Buck Nobleman Knife / input please

[davidshe]

I just finished a knife and was hoping to get some input on the design. Perhaps I have been looking at it too long! I feel that perhaps I ended up with the borders around the edges and also around the monogram getting a bit too busy? I generally like clean and simple. I posted two pics that show the design in progress and one final pic. What do you think? Too busy?

Also, like Stefano, who just posted a super nice Viper knife, I am struggling with the question of whether I should blacken or not. I like the clean stainless look but perhaps it would look better if I blacken? What do you think?

Appreciate any input.

Thanks,
David

 

[dlilazteca]

Blacken if you don't like it you can always take it off

Carlos De La O III

 

[dlilazteca]

I have one that I want to work on. . How hard was it to cut? What's the hardness of your graver?

Carlos De La O III

 

[monk]

looks clean to me.nice flow, good border work. your chosen design is nice, you obviously have good control when actually cutting. not much left for me to complain about.

 

[Ste82]

Hi David,
I like your design, is simple and effective, for the blackening question i think that in your case you can leave it like it is mostly because your central cutts looks like bright cut, mine is a different situation that is usually blackened and i was wondering about an improbable different solution

 

[davidshe]

Blackening experiment /New Pics

Thank you all for your comments and Carlos, yes it was pretty hard stainless and I used a carbalt graver to cut it. I resharpened with a 2000 grit stone a couple times when I felt like it was not cutting as clean.

I did in fact play around a bit with blackening. At first I blackened the whole design and I did not like it at all. Then I tried blackening just the outside border. I like that better and the new attached pics show what it looks like now. What do you think?

Thanks,
David

 

[thughes]

I'm certainly not qualified to judge, but I like the blackened better. I hardly noticed the details of your border work without it. But blackened it looks great.

Todd

 

[silverchip]

I think with the minimalist engraving , it really helps!!

 

[LVVP]

Hi David,

Looks very good for me, I like it

 

[davidshe]

Thanks for your input Vlad, Silverchip and Todd. I suppose that I do tend to be somewhat of a minimalist style engraver. Perhaps as I build more confidence I will begin to add more detail.

Best regards,
David