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Lorien said:
is freehand grinding vs. using a jig an actual thing that people get all twisted up about?🤨
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The argument seems to be that freehand grinding allows one to do more complex grinds that a jig would limit you from doing...I call BS on that. If a jig limits you from doing a certain motion...build another jig! I don't use one because I am too cheap to buy a larger work rest....but I may do so in the future to dial in the accuracy of my grinds.
 
Lorien said:
is freehand grinding vs. using a jig an actual thing that people get all twisted up about?🤨
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Twisted up?

No..... but I think it's important for some people.

There is a growing movement towards stuff made by actual people. Handmade things..... (Arts, clothing, furniture, leather goods, whatever)
Usually these are the same people who like to buy locally. Go to farmers markets, art shows, live music festivals, local restaurants.

Every maker does what they want to do, with how they Make things.......

and SOME customers notice, and want certain things to be a certain way.



as consumers, and as makers, we each have our own opinions..... You are an artist. Is there a difference? Do people care?
Why buy Your knife...... (Or mine, or anybodies) ?

If we can all go to walmart and just buy them there..... There is no reason for anyone to make anything.


*For the record, I think using a heavy-duty sliding, fixed angle jig assembly is Still making a handmade knife.
once automation happens (cnc, lasers, etc.) then it becomes blurry.

I don't use a fixed 90 plate that the blank mounts to, I free hand.
I did try the bubble jig at first, but it wasn't for me. I felt like I had too much to pay attention to and it distracted me, then.
Maybe I could try it again now that I have some good muscle memory. My grinds might look better, idk?

IF that matters even?

*It must, because people keep bringing it up..... :eek: hahha.
-What is the future going to be, with Chatgpt/whatever and A.I.

"This Is Your Knife!!!" Beep Beep 011100101011000101
 
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Lorien said:
is freehand grinding vs. using a jig an actual thing that people get all twisted up about?🤨
Click to expand...

It goes back to the '70s and '80s and the Knifemakers' Guild rules about jigs and fixtures. Right or wrong, there is a historical reason for the residual feelings about it.

I'm an old school guy but don't give a hoot about what anyone else does. When I caught sh*t on here for saying someone ought to learn how to freehand grind regardless they use a jig or not, I could only laugh at the defensiveness that sorta proved what I was saying.
Hypothetical: If yer CNC breaks, do you have the skill to make the part with manual machines? I'd think one would want those skills.
 
Lorien said:
is freehand grinding vs. using a jig an actual thing that people get all twisted up about?🤨
Click to expand...
When I started knife making in 1987 and at that time that was pretty much the way everyone ground blades back then. But after watching a Bob Loveless video, and him using a tool rest and a push stick, I started using that set up in my shop, it cuts a quite a bit of time off of grinding. A few years ago I bought a nice jig for grinding certain bevels and grinds, but I always seem to go back to finishing everything I make with freehand grinding, I seem to be able to a do a better job on making everything symmetrical by hand vs using a tool rest or a jig. That's just what I do things, anything that makes your work better or saves time is fair game.
 
Its possible to go on and one about hand made "this or that".

One aspect relevant to knife making : take Sheaths for instance, I was taught to saddle stitch everything by a mate who made dog collars and dog leads, I have hand stitched sheaths since then, is the guy who uses a sewing machine to stitch up his leather not making hand made sheaths?

I know that I would love an old cobblers sewing machine, would it still be hand made? Yes!
 
fitzo said:
It goes back to the '70s and '80s and the Knifemakers' Guild rules about jigs and fixtures. Right or wrong, there is a historical reason for the residual feelings about it.

I'm an old school guy but don't give a hoot about what anyone else does. When I caught sh*t on here for saying someone ought to learn how to freehand grind regardless they use a jig or not, I could only laugh at the defensiveness that sorta proved what I was saying.
Hypothetical: If yer CNC breaks, do you have the skill to make the part with manual machines? I'd think one would want those skills.
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that doesn't seem like controversial advise to me 🤨
but that dynamic is kind of what I'm talking about
 
Details and sheath done. Chopper finished.

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Way-Barney said:
Its possible to go on and one about hand made "this or that".

One aspect relevant to knife making : take Sheaths for instance, I was taught to saddle stitch everything by a mate who made dog collars and dog leads, I have hand stitched sheaths since then, is the guy who uses a sewing machine to stitch up his leather not making hand made sheaths?

I know that I would love an old cobblers sewing machine, would it still be hand made? Yes!
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The Maker using a sewing machine is probably in large part due to volume...major timesaver. A good saddle stitch can be great on both sides though.

I like free hand for self improvement and no additional stuff in my way, but making a good knife is tough enough without someone telling you how you should do it.
 
Been busy.

Got 3 kitchen knives done yesterday. I've been trying to work in small batches. I think its definitely more efficient this way.

Didnt get a chance to take a lot of nice pics of this first one. It was a 220mm.gyuto in 10v, mokume-gane bolster with a gcarta, ragcarta handle.
IMG_20230905_213843770_MP.jpg
IMG_20230905_232816198_MP.jpg

This next one is my favorite of the three i think. Its a 240mm k390 (67 hrc) with a 3 colored mokume gane bolster, and vintage canvas micarta handle.
IMG_20230906_084409490_MP.jpg
IMG_20230906_084335272_MP.jpg

The last one is a 10v 180mm bunka. Vintage butterscotch paper micarta handle, ivory g10 spacer, and gcarta ragcarta ferrule.
IMG_20230906_115730240_MP.jpg
 
Blankblank said:
Been busy.

Got 3 kitchen knives done yesterday. I've been trying to work in small batches. I think its definitely more efficient this way.

Didnt get a chance to take a lot of nice pics of this first one. It was a 220mm.gyuto in 10v, mokume-gane bolster with a gcarta, ragcarta handle.
View attachment 2312650
View attachment 2312646

This next one is my favorite of the three i think. Its a 240mm k390 (67 hrc) with a 3 colored mokume gane bolster, and vintage canvas micarta handle.
View attachment 2312649
View attachment 2312647

The last one is a 10v 180mm bunka. Vintage butterscotch paper micarta handle, ivory g10 spacer, and gcarta ragcarta ferrule.
View attachment 2312648đź‘Ť
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those all look great! Really like the chamfering of that choil area and spine, that's nicely done, as is your rubbed finish
 
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