learn what really will work. Frank
Click to expand...
Thank you! By my count, if I recollect correctly, this is my 5th. I couldn't make bringing the scales closer to the blade work aesthetically for me. It is quite comfortable to hold and use. Yup, skinning and "food prep" were my primary ideas I had in mind, with general utility being slightly less important. I blame having the right ideas on my dad.;) I'm extremely stubborn so I will be staying with my ideas, but I am smart enough to know when I'm wrong and when to change things.
bladsmth said:
Nice job. Thank you! Simple and functional. I like simple, It's a lot harder for me to screw up.:)

The bevels can be taken down after HT just the same way they were before....by hand sanding. It is just a lot slower. I would use a 6X2" block of hardwood with a strip of sandpaper wrapped along it. Jigs are great for some things, like sharpening, but not for learning to hand sand a bevel.The jig I was talking about was for sharpening. I actually took the bevels on this one from 0.05" prior to heat treat down to a bit less than 0.034" I just forgot to measure before it was sharpened. I use a 3"x2"x0.2" block of hardened "junk" steel for a sanding block; I find that the smaller block works better for how I hand sand.
You can still go back and re-sand that blade, but I would just make this a learning experience, and use that knowledge on the next one.I went back to 120 and 240 grit a fem times on this one.
Click to expand...
I had a big long reply to this, but BladeForums ate it.:( My replies are in red. Thank you!
 
fumbler said:
That's a great first knife.Thank you!
I hope you are proud of it.I am. ;)

Like you said, the finish quality has issues but those can easily be improved in your next knife.That was my main issue with this one, The handle finish is the best that I've done so far though. Like I always say, I learn one blunder at a time.
The only things I would change are the edge thickness and scale length.I couldn't get the longer scales to work for me aesthetically. It's hard to tell in the pictures but the curve towards the blade start about were the scales end, that's not how I designed it, but that's how I ended up making it. Remember, there are no mistakes, just design features. ;) It's personal taste, but I like having scales that extend farther towards the ricasso.I do too. :thumbup:
Someone mentioned the tall blade. I don't think it's too tall but it's getting there. How would the knife look with a slightly longer blade vs narrower?I drew it with all different lengths of blade, this one just looked right to me.

Oh yeah, it needs a maker's mark too ;)Definitely!:thumbup: My knifemaking budget is broke though.:( If I stumble upon a big wad of cash the first thing I buy... will be a knifemaker's membership, followed shortly by an etcher.;)
Click to expand...
My replies are in red. Thank you!
 
JustAFleshWound said:
I use a 3"x2"x0.2" block of hardened "junk" steel for a sanding block; I find that the smaller block works better for how I hand sand.
Click to expand...
Darn. What an *******. That's possibly the dumbest thing I've said on here.

This concludes my going through old posts and making amends for my stupidity.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top