Knife_critique

Collector Knife Critique
by Lin Rhea, ABS JS & Chuck Ward, Photographer

Many new custom knife buyers are often presented with the dilemma of determining quality and assessing a bladesmith's
skills. This knife critique was created to provide some information for new custom knife buyers and collectors to provide
some basis of comparison for a standard fixed blade hunter.

The first view of a knife is usually the
profile or general overview. This
view is most often the one that
catches your eye, such as when you
see it on a maker's table. We can
assume that since it catches your
eye, your first impression is
favorable and the knife is worthy of a
closer look.
In this view you should take in
several things into consideration
such as blade steel, handle material,
and also whether or not the
materials compliment one another in
color and texture.
We can tell from this angle if the
ricasso and the guard/handle area
are proportional in size as well as
the handle to blade ratios are
pleasing.

In this photo we are able to see
some critical areas of the knife that
will make or break deals between
most makers and buyers. Notice the
plunge of the blade that transitions
the ricasso and choil. These grind
points should be as even as
possible and the curvatures and flat
planes should match from side to
side. Naturally if the plunge looks
even, the cutting edge will be
centered in the blade from this view.
This edge should remain centered
as it travels all the way to the tip of
the blade.
While in this position, take a look at
the distance from the edge of the
guard to the ricasso on each side to
see if they are even. Let your eye
travel the length of the handle and
see if the top to bottom profile is
even and any features that are
supposed to match indeed match.

From this viewpoint you can tell
whether the handle and blade are
generally in line, but we can also see
if the guard has been shaped evenly
from side to side or if it's twisted. If
the blade has a clip, this angle will let
you check to see if it's even.

This is a view that is often
overlooked. You are looking to see
if the blade edge is centered with the
guard as well as the rear of the
handle.
While in this position swing the
blade to one side, and then the other
slowly to see if there are ripples in
the blade which can be seen in
subtle light reflections. You may have
to change directions several times to
view revealing reflections.

This view is just another angle where
you can examine the curves and
centerlines. These should be as
even as possible with no obvious
abnormalities.

Now it's time to use your sense of
touch to see if the knife feels right in
your hand. Is the finish good? Are
the transitions even from guard to
wood, or from wood to pins? All the
while, we are looking closely trying
to invision this knife as part of our
collection, or whether it is a practical
using knife.