Blade Texture---Old or Polished pics added p. 4

[IB]

I just added that to my dictionary Doc. I can say it but could never spell it  

[Over&Under]

Ditto on the old used look...Like Ferret said, looks like it just works.

Jake

[eagle24]

Hands down, I like the old worn look.  I don't carry anything but carbon steel.  To me they look the worst when you first use them and put just a few scuffs on the finish.  I can't wait for them to turn gray.  By the way, your knives are awesome.  I admired them well before this post.

[robtattoo]

Originally posted by Coachy:
How can you say that  a certain knife suits a certain finish ? Sorry I just dont get it . I thought it would be more of a personal thing . How could say ,, a fillet knife suit a polished finish ,, where as a skinner would suit a forged finish ?
  Anyway ,, looking forward to more opinions

Sorry, just to clarify. Certain 'styles' of knife do suit certain finishes. A buffalo handled, fileworked bowie, for examle, would just look wrong with a forged finish, same with a Scandinavian puuko. However, a frontier style, stag handled bowie would suit a forged or quenched finish. I know that I've made quite a few now that in my head were going to be left 'rough' but when they're actually made, just look wrong. They've been stripped down, polished & re-built & suddenly look right! It's kinda hard to explain, but certain makers make knives that follow a particular 'style' (try a Google search for Dave Budd) that just look 'old' & a forged or quenched finish just seems right for that style.
Again, blade grinds can determine which finish looks the best. A convex ground blade, with no secondary bevel will never, ever look good with anything other than a polished or satin finish, as it encompasses the entire blade from spine to edge. A hollow or Scandi grind blade can go either way, because you've got a large, flat, unground surface above the grind line. Same with a sabre grind. A full flat grind seems to suit a fine satin finish, although it can be left 'unfinshed' behind the ricasso.
It's not nesceserraly the overall shape of the knife you're looking at more the individual parts & the way it all hangs together. If you look at the picture of the knife I posted, with the quenched finish I see it as an iron-age inspired hunting knife. In overall shape, style & finish. If I polished up the same blade & added a rosewood or black micarta handle, it'd be exactly the same knife, but it'd be seen as a kitchen/veggie knife! It's all about perception.


I think!

[jdupre]

I've noticed that some people demand that a knife be "perfectly" crafted. They want it shiny and swoopy with no visible flaws. Chances are those people will never use that kind of knife for it's intended purpose, and that's OK.

There are others who like a story to go along with the purchase of a knife. They WANT to see honest, straightforward craftsmanship and a few minor flaws or an aged patina . I read an article about hand-made items that you should always leave a little "mark of the maker" to remind people that the object was made by human hands and not some machine.

Joey

[4runr]

Very well said Rob!!

[JEFF B]

hey me idont give a fat rats ass as long as it cuts and skins and keeps a sharp edge.              

[tippit]

Well then Jeff,  Next year make another trip with us to Quebec and try one out for yourself.  They seems to do the job this year.  In fact with bear grease & blood you won't even see the blade  

[jon]

Just an opinion, but I too like the old look with one addition, I like an antler handle on my old looking stuff. makes it look more rustic to me. As I said, just one opinion.

[JEFF B]

WHAT ME HUNT BEARS I DONT THINK SO!!!      i dont hunt things that bite back.      

[tippit]

jon,
Something like this.  Weathered whitetail antler picked up at this years TXS.  The more weathered & cracked, the better I like workin' it...Doc

 

 

 

[adkmountainken]

i like both looks but am pretty partial to the older aged look. here is one of my favorite blades with a random criss cross pattern.
 

[JEFF B]

now doc thats a nice looking knife right there      

[el cazador]

What? We gotta choose one or the other??!!  As many have said already... some styles look better polished and some rustic.

Tippit, I've not seen a bad one from you!  Your knives are beauties, and as we've heard (read)... very functional!

[Cutty47]

I sure love the looks of that weathed whitetail handle!  How do you stabilize it?  Work on it?

[tippit]

Cuty,  If it is hard enough, I split it with my band saw.  Then flatten the slabs to the thickness I want.  Glue it on, pin it, grind to rough shape, and finish by hand.  Then I quickly saturate it with thin super glue.  If you get too much glue on it will build up and you lose the natural look & feel of the rough horn.

If the bone or antler is too crumbly than I completely saturated with super glue before doing anything else to it...Doc

[Numitokayo]

Good evening Doc,

Did anyone of you try sand blasting your blades.  Once the blade is finished old or polished, take masking tape and cover the part of the blade that you don't want the sand to touch.  You can use your imagination and cut out a nice design in your masking tape.  Sand blast the blade and remove the tape...it adds an awesome two tone effect on your finish.  The finish stands out a bit more on a semi posished blade but give it a try, you'll be impressed.

Daniel