Custom Folder by Roy Hinds

[JBrandvik]

Hello Cafe members. I haven't posted anything in a while because the bread and butter job has been eating too much of my time. But I have managed to keep up with my engraving by cutting a knife or two on the weekends. Lately I have been engraving some of Roy Hinds custom folders. Mr. Hinds is a really nice man who takes great pains to create some beautiful knives. Recently he has entrusted several of his folders to me for embelleshment. Mostly simple designs. But he wanted something fancy for this one.

This knife had nickel silver bolsters and giraffe bone scales which he warned are very brittle. One of the biggest challenges with this knife was figuring out a way of holding it securely without risk of cracking the fragile scales. I finally settled on making a squeeze board to distribute the pressure evenly which worked better than I could have hoped.

Roy is an accomplished craftsman with a keen eye for detail so when I hand him a finished knife, there's a moment of hesitation as he scrutinizes it. When I brought this knife back to him, I was happy to hear him say that he was going to build a case for it so he could take it to knife shows without fear of anyone mis-handling it.

Thanks for looking!

 

[Harpuahound]

Could you use thermo lock to hold this knive or would that just be dangerous. Sometimes if Im using thermo lock to hold something I dont think it will to let go of easily. I will put a plastic bag(walmart bag) between the thermolock and the item im holding. This works excellent with jewelry that has a undergallery with lots of littly holes for the thermo lock to squish through. (I have no experience with knives or giraffe bone)

 

[Markofx]

Knife Design

Hi Jim,

I'd like to give you some pointers if I may. Design is everything, It can bet cut rough and still look good and balanced. I want you to look at your design and ask yourself Is this the best I can do, or am I satisfied that these are scrolls that look good enough to fill the space. There are rules in designing scrolls, as they start somewhere and flow somewhere. You can bend the rules, but first you must know what they are. I couldn't wait to cut my first project on a customers piece, and I think I was so excited and nervous that I wanted to cut more then plan the design. This is normal Jim, but just remember this work is going to be seen by alot of potential customers. I'm so glad to have this forum because before I cut a design, I can run it by the best in the world for feedback. Jim, ask yourself, have I increased the value of this knive with what I cut? I learned early that this a consideration not to be taken lightly.

I only hope this is taken as a learning tool. The best I could hope for is you're going to show this guy what you can really do!!!

Thanks, Mark

 

[monk]

this is just what i like to see ! something you aint afraid to put in your pocket ! something that can be used ! and maybe looked at too.

 

[coincutter]

What were you trying to say Mark, I couldn't quite get a handle on it?

Skip. Try this, cut the design then drop the 120. Relieve the background. For the internals switch to a 100/110 for the stem lines, 90 on down for the shade lines. Or really cut back on the power and depth of cut for the internals. Concept being - mimic nature. But if client wants heavy then cut to China!

I think ya dun good. Happy client, more orders, checks in the bank. Life is good.

Peer critiques are nice (sometimes) but cash, client feedback and repeat orders are always the best teachers and indicators of progress.

Later....

 

[sdcoxx]

Hello, Jim
Finding a custom knife maker to work with is a big step... Congratulations....
However, the silver bolsters look more like brass in the photos... Is it the lighting?
Jim, I don't think the photos do your engravings justice.
I wish I could be more helpful. Unfortunately, I struggle with photography on a daily basis.
At this point, I've built a light tent.
Jim, nice work...
Stephen

 

[coincutter]

Hey cool dragon !!! Nice job.