Something Different

[Lin Rhea]

I decided to make a hunter with sort of an antique look. It's different for me and I'm not sure what to think. I like it on one hand and dont on the other.

I hammered the blade a little as well as the guard and butt cap and added some blackener to the fittings. The best part, to me, is the bone handle. I harvested this bone from a cow carcass a few years ago and had it drying on a shelf in my shop. A few months ago I saw our yellow lab chewing on something and found that it was my handle material. Must have fell off the shelf. I took it away and cleaned it up and this is the result.

 

   

 

 

 

[4est trekker]

I LOVE it!  That's got class, a "history," and begs to be used.  The copper on the butt cap and in the finger guard was a nice touch and goes well with the bone. Thanks for sharing.  

[DANA HOLMAN]

Lin I don't know what part you don't like, that looks great to me. That bone handle is something to think about, and nice butt cap
Dana

[RUSTY1]

I think it's pretty awesome myself!!!

[jonathan creason]

Looks great to me, Lin.

[Lamey]

good stuff Lin,  i think thats my favorite hunter of yours.

[kbaknife]

I think it's beautiful.
Is the handle in two parts - thus, the pins?

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks guys.

Yes, Karl, I split the shinbone and brought the thick outside layers together. I fastened the whole thing together with the through tang pin that is peined in the flower, but also wanted to pin the scales to one another. The main pin is attached to the tang, of course, not far inside the handle. It was glued up solid prior to peining so I could hammer it closed. Some of the wild ideas I get require some "imaginative" steps to get it all together.

[gudspelr]

Lin-
As usual, your knife shows great planning-the tang coming through the center of the copper flower certainly adds something rather than just peining over the butt cap.  For the blade, did you leave some of the hammer marks after forging or did you add some of the "distressing" afterwards?  Also, I'm trying to figure out from the picture, but is that an edge quench line or the light playing off the grind line?

A different look than most of the knives you post, but I find myself rather liking it.  I'm a fan of subtle contrast and (in my opinion) this one has it rather nicely:  well finished bone and finely placed pins, very nice fit/finish of guard, nice overall shape/blade design, all contrasted with some nice antiquing effects.  Makes it all rather eye catching to me.  I'd be real proud of where you came out on this one   .  Just my 2 cents....  Great job


Jeremy

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks Jeremy. I distressed it with a ball pein hammer. You are seeing the hardening line. Distressing it was causing me some distress. That's what I meant by my not being sure if I like it. Taking a hammer to it was against my grain. My flat grind aproached the spine so I added a few marks. I intended to make a knife in the "brute" style, but it might take me a time or two to get used to it.

[dcmeckel]

My absolute favorite so far.Some blessed longbow shooter is gonna be real happy with that one !!
David

[kbaknife]

What are the materials for the hinkdee-doo and the tang-thing?

[Ragnarok Forge]

Lin,  

I suspect your seeing the lack of visual symmetry between the aged parts and the clean color and lines of the handle and guard.   I think you would have been happier with it if you had ball peened the guard to give it texture, and then given it a light patina.   I think staining or lightly burning the handle would have fit better with the theme of this knife.  The disparity of those parts stand out to me.  Not that I am in any position to be critical.  

Beautiful work as always.

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks Clay. Yes, somewhere in the mix, I'm having a hard time accepting something, but not sure what it is. It's nothing to lose sleep over for me though. Again, I think after trying hard to avoid dings, I am actually making them on purpose.  That may be it.

Karl, the flower and spacer are bronze and the fittings are stainless with the exception of the small pins and the tang pin. They are Nickel/Silver.

[kansas stik man]

really like that one, i seem to like your older styled knives more than the flawless show case knives all are awesome but something about old looking stuff gets me going!

[Roconman]

Nicely done Lin,This is the style of knife that really catches my attention,I just love that frontier look.I might just have to steal your idea on splitting the leg bone and pinning it back together,never would have thought of that.

[MikeW]

I really like that but I'm real picky about blade Design/Shape and where the handle butt's up to the blade and I can't stand this area being exposed. I like to see the handle covering this area.  It really turns me off on 90% of the work I see.
 
I know that's where knife makers like to put their logo but I hate it. Don't know what it is about it but I just don't like it on most knives I see.

That almost works for me though, very sharp & nice looking knife. All your stuff is AAA+
 

[Izzy]

Lin, I am in awe of how you switch from one theme to another, flawlessly and imaginatively. A fine looking knife, makes me want to fight  lions, tigers and bears with it.

[Izzy]

Lin, I am in awe of how you switch from one theme to another, flawlessly and imaginatively. A fine looking knife, makes me want to fight  lions, tigers and bears with it.

[Tatersalad]

What's not to Love!!! That is one sweet looking knife.