What's your take on these blades?

Athenas Edge

Athenas Edge

Founder / Chief Bladesmith
Joined
Jun 26, 2016
Messages
129
Hey guys,

Figured I'd post some knives I've finished this week and get everybody's take on a few things. Chalk it up to market research if you will. Now these knives still need edges which I plan on also making the edge a mirror finish, and they need leather sheaths made. Took this photo as a quick sample. For reference the knife on the right is 7" overall length and the one on the left is 9" OAL. The left knife has some stabilized green curly maple, and the right has stabilized buckeye burl.

I plan on starting to ship all my knives from here on out with leather sheaths, and a certificate of authenticity. I always found a COA a nice touch when getting a package. Now I already have a set price in mind for these blades, and future production blades but I'd actually like to hear the consumers take on what you think is your fair market value, and why is that? Fellow knife makers are more than welcome to chime in aswell :) It's nice our particular market isn't set in stone in some regards, but I find the more information available the better for all of us. Anyways Enjoy!



Sample-1.jpg
 
What blade steel are they, and at what hardness? They're certainly beautifully polished!
 
Very clean work - to me it looks like some Ron Gaston influence. Are the tangs tapered? Are the bolsters beveled? A lot going on at the maker's mark - I prefer mine on the upper end near the spine and a lot simpler. Just some thoughts - I like the designs overall.
 
black mamba said:
What blade steel are they, and at what hardness? They're certainly beautifully polished!
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Apologies I forgot to mention the blade steel! It's 1095 High Carbon - I do not have a hardness tester ATM it's certainly on my I want this list. Thank you!

TK Steingass said:
Very clean work - to me it looks like some Ron Gaston influence. Are the tangs tapered? Are the bolsters beveled? A lot going on at the maker's mark - I prefer mine on the upper end near the spine and a lot simpler. Just some thoughts - I like the designs overall.
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The tangs are not tapered but I'm interested in working on some tang spine filing on the handle in the future. The bolster are beveled, and I'll link another knife I made that should give you a better idea of what the front end of the bevels look like. Yeah I actually want a new makers mark that is more "integrated". I think I could get something more clean and attractive than the current one. It's not terrible by any means, but I personally thirst for something more. Glad you like them, that's quiet the compliment from an expert knifemaker like yourself!

I actually don't have better photo's for the beveling. Maybe this one will help, but they are beveled, and then it has a very small 90 degree angle when it meets the blade.

Photo-2.jpg
 
that sort of knife is my absolute favorite to make. They are fun, clean, hardworking, and if done like you did, quite attractive. I like these a lot. This style is the one I go to when I want to enjoy the process of knife making rather than challenge myself with a sword for months.

well conceived and executed, I think.
 
I really love the style and look of these. The polish is solid and I initially thought the wood was stone of some sort. Very nice.

For what little bit my very novice collector, non-professional opinion means, I would drop the A&E from the makers mark and potentially move to a different part of the blade. The only other thing I would change, just for me, is to make the jimping on them less pronounced.
 
Great work, and i would have to agree with wilson; the thumb filing looks really painful to hold onto. I only know because I did that on one of my first knives I made for myself and it will kill your thumb when you are really getting at it.
 
I really appreciate everyone's feedback! It's all wonderfully constructive and that really push's me to improve my craft!


Wilsonhome said:
I really love the style and look of these. The polish is solid and I initially thought the wood was stone of some sort. Very nice.

For what little bit my very novice collector, non-professional opinion means, I would drop the A&E from the makers mark and potentially move to a different part of the blade. The only other thing I would change, just for me, is to make the jimping on them less pronounced.
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See my mark is probably the most brought up feature and considering it seems to be a constant at this point I'm removing the letters, and just keeping the logo. Which hopefully I can have redone in the near future. I appreciate the feedback!

S. Clark said:
Great work, and i would have to agree with wilson; the thumb filing looks really painful to hold onto. I only know because I did that on one of my first knives I made for myself and it will kill your thumb when you are really getting at it.
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Duly noted! I'll try making them much smaller on my next set, and see where it brings me :) thanks for your input!
 
looks to me like the buckeye burl handle has a void in it?
also, the edges of the handles could be rounded more from the looks of it, although photos can deceive a little
 
I like them both, especially the one on the right. That to me is a perfect all around camp/carry knife.

Keeping just the logo and moving it is a good idea, as is finer, shallower jimps for the thumb. I like a spot for my thumb on a knife. I can't wait to see 2.0

Red
 
Appreciate it everybody! I'll drop some photo's of 2.0 hopefully at the end of this coming week.
 
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