2023 Knives

[Mike Stafford]

I finally got around to taking pictures of the knives I built last year. It was raining and quite windy here yesterday so it seemed like a good time to set up the photo booth and take some pictures. I also wanted to try out my new acrylic knife stands which made it a lot easier to photograph knives which are totally uncooperative and never want to stay in position when I lean them against a block of burl or something.

So I hope you will indulge me as I post a few pictures of my latest and sharpest creations. One thing I noticed this time around was confirmation of how blind I was before my cataract operations. I thought I was doing a pretty good job of polishing out the forge scale and scratches on the knives. Well, as these pictures show I still have a lot of work to do with regard to getting the blades clean and free of scratches. I don't guess these cosmetic defects affect the usability of the knife but they sure do affect the aesthetics. I don't think I will ever be able to achieve a mirror finish because I just don't have the patience to polish a blade to that degree.

Here are a few of the smaller blades....most in the 6 1/2" - 7 1/2" range. You may notice that my handles are getting a little fatter. Feedback from some of the hunters suggested that my handles were too small for their hands. My hands are not particularly large so I had to quit using it as a measure of comfort.

Walnut skinner

Zebrawood skinner

Padauk skinner

Purpleheart skinner

Purpleheart skinner

Oak, dyed green (failed experiment ) skinner

 

[David Johnson]

Those are very pretty. (and lethal looking)
David

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

That's some good stuff right there, Mike. Personally, I kind of like the semi-rough, unpolished look. It makes them look more handmade to me. I also really like your display stand. Is that something you made or did you find it somewhere?

 

[Mike Stafford]

That's some good stuff right there, Mike. Personally, I kind of like the semi-rough, unpolished look. It makes them look more handmade to me. I also really like your display stand. Is that something you made or did you find it somewhere?

Thank you, sirs!

I found the display stands at, where else, Amazon.

If Amazon doesn't have what you need you don't need it.

 

[Leo Voisine]

Super duper cool

 

[Jay Caughron]

I'm with Vaughn

 

[Darren Wright]

Good looking knives. I knew there was a reason I was saving all those old saw blades.

 

[Mike Stafford]

And a few more....

Padauk, about 7"

Walnut, about 7 3/4"

Padauk, almost 8"

Walnut, camp knife style close to 9"

Oak, dyed green, skinner 7 1/2"

Oak, wenge veneer and maple 7 1/2"