Hi Wesley, I like the rustic Brute de forge look on some knife styles. Just different likes for different people.

Yup, different tastes mean different reactions. You'll likely make a knife "all polished" and someone will love it while another will dislike the shape of the blade or something else... It's all part of making something, regardless of the particular end product (in my opinion, anyway)-"everyone's a critic". There are some makers that do a majority of their work with forge scale left on and seem to do rather well. Others never leave the scale on.

Honestly, it's one of the things I enjoy most about knives. There are simply soooo many possible combinations of shape, handle materials, finishes, etc. That leaves a LOT of room for all of us. If you're not in a position where you "have" to sell knives to pay the bills, enjoy making what you want. Branch out and try some different things, including a nice satin finish, but most of all, have fun and make each knife the best one you've done <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />. Good luck to you and enjoy the journey.

Jeremy

Thanks for the replies!

I love making knives with scale left or with a nice hand rubbed finish. I agree, I like all the possibilities that there is when it comes to knives. I'm just making knives in my spare time since I'm still in school so I guess I will just make the knives that I like.

I find that I do a lot better job on a knife that is my style, and also something that I personally would use.

Wesley

I think the challenge is to leave a roughly finished area that ADDS to the appeal of the knife.

So, it's almost like saying it has to be 1/2 done, yet it still "completes" the knife.

Rough forging left on a knife, in and of itself, doesn't magically give the knife appeal.

[left]I agree with Karl and below is a good example. This is a photo of one of Joe Keeslar's Brute de Forge knives that was one of the ABS Board of Director's Knives of the Year. Joe made and donated the knife to the 2013 ABS Atlanta Knife Auction.

[/left]

Thanks Mr. Andersen, I'll experiment with what types of knives work best with scale left on.

Thanks for posting the picture of Mr. Keeslar's Great Brute de Forge knife, Mr. Cassidy. I see how a knife with scale left on can look very complete.

Wesley

I have been having the same problem <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//dry.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='<_<' /> . But I think as for people, it's just their personal preferences and what they are used to. I've shown a stick tang one to one guy, and he started asking why I didn't have it like "this" (describing a full tang). And the complete exact opposite of this situation happened when I showed another guy a full tang. Both thought it was really weird to have it the way I showed them

Aesthetically, I love to play with contrasts on my knives. Contrasts in color, and in texture, can really make a knife look bold and interesting. I often leave forge scale on the flats for just such a reason, the rough, black areas really set off the clean, satin finished blade.

I'll share a few examples

I've had a lot of people tell me they really like this style of knife, because they can see that it was hand forged and it has character that sets it apart from all the factory knives they're used to seeing around hunting camp. It's also less polishing work, meaning lower price for the customer, and I've never heard a customer complain about that <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

P.S. - that stag piece above is my own personal carry knife. I've gotten a lot of compliments on it

Derrick, I really like those knives. You can tell that they are forged, yet they look clean and finished.

The Satin finish looks very nice with just a little scale left for contrast.

I'm working on a camp knife with some scale left on the blade flats. the hardest part will be getting the tang flat before attaching the scales.<img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//unsure.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' />

I'll post a picture in the critiques (if it turns out). <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

I was wondering, on hidden tang knives, how do you get a good guard fit if you have left the ricasso "as forged?" Do you just square up the tang with a file, being careful not to touch the ricasso?

Jordan