Brian Dougherty 1,166 Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 9 hours ago, Joshua States said: I was recently working on a similar knife. After I got the handle all shaped, I put the blade on it and it did not look right. So I took a roll of blue painter's tape and started to stick pieces to it and redesign the shape of the profile. Dang Joshua, that's twice this week you have blown my mind with a great tip... 1 Link to post Share on other sites
billyO 220 Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 (edited) 22 hours ago, Joshua States said: Most folks don't even realize how much the pinky affects the user's control over a working knife I remember a website of a fellow knifemaker/hand surgeon who talked about ergonomics and grip design. I can try to dig it up if you'd like, Faye. Or anyone else, I guess..... Found it: http://versteegblades.com/knife-handle-design/ Edited February 12 by billyO Link to post Share on other sites
Faye 99 Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 (edited) On 2/10/2021 at 8:30 PM, Joshua States said: I would say there is a little too much belly and not enough bird head, but that is my opinion based on what I like. Thats kind of what I was thinking. So I drew some guide lines and took it back to the grinder. It looked really good untill I got cruising on the grinder and took out to much belly. But I'm ready to be done with this knife. It has a sheath and is ready to leave my life. Edited February 12 by Faye Link to post Share on other sites
Joshua States 1,716 Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 9 minutes ago, Faye said: I got cruising on the grinder and took out to much belly. Actually, I think that looks much much better. Just a subtle swell and a defined bird beak. That looks very handy. 13 hours ago, Brian Dougherty said: Dang Joshua, that's twice this week you have blown my mind with a great tip... Hmm. What was the first one? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Dougherty 1,166 Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 14 minutes ago, Joshua States said: Hmm. What was the first one? The bit about filling in squaring dies with shims to reduce their size. Link to post Share on other sites
billyO 220 Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 49 minutes ago, Faye said: It has a sheath and is ready to leaving my life. I really like the handle composition. I apologize for being a little late with my suggestion, but perhaps it'll be useful in the future. The thing I would have done a little different would have been to give the handle a little more of a 'coke bottle' profile looking from the top. The lines look a little too straight to me. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Faye 99 Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 10 hours ago, billyO said: I remember a website of a fellow knifemaker/hand surgeon who talked about ergonomics and grip design That is a really cool artical, thank you for finding that. Link to post Share on other sites
Faye 99 Posted February 13 Author Share Posted February 13 Here are a couple glam shots. I'll be honest, it's grow on me a little and it makes me feel a lot better that you guys think the handle is alright. Thank you for all the help with this knife. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
Alex Middleton 498 Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Very nice Faye. Now let's see what you can do with 1 cubic inch of stock for this years KITH! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Faye 99 Posted February 18 Author Share Posted February 18 Its only taken me over a year, but the last knife in this thread is the fighter. I have a billet of Persian ribbon with a twisted border that I intend to make this knife. My goal with this knife is to create something eyecatching and diffrent from my normal stuff. I tweeked the handle design a smidge and tried to eliminate any long straight lines. The handle length, not including the guard, is 5". The blade is 5 1/4", and the guard is 1/4". 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Joshua States 1,716 Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 Questions: Are you planning on beveling the clip? Is that a single large spacer? (I assume this is a hidden tang construction) I like the design. It has nice lines and flow. I think you will find 1/4" is too fat for the guard. The slanted plunge looks off to me and would be better either straight or if left slated, match the slant on the back of the spacer. I'm anxious to see this one progress. Link to post Share on other sites
Faye 99 Posted February 18 Author Share Posted February 18 I hadn't thought about beveling the clip, but it might look classy if I did. I haven't decided what to do with the spacer yet. The handle is going to be dessert ironwood, and the guard can be twist damascus, brass, or copper. The spacer is just there for now, as I have no idea what it's gonna be made of. Link to post Share on other sites
billyO 220 Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 If I can be so bold as to suggest something, it would be to add some curves to the guard. While I don't make fighters, I've always thought that flat guards look 'off' and (to me) always ruin otherwise good looking blades. Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Longmire 2,714 Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 I don't mind the flat oval or pointed oval guard, but I think it would flow better if the bottom of the guard didn't drop below the edge. Asymmetry is fine, but it still has to flow. Plus putting an S-curve on a thick guard is a real pain. Thin ones too, it's really hard to get a smooth curve without a sharp bend in the middle. Sorry you asked yet? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Joshua States 1,716 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 7 hours ago, Alan Longmire said: it's really hard to get a smooth curve without a sharp bend in the middle I learned a trick for that from a French smith named Jean Louis Regel. Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Dougherty 1,166 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 11 hours ago, Joshua States said: I learned a trick for that from a French smith named Jean Louis Regel. Is that a "French Curve" joke? Link to post Share on other sites
Joshua States 1,716 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 (edited) 1 hour ago, Brian Dougherty said: Is that a "French Curve" joke? Nope. Jean-louis Regel (@jeanlouisregel1) • Instagram photos and videos and his partner: Veronique Laurent (@veroniquelaurent3) • Instagram photos and videos Edited February 19 by Joshua States Link to post Share on other sites
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