WIP What do ya think so far?

[fishon217]

Heres a new one im working on. What do ya think so far? Still got a lot of hand sanding to go.

Still not sure what its getting for scales.thanks for givin it a look. Feedback is appreciated.

 

[Frank Barron]

I really like the sharp transition between blade and handle area. A lot of work went into that. You should keep it visible when you decide on handles. It looks like you chose a fairly thick steel, so maybe something like a 1/4 inch thick micarta?

Show us what you chose.

Good Work!

Frank

 

[Bismarck22]

Nice knife; looks like a good utility shape and I know that handle to blade transition takes a lot of time and skill. My only criticisms would be that the tip looks a little chunky for my tastes, and that the straight angular lines at the base of the blade look a little jarring next to the organically shaped handle.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I agree that the tip could use a little smoother curve into the main edge. Just a tad will make a change in the look.

Two features immediately catch the eye when you look at it. Neither can be fixed on this blade, but should be addressed on future projects:
1) The impressive curved plunge that sweeps into an integral finger guard. The sharply angular ricasso transition from the blade edge to the swept plunge.

The two don't go together, and fight each other visually. The ricasso transition should be replaced with a continuous curve. The straight line going back to the swept plunge should be eliminated, and the rising line from the edge should be a curve that goes up and back to the plunge.

2) The dip in the spine from the handle to blade is distracting visually, as it does not match the curve of the handle. A more or less continuous curve from butt to tip is preferable. If it was placed there for thumb traction, a little jimping in that spot will suffice. This dip is not as serious as the ricasso visually, but would change the look a lot if it had been left out. If you ground down the spine of the blade portion as it is now, making the blade narrower, it would take care of the overall curvature of the top of the knife as well as set up the tip for a less chunky look.
One feature that often gets forgotten when drawing and grinding a knife is that everything between the edge and the spine is pretty much useless space and extra weight on most blades. A 2" wide blade won't cut any better than a 1" wide blade.....but weighs a lot more. The extra width may have a use for some tasks, like kitchen knives, but for 90% of most knives you make, a narrower blade will be sleeker looking and easier to use. The same goes for thickness - a 1/8" blade is lighter than a 1/4" blade, and it will cut better. Unless the task the blade will be doing needs a thick and heavy blade, thinner and narrower is usually a better choice.


The blade you have is fine, and will be a nice knife. The changes above are what makes a nice knife into a stunning knife.


I'm sure one of the guys who does photoshop and other drawing tools will re-work your photo to show what the current blade would look like with these two changes.

 

[fishon217]

Thanks for the input fellas. I agree the angled ricasso area is akward looking. I have plans already to give it a nice curve. Also i think if curved it would allow a more comfortable area for a finger if there is a need to choke up on the handle a little.
I really appreciate the help guys. Ill post some more pics as it comes together. Thank you again.