A question for future knives for sale...

[Ironbadger]

It looks like I'll be doing knives here off and on for the forseeable future, as the response has been so positive.


Related to that, I do have a question for potential buyers.

Would you like to see more tropical hardwoods for the bling effect?
(Oh god..did I really just use that word?)

At the moment, I am using mostly French claro walnut and American cherry, as I have a fair amount of pieces left over from projects done years ago.

I have read that medieval and earlier European knives generally used boxwood, yew, or ash as grip woods.
And a sprinkling of other types, but most seem to have been those three woods.

I prefer to work in slightly nicer woods. Both for ease of finish, and for looks and durability.

Would the folks here prefer nicer woods, or plainer, period woods?

I'm leaning heavily towards nicer looking stuff; mostly because I now have a source where I can walk in and buy small pieces of exotic wood for very cheap.
(frankly, for about or nearly the same price as plainer woods would cost me.)

The denser exotic wood appeals to me, and it would not add anything significant to the initial bid prices if I use it.

So I would appreciate an opinion or two on the subject.

I can still use plainer woods for the occasional hammer marked "primitive" piece- but most folks seem to be looking for something a little nicer to hang from their belt.
(Is there even anyone looking for hammer marked, rough finished knives here? I used to make them for mountain men/buckskinners, but that community tends to look for something very different from medievalists.)

-Badger-

Also, what should my next style/type be?

I have several blanks lying around in various shapes.

-Badger-

[Llewelyn Gododdin]

I still have a whole bunch of green heart for bling factor if you want it BTW I have not forgotten about sending out the box walnut.

[Jonathon More]

the more documentable, i.e. "period" the better. Grip material, finish, size, form; I like the historical stuff best. That being said, a grip made of and exotic would isn't a total deal-breaker, although I would prefer it to be something that came from Europe. FWIW, I would be really interested in a nice rondel or two this summer.

[Randy W]

+ 1

you spend the time to create the period look and then destroy it with "foreign" wood ... the bayonet spike knife was gorgeous for it's apparent simplicity and functionality

[Ironbadger]

I do appreciate that- but please don't take it wrong if I say I want to avoid the odd colored stuff.

Green heart and purple heart don't actually appeal to me personally.
Its a personal thing, but I like brown/red/black colored woods.

And no rush on the walnut.
Thanks in advance when you get around to sending some stuff- I'll do something nice for you as a thank you.

-Badger-

I still have a whole bunch of green heart for bling factor if you want it BTW I have not forgotten about sending out the box walnut.

[Ironbadger]

I'm thinking of doing another rondel sometime in the future.

I want to do the flat ground, single edged style just to do one.

Many of the exotic woods I want to use are actually very similar in finished appearance to stained European woods, but do not require me to use stains to get the same look.

Ebony, rosewood and olive wood were all known in Europe and used to some extent- Not sure how much. (I've seen them mentioned, at any rate.)
They would have been expensive, for certain.

Theres some common European woods I have a hard time finding- like bog oak and black thorn. (Are those the same thing? I am fairly sure they are different.)

A lot of these woods are somewhat hard to tell exactly what they are after finishing, and are easy to polish up nice- a big plus in my book.

I wouldn't be using something obviously out of place though, like ironwood burl.

-Badger-

the more documentable, i.e. "period" the better. Grip material, finish, size, form; I like the historical stuff best. That being said, a grip made of and exotic would isn't a total deal-breaker, although I would prefer it to be something that came from Europe. FWIW, I would be really interested in a nice rondel or two this summer.

[Ironbadger]

The wood I used for it was a new world type- but it was a deep brown that didn't look out of place.
Thats the kind of thing I am looking for.
Stuff that fits in for color and grain.

Yew and Ash and such work okay- but I want something nicer looking and durable.
(Ash is durable, yes- but I haven't used Yew...It looks too much like cheap cedar nik naks for me to be comfortable with.)

I'll be cruising the shop over in Orange for bits and pieces in time- I have enough wood to make maybe a half dozen knives before I start running low.

-Badger-

+ 1

you spend the time to create the period look and then destroy it with "foreign" wood ... the bayonet spike knife was gorgeous for it's apparent simplicity and functionality

[Nathan Hartman]

You know, that's a really interesting question, and one that's never really occurred to me before. Might make a cool A&S project when I find the time to do the research...

I've always liked Olive wood myself, and that would certainly have been available in parts of Europe. What about Almond wood? I've seen some turned pieces made from Almond that looked great.

[Tadeus]

Ash can be awesome if you have it quarter sawn. I would prefer the period correct over the exotic any day.

[Primvs Pavlvs]

IMHO the more correct the better the market. There are already dozens of makers out there making fantasy pieces.

[Antonis]

Make one and see if people like it.

[Md02geist]

I don't mind the period correct wood or the not correct wood...so long as it doesn't get all out of hands with engraved dragons that have ruby eyes, flames engraved on the blade, etc etc...I think simple is usually better when it comes to blades, the minute people start putting all that (IMO) gaudy stuff on a knife I instantly lose interest.

[Ironbadger]

But..but..
The engraved flames coming out of the dragon's butt are ART!
Can you not see the deep, soulful, and meaningful symbolism it implies!?
Am I surrounded by PHILISTINES!!??
*flails in a mad frenzy of artistic angst before falling over to froth at the mouth*...





Actually I despise that myself, so you'll never see anything like that on a knife I make.

-Badger-

I don't mind the period correct wood or the not correct wood...so long as it doesn't get all out of hands with engraved dragons that have ruby eyes, flames engraved on the blade, etc etc...I think simple is usually better when it comes to blades, the minute people start putting all that (IMO) gaudy stuff on a knife I instantly lose interest.

[Thomas Powers]

As I recall fruit woods were also used in period; (I must review the woods mentioned in Knives and Scabbards, MOL) So Apple, Crab, Plum, Pear, Cherry, and a whole lot of others ....

They can be quite pretty especially in flamed areas. As for durability I would think that boxwood would wear like iron!

Thomas---and it's not ART unless you fulfill the inherent irony of post deconstructionist modernism by using dull poorly ground untempered pakistani blades in your hand worked and embellished works of wonder handles! (or so I have been told...)