First Knife, Critique Please

[WhiteBeard121]

This is my first attempt. Right now it is far from done but at the point that I can change whatever needs to be corrected. I want to leave the old farrier file marks as a reminder that it was something else in a prior life. I'd appreciate input from experienced eyes.

thanks, Dan

[WhiteBeard121]

This is the rest of what I've been practicing designing and grinding on. The far left I've put aside as I don't care for the design. Two small ones at the top middle are daughter's hunter and then below that is wife's paring knife. She had me remove so much handle the pins are now too low. I'll take the pins out and make another handle with hidden pins. The next one down is the farrier file knife and the lower middle is my idea of a bowie-esque design.

The far right is a leaf spring from my just-acquired set of 24 pcs ranging in length from this shortest one (8.5 inches)up to about 28" long. How do you evaluate your spring steel? This is from old stock, (1950's-60-ish) 2"wide and over 3/16 thick. I'd be happy to donate a couple pieces to experienced users in exchange for an evaluation of the steel.
All knives are still works in progress, nothing is permanently attached as yet.

thanks again.

[leejohnd]

well I'm not experienced, but I definitely like that first one! I agree, you should leave that pattern on it, gives some good texture. Keep it up!

[T Lail]

I am not a knifemaker, but as a customer,I would buy a knife like that.....very nice !!!!

[Bladepeek]

I'd go ahead and finish up that left hand knife. I think it would be pretty useful. The next one you do similar to your daughter's hunter, I'd suggest leaving just a bit more guard and/or moving the bottom up behind the guard. Of course that's a personal taste thing and why we can quite often recognize another maker's work.

Ron

[WhiteBeard121]

thanks for all the thoughts and comments. Ron, my daughter has been looking in the supplies catalogs and asked why hers did not have a block (her word for guard)on it. With two minds (yours and hers)stating the same opinion, that's what it will be   . Luckily nothing is brazed or glued on any of them at this point.

Hopefully they will all look very different a a couple weeks.

[Bladepeek]

I think you're hooked alright!

You will find that your own tastes will lead you to certain designs and you will do your best work on those designs. I suppose a really great bladesmith can make any design knife and do it well, but I don't think the really great smiths will make a design that doesn't appeal to them aesthetically.

I hate it when someone asks me to make a knife to his design. I've done it a few times and was never as satisfied as when I do a knife that appeals to me.

That knife from a farrier's rasp has a nice, balanced "S" shape to it and that little "mouse skinner" might be more useful than you think. Keep it up. They're looking good.