Jo,

Remember, the judges have seen everything and every style. Go with the style you can execute the best, and what goes best with the style knife you are making. They are looking at your fit and finish most of all.

Best of Luck on your testing!

Bob

Could not have said it better Bob. Jo, go with what you are most comfortable making. Branch out and experiment after you get your JS.

Brion

Thank you very much. I am not looking for awards or anything other than just a super clean finish. I want this stamp s badly that I am afraid I am over thinking everything. Another question I have is about getting the ricasso square. I have been told to only way to get them true is to grind them on a surface grinder. However I don't have a surface grinder at this time. I can get them very close on the platten. So what advise would you offer up to solving this problem. How tight of a tolerance is normal from top to bottom?

Jo, I do not have a surface grinder either. I get real close on the grinder, then if needed I use a surface plate and sand paper. For a surface plate I have a piece of marble about two feet by two feet. You can use spray adhesive and put the paper on the marble. Then you can get it flat. Surface plates come in real handy for guard and handle work too.

I usually get mine within a thousandth at all four corners.

Brion

Jo,

I used a disc grinder for my JS knives. I wanted less than a .001 difference between top and bottom.

Use your calipers, and keep it tight.

You might try a surface stone with the paper attached with repositional adhesive

Bob

I used the disc grinder and granite slab technique before I got my surface grinder, and I still use the slab for final finish.

You can get sink cut outs from granite counter top companies sometimes for little or nothing. They usually throw them away. You can also use granite or marble tiles from flooring suppliers, just make sure the tile is labeled "honed and gauged" or it may not be perfectly flat. I know a lot of guys are spraying adhesive on the granite to hold the paper down, but I do not. It seems to stay in place well enough after the Simple Green goes on. It's less likely to develop ripples and easier to clean up too.

I have a couple of 3" thick surface plates that I use to true up guards, just never thought about using it on the blade itself. I will give it a go and see what I can do with them.

Last question for right now. I am thinking of doing 2 hidden tang, 2 frame handle, and one full tang. What are your thoughts about this kind of set? I am trying not to complicate things, it is that hidden tangs are just not my strong suit. The symmetry tends to get off, then I am chasing the shape and screw it up.

Make what ever you are confident that will be straight, symmetrical, and clean.

Watch Nick Wheelers videos on guards and handles on his YouTube channel. Step by step instructions on making hidden tang handles. Lengthy,but well worth your time.

Bob

Jo, as far as the set. The two hidden tangs and frame handles are fine. If you are real comfortable doing frames, go for it. One full tang is fine, as long as it has bolsters. Also you must have two knives with blades over six inches in length.

Brion