Trad Gang

After being at my Mecca of knife forging last week...Doug Campbell's work shop  :goldtooth:  I decided to try to change some caper designs.  With hunting season rapidly approaching, I'm still looking for that Holy Grail of the perfect knife shape.  Alas no such luck but I guess I'll still finsh these three.  I'll keep pounding hot steel in my search    Doc

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Knives/caperdesigns002.jpg)

I like the 3rd from the top    ;)  or maybe the blade on the second one down with the handle on the third one down.

Hmm keep searching    :bigsmyl:

pant pant pant...

May you never find it. The joy is in the hunt, not the capture of the ne plus ultra of whatever you seek!

Plus we all find joy in your cast-off also-rans.
Killdeer  :D

I'd happily test one of those capers for ya, they would clean lots of squirrels!

Doc the second from the top looks great.<><

Doc, we really need to work something out!

As a guy who's does his share of skinning,I personally like the first two the best....

all of them are great though   :thumbsup:

I like 2 and 4 myself, I do not do a bunch of skinning, only the 5 or 6 deer I shoot each year.  :bigsmyl:  Very Nice work!!! Shawn

Hey Doc, while you were at the forge the Sawx dropped 3 to the Yanks  :mad:  

I'd pick the bottom for skinning and the top for butchering.....

That bottom one, most def!!

Norb,  I had to resist using those knives after watching the Red Sox!

QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
Norb,  I had to resist using those knives after watching the Red Sox!

Ahh poor guy...you should be a Bengals or Reds fan   :(

Doc, I like,from the top, #1 and #2. All are great though. They Joy is in the search.

Danny

Mickey,  I grew up an Indians Fan and the Red Sox have had only 1 season to shout about  :eek:  Course Jimmy Brown & the Browns helped during my youth  :thumbsup:  Doc

Now you're talkin my language Doc. The Tribe is starting to play really good ball at the right time. Up 4 on the Motor City Kittys!

Now, where did you say all the Osage was, in Bath township?  :D

Second one from the top and the bottom one would be my picks. Awesome as always! Mike

Doc,

Keep looking for that: "Holy Grail of the perfect knife shape" as I plan on winning it for bagging the biggest bear on "Quebec Quest II!"    :thumbsup:

Ahh poor guy...you should be a Bengals or Reds fan

 :biglaugh:    :biglaugh:    :biglaugh:

The New England Patriots are going all the way anyway!!!  I predict a "double header" of championships!!!  :clapper:

If you are talking caping as in detailed work I like #3. Skining I like 1 or 2..

You're such a tease Doc.    :D

:thumbsup:  on Jim Brown, he was agreat one! Doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in the bottom one Doc; if you are going to throw it out, send it my way.   :pray:    :pray:

i am fond of well, let's see, i think i like, ummm maybe?  heck i can't decide and since you haven't found the holy grail you can just send them on to me, i sure wouldn't be upset with nare a one of them.

Doc you sure do make purty knives.

I like the #2 from the top myself. The #4 knife ain't so bad either. Keep em coming Doc.

I like #2 Jeff, and I also like the Sox! As a matter of fact, I'm gonna go and watch them beat up on the Blue Jays Monday!

David

Doc, I'm with David, that 2nd one from the top looks about perfect to me.

Tip i completely understand! It is that drive to improve and or try different things that keeps you going....and getting better and better in the process!!!

You already do awesome work and have everyone drooling over the knives you make....but of course that will never be good enough and you will continue on and on! The process never ends....and that is the best thing about it!   :thumbsup:

Doc 2 or 4 works for me. Knive are like self bows a powerful addition.  Always trying to make the perfect piece.  Enjoy the journey.

I think for me the issue is the knives that look the best to my eyes rarely work the best nor are they the most versital. That's the reason I purchased so many in my quest.

I grew up reading all of the articals about drop point vs clips, thick vs thin, and all of the "how long should the blade be" stuff written.

I've tried them all and keep coming back to knives that have a few things in common. When I try to figure out why the answer tends to result from what I expect my knife to do. I want a blade design that will work across the board. I want it to be able to work nicely in the kitchen, serve as a fishing and small game blade, and then be perfect for field dressing deer, skinning the same, and continue on to serve as I process the deer meat and place it in the freezer.

My wife tells stories about processing deer with a pocket knife. While I don't want my perfect knife to fold I just had to venture into this realm. I selected three different folders and gave them each s two year trial. It turns out the folding blade that worked best also had the same qualities as the fixed I liked but it did offer some insite.

Fixed blade knives are too wide, too tall, and long to be best at every task I asked of them.

A thin blade somewhere between most knives made for fishing and those for hunting is great. It needs to be almost but not quite flexable. Neither clip or drop points work for everything but a extended tip drop point with the point ever so slightly above center gets the nod. From the edge to the back of the blade 1/2" to no more than 5/8". I've found Blades under 3 1/4" work for small game but just under sized to work best for everything and 5" or just over gets everything done nicely for big stuff but is just to long to be the do it all blade. When I measure the blade on the knives that work best I discoverd the shortest blade is 3 3/4" and the longest 4 1/4 and while I don't know exactly why the 4 1/4" blade gets selected more times than not.

Now if I could just find one made with a D2 or VG10 blade, silver nickle bolster, and stag handle, with a modified hollow ground blade, I'd be in heaven!

How is that for a challenge?  :)

I would say the 3rd one down looks about right.

I found my perfect knife 23 years ago and old Buck Knife, use it for everything from trout to deer.

DrakeGreen,  I'd like to see a picture of some of your almost Grail Knives...either here or PM me.  I agree for me anyway...most fixed blades are too heavy & too long.  

When I'm forging, I'm continually holding them in my hand...of course once they're cooled   :scared:  Just checking for feel and balance.  Way before I decide what kinda blade to grind.  A lot of blades never make it beyond this stage just due to feel.  But that's like judging someone before you get to know them, usually your wrong  :knothead:  Doc

kc, 2 may just end up with some sheep horn  ;)

Hey Doc ever hear the one about how long it takes to look at a horseshoe?

How long?

ok Mickey how long do we wait for the punch line or are you looking at the horseshoe now?

well it goes like this..

There's a blacksmith making horse shoes. Heating, pounding, heating pounding, when a city slicker walks up. After watching the blacksmith finish a shoe and set it off to the side to cool, the city slicker picks it up and quickly throws it down. The blacksmith kinda chuckles and says to the city slicker "Hot?".

And the city slicker says "Nope, it just doesn't take me very long to look at a horse shoe."

Mickey, I like that...as a matter of fact I've had a few blades that I looked over very quickly  :biglaugh:  Doc

(http://www.knifekit.com/store/images/Knives/FixedBlades/sg4/sg4-1dp.jpg)

one example.

(http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d707b3127cce941222419fbd00000015108AbMWzlk0atS)

This one get a lot of use but the tip is a little pointy.  ;)

(http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d707b3127cce941210f29f1700000015108AbMWzlk0atS)

nice but the blade is too think and wide. Blade is ATS34 which is pretty nice and the overal weight is great.

(http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d707b3127cce9412ff625e5800000016108AbMWzlk0atS)

almost but it's a folder and the blade is a little short for big deer when you're working on the rearend in the field.

(http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d707b3127cce941208b31e6a00000015108AbMWzlk0atS)

Not real bad, but the knife is just way to big. Scaled down 2" overal and drop to point a little. Something on the order of a Buck Pathfinder with a drop point might not be bad.

(http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d707b3127cce941217585e1600000015108AbMWzlk0atS)

don't even get me started on what's wrong with these.  :)

Most of my other knives were given away because they just didn't work for me. Some folks on this site have a few of them as a return favor for items they sent me. They included other bucks, green rivers, and brownings. I'm currently playing with a 6 moth old kershaw but it's a folder and will find a new home too when I'm done testing/playing with it.

(http://www.agrussell.com/var/storage/variations/image/p/h/p/phpD3RRIG_550-.75x550_26126.jpg)

this one is close

(http://www.agrussell.com/var/storage/variations/image/p/h/p/phpfKyjZ3_550-.75x550_72297.jpg)

Blade is a hair to short and too much bling, bling.

(http://www.agrussell.com/var/storage/variations/image/p/h/p/phpHhTMER_550-.75x550_39391.jpg)

Middle one is close. blade is a little to short and the handel needs a nickle silver bolster and it would be there.

QuoteOriginally posted by DarkeGreen:
[QB]  (http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d707b3127cce941217585e1600000015108AbMWzlk0atS)

don't even get me started on what's wrong with these.   :)  


I have both of those knives. They dont get any use but I love the way they sharpen and hold an edge.stay like a razor forever. To bad blood stains them so easy.

DrakeGreen,
Thanks for your input.  I've used a few of those styles and while nice I'm still on my crusade to find the Grail  :pray:  

geno,
Nothing wrong with stains on a blade especially blood.  Those Shrad blades are high carbon so they will stain and be fairly easy to sharpen compared to stainless...Doc

(http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/bradj409/100b0231.jpg) (http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/bradj409/100_0151.jpg) (http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/bradj409/100b0200.jpg) (http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/bradj409/100b0270.jpg)here are a few my dad made, he is a member of the knifemaker's guild, he is teaching me how to make them, we both make the sheaths, which are all hand cut, stamped and sewn

very nice Ian   :thumbsup:

geno, thanks, my dad has a lot of experiance, all above knives are made of ats34, except the bottom right knife has an a2 tool steel blade

tippit, post a pic of those knives when they are complete

Ivan,  Your dad sure makes some awesome knives.  I particularly like that upper right corner one.  Is he an ABS Master?  Doc

no,he is not, I really like your knives, I'd happily test out one of those knives for you this season  :D

I think the big issue with all of the knives I've bought, tried, and given away is they have no soul. It's like using a compound after you've discovered long bows.

Maybe that's why I give away the knives that worked okay. Not including the knives I've made I think I've gone thru close to 80 different knives now looking for something I can be happy with. I've found two of the 80 or so that, reflecting back, did everything I asked of them pretty well. The problem is I hated carring them because they seemed lifeless. I just couldn't bring myself to allow them to be displayed on my side.

Maybe that's why I pick up new folders from time to time. I can have a knife that works and yet keep it hidden from view.

Of the knives I've made only 2 made the trip to the woods more than once. I discovered they either didn't hold an edge good enough to get the deer from the field, to the tree, to the processing table, and in the freezer without a couple trips to the stone or they were to ugly to be dispplayed proudly.

If I only had your talent!

I think I'd probally make a knife close to the first one I displayed, with stag handles, a 4" blade made of D2 no more than 1/6" thick. Something thin enough it was almost flexable but thick enough to have some backbone. The silver bolster would smooth the transition from blade to handle and help protect the stag or slect wooden handle.

Heck, maybe I just spend too much time thinking about what designs, materials, and grades/types of blade steel I would play with if I could create a knife from scratch half as good as yours. You make some pretty neat knifes for sure!

ttt

Darkegreen, The knife you describe kinda sounds like the one that I have just re-shaped.

It was a cold steele master hunter, big and heavy with a large rubber handle and thick blade. I cut the handle off, took 1/4" off of the top of the blade and the tang (this shortened the knife and made the blade 1/8" thick at the top), cut 1" off the back of the tang and put a horn handle on it.

Before:
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h159/1joker_2006/DSCN0873.jpg)

and after:
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h159/1joker_2006/DSCN0875.jpg)

Ah, the quest for the Grail!  I'll agree with Killy here, it's the search that's important.  An old saying I remember is to:
Believe those who are seeking the Truth; doubt those who claim to have found It.
Applies to so many things  :)

Oh, as someone who does way more than my share of skinning and processing every year, the second down would be my choice, with the fourth also seeing significant use.  Looking good Doc!

My new forge is here I just haven't had the time to fire it up  :(

terrible, just terrible.  I think you should finish them up to refine your skills, and send them my way.  I will do my best to hide them away from everyone.  :saywhat:  

BobW