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.      

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!  

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    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    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    Doc

one example.

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

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

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.