Finally finished another

[believerjoe]

I have made less than 40 knives so far, but finding certain aspects easier now. I am not on par with most of you, but I know each one is getting better and better. I am slow but deliberate. Thoughts on this one? 1095 with copper, elk antler, and what was dubbed as ironwood. I did sand to 600 grit before heat treat and left the scale on their for effect. I like dirty looking things I reckon.

 

[Chris Railey]

I like the material choices and the fact that you got it all to fit up nicely tells me you are ahead of where I was at #40. There is nothing “wrong” on that knife because you can make your knives how you wish but there are a couple of things which distract my eyes when I look at it. The handle appears out of scale. What I mean by that is the handle to too long for the blade size and it makes the knife look unbalanced visually. I love the elk horn spacer but again, it looks too long. If you used a shorter piece it would look more balanced. Or conversely, if you used longer piece and had a short bolster on the pommel end it would be less distracting. Those are the major things my eye catches. This is not negative feedback there are many things that are great about the knife those are just the main “eye catchers” in my opinion. I just do not have the time to type out all of the pluses on my phone keyboard.

 

[believerjoe]

I like the material choices and the fact that you got it all to fit up nicely tells me you are ahead of where I was at #40. There is nothing “wrong” on that knife because you can make your knives how you wish but there are a couple of things which distract my eyes when I look at it. The handle appears out of scale. What I mean by that is the handle to too long for the blade size and it makes the knife look unbalanced visually. I love the elk horn spacer but again, it looks too long. If you used a shorter piece it would look more balanced. Or conversely, if you used longer piece and had a short bolster on the pommel end it would be less distracting. Those are the major things my eye catches. This is not negative feedback there are many things that are great about the knife those are just the main “eye catchers” in my opinion. I just do not have the time to type out all of the pluses on my phone keyboard.

 

[believerjoe]

Thank you for some feedback! I am pretty tough and need the hard answers. While there is some room for interpretation, people generally know what makes things a step or two above. I have had more decorated knives, but this was a designless one off. Just waiting on shipments for my real projects. Funny thing is that when I was building it, I looked at the antler and thought it was too long. I cut off some and got it fit again, and could not bear to destroy the fit I had! Lol. I also intentionally ground it down to get on the outside edge of the pith because it gave it some character. I’ll make a sheath for it and give it to a friend within a couple of weeks. I am fpomg to post a few more that I have done for more critique. Bring it. I won’t make an excuse for my tools either. This blade was done with files and sandpaper. That is why it is small! It started out as a different shape and I hated it, so turned into the semi spear point.