Knife Filework - Yay or Nay???

  • Come along to the amazing Summer Moot (21st July - 2nd August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.

dazcon

Nomad
Jan 8, 2010
443
24
clydebank
I personally like filework on the tang of a knife. I feel it gives that hand-made touch and that little bit of something special to a knife. I don't think every knife warrants it, and i've seen a lot of great knives spoiled with poor filework, but i've seen just as many knives enhanced with fine craftsmanship.

I'm just wondering what the general view on the subject is? If you were ordering a custom knife tomorrow and it was an option, would you choose it?
 
I would like it on the handle part but not on the back of the blade.
If I could have a custom knife I would keep the tang plane and have etched ingravings on the blade and no file work.
 
I don't like it, particulary in the non handle area, if the filing is deep it can catch dirt easily. In the handle of a full tang I can see it's potential but still I don't like it nay for me.
 
Both are fine.
Depends on too many variables for a straight yay or nay in my book imho.
Happy new year to you by the way!
C.
 
I'm not a fan of filework on the back of the blade myself. I do like it on the handle part of the tang when infilled with coloured epoxy. I was filing a celtic interlocking rope pattern for the first time yesterday and i found it really difficult. It had been on my mind to try it for a good while. I probably won't be doing that pattern again. Way too risky!!
 
Last edited:
Not really for me but each to there own i suppose!
I always think of a knife with filework to be a knife thats not a user and kept in a glass cabinet for display purposes only......

Having said that i think there must be many hours work producing filework and a very meticulous craftsman doing it.
 
Na , I am in the camp that yeah it nice to see some nice workmanship,

but, na its a tool, keep it simple and make it work, only my thoughts....
 
No reason why it can't still be used hard just because it's got a bit of filework. I can understand the glass-case philosophy, but a user doesn't have to be an ugly brute does it.
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE