nessmuk

[woof]

Nice knife, not normaly a fan, but your take is something special, also i'm a big fan of samber/stag, well done.

 

[nitram55]

Lovely knife, I am hoping to get to the show and see it in the flesh.

Martin

 

[stuart m]

This brings up a point I have been meaning to ask for a while - why are most knife handles symetrical, when, from simple observation, it is evident that a persons grip is not?
I often make asymetrical handles, with a dip for the thumb and more "meat" on the palm side of the handle for instance, and find this more comfortable than a purely symetrical grip.
Any thoughts?

I think what you are talking about there John is a very specialised thing, of course possible and something I have in fact done to a point... The process demanded a trip to Sheffield so my client was present whilst the handles were shaped.

The main downside I can see is that the handle is somewhat limited to the singular grip it was hafted to fit, you turn that knife in your hand and your lumps and bumps are in all the wrong places... We wouldn't want that would we

Knives offered for general sale, having never met the possible customer...Symmetry is the way to go me thinks

As we are creatures of habits, would someone actually buy a right handed, or left handed for that matter, knife? Or would there be resistance to them?? and no sale for the poor(the proper synonymous word for) knife maker??

Hi jojo, I know we are talking scales and handles here but chisel ground knives are indeed handed...

But, you don't see that many around and I can't remember that last time I was asked to make one, maybe that answers the question...

They are just a little limiting...

 

[John Fenna]

I certainly agree that a knife with excessive shaping could be uncomfortable if you change your grip - just look at those knives with secondary guards, deep grooves for each finger etc - not my kind of thing at all!
A symetrical grip is obviously more versatile than a heavily shaped one.
The asymetric grips I have made have tended to be more subtle, proving comfortable enough for use if you change your grip to an "underhand/stabbing" grip or a backhand grip for shorter lived tasks but also generally more comfortable and secure in the hand than a purely symetrical handle when held "normally".
The knives I sell are about as symetrical as I can make them, knives I buy I generaly tend to adapt the grip by filing in a little depression for my thumb to ease into, knives I make purely for my own use have a more obvious asymetry about the grip - but not so much that they are uncomfortable in other grip positions than a standard forehand grip.
Maybe it is just me and my stubby hands.....

 

[stuart m]

Maybe it is just me and my stubby hands.....

Matter it not old chap... If you can make a knife for yourself and it's grip fits your hand like a glove D), that has to be a good thing...

 

[vambo]

another nice knife bernie see you after the show

 

[mr dazzler]

Hi Bernie,
how do you put the writing onto the steel and make it look so elegant. I've seen some writing on knife's that looked like it was done with a dremell and a ruler to get a straight base line I'm guessing you do some sort of acid etch like on old saw's?