The judging guidelines mention that applicants should stay away from certain handle materials. "Materials - use the best materials you can. Plastic and polyester handle material might be good for a scuba knife of stainless steel, but I'd go with natural materials all the way for this test."
My question as I'm finally getting caught up enough to start working on my JS presentation knives is about the use of micarta. For personal reasons, on one knife, I have been considering using micarta that my dad had salvaged from old phone company equipment that was built in the 30's. Vintage black and brown micarta that only a few people I've talked to have even seen before. With this being a rare form of vintage material and not just run of the mill mail order micarta, would it be an acceptable handle material for testing?
Thanks
Mark Bartlett
Mark
I am sure that your micarta would make a nice addition to one of the many knives that you make BUT I would not recommend that you use it on one of your JS presentation knives. I can picture the negative reactions from many of the Judges as I write this reply. You will be putting a lot of time and effort into making your JS presentation knives so spend a little more time and select handle materials that will not be a possible issue.
Take a look at the knife photos of the presentation knives from the past successful JS candidates that I have posted on the ABS Website and this Forum to see the handle materials that they used, Click: http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/index.php?/topic/1634-photos-of-master-and-journeyman-smith-2014-atlanta-presentation-knife-sets/.
Also you need to delete, resize, and repost your photo above. Remember that the image size limits for the ABS Forum are:
"For images within posts there are image posting size rules are in effect to keep the image uploads at 1,000 x 1,000 pixels or less and under 500k in file size..."
I resized your photo for you well within the posted limits to show what it now looks like.
The image resize warning caption above a photo is always a dead give away that the photo is oversize.
"Resized to 75% (was 1385 x 1846) - Click image to enlarge"
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
Mark;
Not trying to sound too gruff; but the judges won't care whether it's your fathers phone board or came from Thomas Edison himself. They will be judging the quality of your work to ABS standards.
The outside looks aged and weather checked?
Does it look as nice on the knife as anything you have? A micarta piece won't bust you. A less than your best handle on a knife added to other rips might be a different story.
good luck
M
Mike Williams
Master Smith
|quoted:
Mark;
Not trying to sound too gruff; but the judges won't care whether it's your fathers phone board or came from Thomas Edison himself. They will be judging the quality of your work to ABS standards.
The outside looks aged and weather checked?
Does it look as nice on the knife as anything you have? A micarta piece won't bust you. A less than your best handle on a knife added to other rips might be a different story.
good luck
M
There are no check marks anywhere. the coloring is the result of the manufacturing process and what makes it so rare. Honestly when the material is finished, it polishes like glass. I'd have no concern with the quality of the material. My only concern would be a judges view of a synthetic material being used. But I suppose for safety's sake, I'll leave it alone and find another hardwood. I already have bog oak, curly maple, curly koa, and gaboon ebony set aside.
Thank you for the quick replies gentlemen.
|quoted:
Mark
I am sure that your micarta would make a nice addition to one of the many knives that you make BUT I would not recommend that you use it on one of your JS presentation knives. I can picture the negative reactions from many of the Judges as I write this reply. You will be putting a lot of time and effort into making your JS presentation knives so spend a little more time and select handle materials that will not be a possible issue.
Take a look at the knife photos of the presentation knives from the past successful JS candidates that I have posted on the ABS Website and this Forum to see the handle materials that they used, Click: http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/index.php?/topic/1634-photos-of-master-and-journeyman-smith-2014-atlanta-presentation-knife-sets/.
Also you need to delete, resize, and repost your photo above. Remember that the image size limits for the ABS Forum are:
"For images within posts there are image posting size rules are in effect to keep the image uploads at 1,000 x 1,000 pixels or less and under 500k in file size..."
I resized your photo for you well within the posted limits to show what it now looks like.
The image resize warning caption above a photo is always a dead give away that the photo is oversize.
"Resized to 75% (was 1385 x 1846) - Click image to enlarge"
Still trying to figure out the resizing part. It's part of the reason I haven't posted much here. Thanks for the help.
Mark
Master Smith Steve Culver wrote an excellent tutorial on resizing photos for the Internet and it is posted on the ABS Forum at: http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/index.php?/topic/115-editing-photos-for-the-internet/
I have used many applications over the years to edit and resize literally thousands of photos for the ABS internet resources including several versions of Photoshop and Photogene. Many cell phones have built in resizing and photo editing software. I used my IPhone and Photogene to resize your photo above.
All the best with your JS presentation knives. We want to see every candidate pass and are only trying to help and provide advice based on years of experience both inside and out of the judging rooms. Master Smith Mike Williams is the Chief Judge for the JS Judging Panel.and has had many years of experience both judging and interpreting our rules.
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
