Hummingbird knife

[Brian Hochstrat]

Here is one of Warren Osbornes knives I just finished, its a smaller knife only about 3 1/2" long so I had to go fairly small to get much work on it. The request was for hummingbirds and flowers. I had to do a change up in my scroll work to more of a vine look so it would go with the flowers. I am not 100% happy with the ornamental design but it has potential, I just need to refine it some. The hummingbird has several colors of gold, the wings and tail are 14k green, the throat is 18k pink, the belly is 18k white, and the beak and flowers are 24k.

Has anyone inlaid palladium white? I used nickel white and found it to be very time consuming. It does'nt move very good and when fitting, it pretty much has to snap into place before you set it, which adds time to the job. I did'nt have much problem using it, but as exact as you have to be with it I would'nt care to use it on a large job. I have read that the palladium is softer, but is it like 18k pink or is it still fairly hard?

Anyway, I will have the knife displayed at the Blade Show West in Portland this weekend so if your in the neighborhood stop by. Brian

 

[Ray Cover]

Hey Brian I love that layout. Thumbs up man.

 

[cowboy_silversmith]

Brian~ Even though you are not 100% happy with the ornamental design, I believe it has plenty of eye appeal. It would be very nice to see a close up of each individual quarter, to really appreciate the artistry which you have performed. You are a talented man!!! I wish I was going to be in Portland this weekend!!!

Best regards,
Greg Pauline

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Hi Brian

That knife certainley has the WOW factor. Love those hummingbirds. You've captured movement on them really well.

The background scroll treatment works for me. Just beautiful all round.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[Mike Cirelli]

Beautiful job Brian. I like the way you did the vining design not an easy task. I especially like the wings of the bird. I would use palladium before I would 18k white. Palladium can be annealed to be very soft almost like platinum and won't work harden as fast 18k wg. It's also whiter. One thing is that it is a bit gummy when cutting it.

 

[joseph engraver]

This work will stand the test of time.Congratulations.

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Brian

Did you mix all your own gold in the various colours?

Cheers
Andrew

 

[chris]

hi
brian
just buitiful you really know your art 110 percent , on the inlays did you use wire or sheet form and roughly what thickness if you dont mind shareing that 18 white must of been hard to set thanks
again stunning
chris

 

[Andy]

Beautiful job Brian. I think the background design works very well IMO. I'd also like to see some closeups of the bolster areas as well. Great job.

 

[PS_Bond]

Don't know if you've seen the Ganoksin bench guide on palladium - http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/palladium-bench-guide.htm

Reading between the lines, the malleability of 950 palladium may make it an interesting alternative to white golds for inlay?

 

[Fred Bowen]

I think that this beautiful knife would look perfect in Abigail's hand- seems natural somehow.

 

[Steve223]

Beautiful work Brian!!!!

 

[Rick Eaton]

Brian,
Great job, I like the shading of the ornamental design, it gives alot of depth to the piece.

Haven't inlayed palladium but I think it is similar in color to platinum. For knives I usually use platinum, the cost isn't that much more and the collectors like it alot more, just get it dead soft and inlay it first.

Rick

 

[pilkguns]

Dittos on what the others have said, and I will add thats a good job on melding the three colors of gold together, which is not an easy job.

 

[Don Cowles]

Very well done, Brian!

 

[KCSteve]

Beautiful!

Warren Osborne is one of my favorite knife designers - probably my actual favorite.
Your work melds neatly with the understated simplicity of his knife designs.
Glance at it and it looks simple - hummingbird and some vines.
Look closer and you see all the hidden details that went into it.

Someday I'll win the lottery (or something) and be able to afford one of his custom knives. One with your engraving on it would make it even more precious.

Of course, if I got this knife my ever-indulgent wife would steal it from me.

 

[Brian Hochstrat]

Here is the best close up I could get, my photography skills need work.

I get all my gold from Hauser and Miller they have a good selection of gold mixes. I have contemplated mixing my own in the future but I need to figure out wether it would be cost effective or not to invest the time and equipment required.

I generally inlay 24k, in 24ga, on the karated golds I inlayed 22ga, I made my cavities a bit deeper so I could get a heavier undercut and raise some larger teeth, its not really necessary for green gold its pretty soft, but the pink and white I wanted to get as much holding power as I could.

One thing I did as well and it may not be right, but I felt it was nessesary, was around the white I left a micoscopic rim of steel between it and the other golds, to insure it will stay in place. Although I realize these knives are handled with kid gloves I don't want the worry of my gold popping out under any circumstances.

I think I will send the rest of the white back for scrap and the next time white is required I will try to talk the customer into the platinum. Anyway, off to Portland. Brian

 

[John B.]

Beautiful piece of art, Brian.
I bet is was a wow in Portland.
Hope it enjoyed a lot of well deserved praise.
Best. John B.

 

[jmcutting]

The detail is just amazing! Very impressive...

-justin

 

[KatherinePlumer]

Wow!

Brian, this is stunning! Love the birds! What you have accomplished over the last few years is amazing, and your work is truly an inspiration. You're so talented! My only complaint is that I don't get to see it all in person anymore, I really miss that!

(for anyone reading this, Brian was my horseshoer for about five years (lol, I hope I was high ranking ) and I used to have the extreme privilege of being the person who photographed everything!)

Good luck this weekend, maybe next year I'll be there too.

-Katherine
(scrimshander-in-progress....)