Got a nice knife? Let's see it.

[earwig]

Originally Posted by Smithy

I'm really impressed with your sculpting.

Even with an original right in front of me, I wouldn't know where to begin.

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by earwig

I'm really impressed with your sculpting.

Even with an original right in front of me, I wouldn't know where to begin.

Thanks. I think I need to do more of this, as this was my entry into three-dimensional carving. All I had was that one museum picture to go off of, and while there are stark differences, I think the part near the blade, and the eagle's head, are just about as good as can be, given the reference. I didn't know I could carve like that before I did this one, and maybe it's beginner's luck.

We shall see.

[EvilGenius]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Thanks. I think I need to do more of this, as this was my entry into three-dimensional carving. All I had was that one museum picture to go off of, and while there are stark differences, I think the part near the blade, and the eagle's head, are just about as good as can be, given the reference. I didn't know I could carve like that before I did this one, and maybe it's beginner's luck.

We shall see.

Hurry!

Quit while you're ahead!

[Manuel Garcia O'Kely]

Originally Posted by Roadracer_Al

Those always look upside down to me. As do all wharncliff blades.

OK, knife people... talk me out of making knives for people for christmas...

You are pretty good if you can whip one out that fast - took me several months to make a handful of Christmas knives - kitchen and belt.

[lilsmokey]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Home-made steel:
Trying to replicate this for a customer (original Roman Parazonium, British Museum I think):

howd you like to get stabbed with that scary son of a bitch!

[RedRocker]

Originally Posted by lilsmokey

howd you like to get stabbed with that scary son of a bitch!

I'd say a tetanus shot would be in order.

[Speedo66]

Local craft center has courses in black smithing and blade smithing.

The blade course is given over a weekend, and you end up with a somewhat primitive knife with a handle wrapped in paracord. I took a look at the facility and it's a forge, lots of anvils, and a couple of belt grinders.

Cost including joining the craft center, course itself, and materials is about $360.

I'm wondering if I'll learn enough in that amount of time to justify the cost. The class is limited to 6 students at a time.

Anybody have any experience with classes like this?

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Speedo66

Local craft center has courses in black smithing and blade smithing.

The blade course is given over a weekend, and you end up with a somewhat primitive knife with a handle wrapped in paracord. I took a look at the facility and it's a forge, lots of anvils, and a couple of belt grinders.

Cost including joining the craft center, course itself, and materials is about $360.

I'm wondering if I'll learn enough in that amount of time to justify the cost. The class is limited to 6 students at a time.

Anybody have any experience with classes like this?

Price of knowledge. You're not going to get a fancy expensive knife, you're going to learn the basics of bladecraft. It might feel like getting ripped off, but since there's no degree in bladesmithing, and few groups doing formal instruction, that's a pretty average/fair price for what you just described.

Can you teach yourself? Sure, but it takes an exponentially longer time for most folks, and you end up wasting a lot of material and fuel making mistakes that could be prevented by seeing an instructor do it right, right in front of you. That's how I kicked at the pricks for years, before attending my first hammer-in. Seeing the work, done by people who knew how, allowed me to take several quantum leaps in my skill. I'd practice on my own for a year, just using what I saw online (and today's youtube content is vastly superior to what was available 10-15 years ago), and then when I could work in person with masters of the craft, suddenly everything would change and my brain would hurt after 3 days of sponging everything I could.

Good luck!

[Roadracer_Al]

Dahamit, you're not helping. I guess I have to get off my lazy butt and make a Bark River clone for my best friend and a kitchen knife for my brother in law.

a

Originally Posted by Manuel Garcia O'Kely

You are pretty good if you can whip one out that fast - took me several months to make a handful of Christmas knives - kitchen and belt.

[Bart Jones]

Originally Posted by Laconic

This is my first attempt at designing my own daily carry.

[Speedo66]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Price of knowledge. You're not going to get a fancy expensive knife, you're going to learn the basics of bladecraft. It might feel like getting ripped off, but since there's no degree in bladesmithing, and few groups doing formal instruction, that's a pretty average/fair price for what you just described.

Can you teach yourself? Sure, but it takes an exponentially longer time for most folks, and you end up wasting a lot of material and fuel making mistakes that could be prevented by seeing an instructor do it right, right in front of you. That's how I kicked at the pricks for years, before attending my first hammer-in. Seeing the work, done by people who knew how, allowed me to take several quantum leaps in my skill. I'd practice on my own for a year, just using what I saw online (and today's youtube content is vastly superior to what was available 10-15 years ago), and then when I could work in person with masters of the craft, suddenly everything would change and my brain would hurt after 3 days of sponging everything I could.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice (and experience).

I think it's something I'd like to try, and if not now, when, so I have to do my customary thinking twice and three times before doing something, and come to a conclusion.

[PS-RagE]

Added these beauties to the collection last week:

Alan Elishwitz's Jeckyll has Chad Nichols African Savannah damascus and Lightning Strike carbon fibre:



This Gold Class Benchmade 42-101 is Rob Thomas Reptillian damascus with anodized titanium spacers:

[mhpr262]

Originally Posted by Laconic

I don't remember exactly (it's been sold) but around 7" LOA probably. I suspect it is a little too deep to make a good daily carry unless you're in the business of preparing game on a regular basis. The great thing about that design is it's really comfortable to choke up on and use your index finger on top of the blade. You get excellent control that way.


This is my first attempt at designing my own daily carry.

That knife has really beautiful classic lines.

With the cutting edge stopping so abruptly it will be impossible to sharpen the whole length of it on a flat whetstone, however. The dull part of the blade edge should recede a few milimeters after the edge, or there should be a concave section removed where the edge stops and the dull part begins.

[Laconic]

Yes, that was the first and didn't come out just right. It was good learning experience, though.

[PS-RagE]

A family photo: