Tubalcain2 Posted April 13, 2018 Posted April 13, 2018 Ok, folks. Tell me what you think of this one. Criticism welcome. 8" Blade is from a leaf spring (go figure) , handle is walnut and maple burl. Hard to see the burl in the pictures. I did a vinegar steam patina on it, which I really like. Guard is just mild. I think it is my best one so far. Took me way too long to finish, but I am content with the finished product. It got an AHHH! reaction from my mom, which is a first, so I must be improving. Quote
ThomasPowers Posted April 13, 2018 Posted April 13, 2018 I really like the blade: shape, length, patination. The large sq notch between it and the guard throws me a bit. The handle looks a bit too angular and glossy to me, New looking vs the patinated blade. I'd like to see it with a wrought iron guard and an old stag handle! (looking like it was your Great Great Grandfather's favorite knife...) Quote
HammerMonkey Posted April 13, 2018 Posted April 13, 2018 I like it! It just looks like it feels good in the hand. nice work! Quote
Tubalcain2 Posted April 13, 2018 Author Posted April 13, 2018 Thanks guys! TP, I get what you are saying about the handle. Personally , I don't care for stag horn, but i do see how a more rustic handle might fit the blade better. The only 2 finishes I had on hand were polyurethane and tung oil. I used tung on my last couple knives, but I don't like how hard the dull finish was to keep clean so I opted for poly, i.e. shiny. the pics make the handle look kinda boxy but it isn't. It is big, though. Intentionally. My hands are on the upper side of humongous. What don't you like about the ricasso, TP? Quote
ThomasPowers Posted April 13, 2018 Posted April 13, 2018 The large square notch. Which is not a ricasso; but the absence of part of one... I've seen commercial blades with such a gap done to make it easier for them to assemble. Custom doesn't need it I would think; especially one so well ground! Quote
Buzzkill Posted April 13, 2018 Posted April 13, 2018 To each his own I guess. I rather like a space there so that when I sharpen the edge I'm not bumping the stone or belt into the guard. I like it, and if it feels good in your hand then you have a winner in my book. Quote
Tubalcain2 Posted April 13, 2018 Author Posted April 13, 2018 50 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said: The large square notch. Which is not a ricasso; but the absence of part of one... Gotcha. I guess I always called the gap the ricasso. Always learning... Quote
sfeile Posted April 13, 2018 Posted April 13, 2018 Personally I think bringing the ricasso down then putting a sharpening choil in it would look great, but over all that is a darn fine looking knife! Quote
(M) Posted April 13, 2018 Posted April 13, 2018 Nice! looks nice and looks like it would be a real workhorse! Quote
ThomasPowers Posted April 14, 2018 Posted April 14, 2018 A ricasso gives a good place to put your mark too; choil is what you were probably thinking of Sfeile knows something about blades!. Quote
templehound Posted April 14, 2018 Posted April 14, 2018 Actually I needed to quote Thomas on a few things , because he said some good things....Thomas, You are quoted! But I will add something in my own words. I really like Your blades!.......and I like the small ricasso, ...maybe compared to the plunge line(which has plenty of empty space for a signature) , the latter is a bit to wide....the handle looks serviceable and thats what will work....all other aspects about the handle are a matter of taste....Thank God we are all different! .....but anyway, ...it is all about the edge !...and this edge looks superb! Quote
Frosty Posted April 14, 2018 Posted April 14, 2018 The problem I have with the Choil is the sharp inside corner. It's a stress riser and a potential initiation point for a catastrophic failure under stress. Other than that I like it. Well done. Frosty The Lucky. Quote
Tubalcain2 Posted April 14, 2018 Author Posted April 14, 2018 Yeah, I see what you are saying about the stress riser. I admit I kind dropped the ball on that one. The devil's in the details. Weeeelllll, I'll see if i can remember how not to do it next time. Quote
C-1ToolSteel Posted April 15, 2018 Posted April 15, 2018 That turned out super nice, bro. Personally, I prefer a rounded ricasso choil, but it seems like the stick tang would give out long before the lade itself. ...but y'all are the experts. Quote
lyuv Posted April 15, 2018 Posted April 15, 2018 At first, it looked to me like a mix of old and new. But I find that I DO like the end result. I"m with your mom on that one. Can you expand on the proccess of vinegar steam patina? First I hear of it. Quote
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