I always check my guard alignment to the blade with a mirror. This is done after setting the rough guard on the blade. Any small inspection mirror will work. Once you get the guard stock slotted and pressed against the ricasso shoulders, hold the mirror flat against the guard with the reflection showing the blade. Any crookedness will be visible immediately.

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I always check my guard alignment to the blade with a mirror. This is done after setting the rough guard on the blade. Any small inspection mirror will work. Once you get the guard stock slotted and pressed against the ricasso shoulders, hold the mirror flat against the guard with the reflection showing the blade. Any crookedness will be visible immediately.

Are you comparing both sides, one to the other?

I can explain better with a few pictures.

In the first pic you will see the guard material slotted and press-fit to the blade, tight against the shoulders.

Then you hold the mirror flat against the guard above the spine.

Now look straight down the blade into the mirror. If the guard is square to the center line of the blade, it will appear in the mirror in a straight line with the blade. If it isn't square, it will appear "bent" to one side or another. Like this.

This guard needs to come forward on the right side of the blade (on the left in the photo). So I will chuck it back up in my guard setting jig and push the guard in the direction desired.

Once I have adjusted it a little, I recheck for square using the mirror. When it is perfectly square, it will appear in a straight line in the reflection.

If you do the same thing with the mirror on the side of the guard, you will see the reflection of the blade face in the mirror. Same criteria as above. If the reflection is straight in line with the blade, the guard is square to the blade from top to bottom.

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If you do the same thing with the mirror on the side of the guard, you will see the reflection of the blade face in the mirror. Same criteria as above. If the reflection is straight in line with the blade, the guard is square to the blade from top to bottom.

Awesome! Thanks so.much! This is a great tip. Everyone needs to know this but maybe I'm the only one who doesn't.

Joey

Hey, you are most welcome.

I also seriously doubt that you are the only person to read this thread who did not know about this little technique. There are probably other ways to accomplish the same thing, but this is how I learned and it is so simple, I have never changed or tried to figure out an easier method.

Keep asking questions, and if you have an MS who doesn't mind giving you a critique now and again, take advantage of the opportunity. Something I found to be even better than bringing a finished knife to critique is bringing one that is in process and asking "what am I forgetting to do that I can fix now, before I go any further?"

Good point! I have been making stock removal knives for 35+ years but forging is a different cat all together! I love it. Just wish I had started sooner!