Kevin Colwell

I mentioned elsewhere that I really like these. The only issue I have is that I personally am not too safe once I get clumsy and even dumber when I am tired. So, the double edge on the cleaver is a horror movie out-take ready to happen. Just for me... imagine a forehead with that sticking into it. I love the durability, usefulness, and attitude of your work. I also love your attention to customer service. Impressive.

great fun! i love the patch idea. For me, as I become more talented and confident as a craftsman, the main area where I really seem to be growing is in my ability to fix mistakes. In the past, I could make something nice every now and then, when Murphy left me alone, I paid close attention, and I got a little lucky. Now, most of the things that can go wrong, I have had happen a few times, and I know how to fix many of them. I think that gracefully fixing the inevitable mistakes is one of the most important part of our craft.

thin, although little cracks like that, if it is still solidly adhered, won't affect heat treatment. It still insulates plenty. looking forward to seeing what happens next. kc

Lukas - I will get around to making another some day. I have done 2 baurnwehrs and one grosse messer so far. I will definitely make more of each.

I like them both very much. I understand the reasons for the critique, but for me, those design elements are good. I like the scales a great deal on the kwaiken. It is one of my favorite knives of that type that I have seen. To each his own.

Hey, Hey! I really like that one a lot!. The extra spacer is a nice touch, and the tube rivets are perfect. You did a great job. I want to make another one of these now. Outstanding work. kc

not an uncommon thing in Sweden, Finland, and Norway to make knives from custom or factory blades and then make a sheath like that. there is a youtube video about a puukko master in Kaulhava (God knows that is not how you really spell it). If you watch, it is great. He and his wife (they look a lot alike, too) make a knife and sheath together. The sheath (the narrator calls it sheet) has a, "last," like that in the end. Only, I think it is under the leather instead of on top. BUT, there is a huge tradition of making the sheath with the last visible at the bottom, and carving it (using hardwood or antler or bone) Forgive me if you knew all of this... please. Maybe some of the readers won't. That knife looks very nice. I love that handle shape. I first encountered it on a Rapala filet knife (probably did not spell that right, either). cool work. kc Edited to add: here is the link - I spelled it wrong, it is Kauhava. I can't spell for poop, especially for a guy who is over-educated. Oh well. Reports indicate that I am a tad absent minded, too.

OK, I was just concerned that, if it had been a unique design with that change in cross-section, then heat treating could be more risky than usual. I was only saying it in case you were going to make several with that section. But, it turns out I was just seeing a reflection, which is probably why you weren't sure which knife I meant in the first place. My fault. No worries. I was trying to help, but obviously misread what I was looking at. Please do share your work with us. Every now and then one of us will have someting constructive to add, and we all enjoy looking at process pictures as well as finished knives. take care, kc

brazed? that is what I would do to attach those things. Way back when, David Boye (if I spelled his last name right) would use brazing or high temp silver solder (which is really a sort of brazing) to attach guards prior to heat treatment. If the solder or braze melts above 1500 and the heat treatment of the knife requires 1450 to 14 75, then you can do it. You just have to be careful to not overheat the guard area. Anyway, two pieces of metal brazed together, that is my guess. I am not sure at all, though. I have been fabricating fittings for a Chinese sword, (Ming jian) and they were all brazed together from sheet back then. So, I have done more brazing in the last week than most do in a year (unless you make jewelry, in which case you do a ton of hard solder work). Creative. I am eager to see where this one goes. I like the grind with a ridge in the middle that one sees on some of the Persian designs. Is this one going to be flat grind or with a medial ridge? Outstanding start!

ah, that explains why the liner locks tend to have torx screws. I see, sort of. Now. Thanks for the explanation, and the ideas. kc

Hello, I meant the third knife down from the top, with the black handle. If it has a line where the blade changes thickness going all the way across it, that could lead to a stress riser and problems with heat treating. Just fyi, be careful. kc

Damn, but I planned to retire to that area. Maybe still will. Depends on family that I have up here now. I am, and will always be, Texan. Lived in Trinity, Huntsville, Austin, and Tyler. The Hill Country and the corridor between Austin and San Marcos is God's country. Some of my favorite camping has been on Lake Travis and Lake Bastrop. good times, good place, and good people.

Welcome, you will fit right in. Those are outstanding looking knives, and all of the tapers looked good in the pics. You have some great handles, too. I am jealous in that you are quite good for only a couple of years. It took me 3 or 4 to reach that level. Thanks for showing us the work. Don't be afraud to share your process pictures with us. We love them, even if it is pictures of things we all do dozens of times per year. We are a bunch of knife nuts (never get tired of looking at pictures of women or knife construction, in that order). If it was reversed, maybe I would worry. kc

nice work. The koa is beautiful. I always wonder, would it be possible to do about the same construction only using rivets in place of most of the screws? The liner locks I see have torx screws (or something like them), and I want to try it some day but I have this thing for rivets and pins. That is a classy knife, with simple materials. My favorite.

by the way, how did you do the honeycomb - i.e., is there any special trick or was it just carving with chisel?

excellent. beautiful sentiment, beautiful warrior bride, and beautiful knife.

damn fine horses. I don't know about their temperament. I used to work with thoroughbreds, and they were dangerous and a pain. The maker's mark is cool. I think people take you more seriously, and you take yourself more seriously, when you mark your work. Plus I like them better than etched logos. I always think I need an etching machine, but I really prefer the traditional puch mark. Either punch hot, or wait until you are almost done sanding and punch a soft spot (spot temper the hell out of the place you plan to punch if you are doing it cold, and cold is easiest because you can better set your punch and see what you are doing). Forgive me if you already knew all of this. I like the mark, and the horse! The name is appropriate, too!

Wes, you would probably enjoy yourself. We have a great time. I think the only issue is that my wife always wants him to stay for dinner, or stay for a weekend. We don't like that many people well enough to invite them over. Ricky is one of a small group. Although, most of the knife people I know are welcomed. Just about everyone I know from this forum, in fact. I really love the butt cap on that knife. take care, kc

been there... we all have. Our ability to make blades always outpaces our ability to make the fittings. Chisel the handle off. Leave the pommel on and just work it in place. You can do a great modification job without removing it, unless it is crooked. This is going to be an outstanding sword when it is finished. Just keep chipping away at it. Thanks for sharing the process, too.

Well Done! I made a seax and a dagger that I quenched at a full moon on the solstice a few years ago. The seax was not carved and all that. I was very new at smithing, and nowhere near as talented as you (damn natural ability)! The dagger went to a friend who dabbles in witchcraft. The seax, to a dentist who collects my work. Who knows what they do while we are out in their chairs, right? Great work. Natural talent is a good thing, when it occurs in a persn who is friendly and humble like you. I see way too many snobs in my professional life. It is refreshing that the best bladesmiths don't act as if they are different from anyyone else. Many of the best scientist live in a dream world. Surrounded by their student/acolyte/fans. I'm not jealous. I'm not. Not me. Nope.

well, you are off and running. These are great knives to make. You can always just pin rear bolsters through the sides like modern knife. That was traditional, too. Or weld on a stub to use, or file away material on the end of the handle to create a stub in the rear or even two stubs to use for peening. Any of these are historically correct. Wrought iron is great, forges wonderfully. The only problem comes when you try to stretch it (like with swaging a guard into place). It can't handle even a third of the stresses that mild steel can take, due to impurities. It will just tear, and ruin several hours worth of work. At least, that has been my experience. I love these knives. I am excited to see what you do with it. kc

Peter - that is a lovely seax. It was nice to see the proportions drawn out. The overall picture was one of subtle complexity hidden within a vicious weapon and useful tool. Pretty much the ideal for me. (or maybe it is the other way around that is ideal for me, a vicious weapon hidden beneath a façade of subtle complexity... that works better for people as well as objects). Perceiving this, without the knowledge that came later regarding the modularity, I had a subject experience similar to what happens when I look at Jim Kelso's carving, or when I look at Don Fogg's knives. Or Bizen period swords. Seriously, not just blowing smoke. I think you are on to a good idea by extending modular principles to the seax. Even IF it wasn't done in history, it gives very good results. I spent part of yesterday working with a friend (Ricky, he is a forumite, too) - we were casting our own bronze. It has a great character. Thanks for sharing this with us. Best kc

I missed this one before. I like it a lot. It is a very nice knife. The patten welded steel looks good too. Ricky made that in one long day of work. I used the steel we made that day in a knife, but I don't remember which one. Ricky came up today and we tried our hand at casting ingots of bronze to make guards and such out of. Great day. First time we met, he came to my old house and garage shop so we could try smelting. We weren't great at it, but ok. Next up is an Evenstad-style hearth melt of a lot of cable. That, and getting better at casting pommels for daos. Great work. It is always good to see other knife nuts. By the way, Rick is a knife maker. It is just that usually, he makes one, then takes it apart again. Then makes it, and takes it apart again. He gets a little obsessive...

great group of guys. I am sitting here with my wife, and keep going, "see him, he is one of my friends from _________________." keep at it bro.

That is SWEET! I really like it. Great job. I like the nagel shape, too. Much more true to history than the ones I did. The hollow rivets are a nice touch!