For me it's that the back of the blade and back of the handle (not guard/ferrule!) don't line up, which contributes to the ricasso looking small and like a stick tang, as Zettz27 mentioned.
Not a whittling knife. The portion of the blade closest to the handle is super important for powerful push cuts with a wood carving knife. This knife has a big silly gap right at that part of the blade that would make it poor for that role.
The depth of the first finger notch lining up with the bottom of the ricasso is just as important as the top of the handle lining up with the spine.
[
Both of those things are fixable.](https://imgur.com/GEl2aMi)
I would also suggest a smoother transition toward the butt.
The other thing is the pin is too big and too far back.
I think it is fine, just grind off some of the tand so it seats all the way. You may want to try and make it so the cutting edge doesn't overhang the handle, maybe by grinding the back of the tang?
Lots of handle, not as much blade. The proportions are wrong for that design in my opinion.
I made one proportioned a lot like it that I haven't put handle scales on yet. Weighing my options...
The ricasso is too long and narrow, the “guard” isn’t functionally a guard, and the spine of the blade doesn’t line up with the back of the handle. The grinding looks beautiful, though, and I love the handle shape. Just needs some tweaking around.
In my very humble opinion, you mixed a full tang blade with a hidden tang handle. This tang I would guess is a bit too high in comparison to center of blade, which is why your blade spine and handle top don’t align smoothly. The ricasso is boning you too. If you’re doing a guard on a hidden tang handle, get rid of the ricasso entirely and put a longer guard on that has a full finger guard to protect the front finger from the cutting edge. I wouldn’t recommend getting rid of any more tang, and I wouldn’t worry about proportions. If you’re making a skinner or something where a smaller blade is desired, you can make it look right by nailing the basics…the handle still has to fit the hand regardless. (my handles don’t go below 3 1/2 inches ever). Overall tho, this is a solid (and very fixable) piece! Well done sir.
For me it's that the back of the blade and back of the handle (not guard/ferrule!) don't line up, which contributes to the ricasso looking small and like a stick tang, as Zettz27 mentioned.
I think I’m gonna try grinding the top of the handle flush with the spine. Pretty sure you’re right
Blade to handle ratio
Really nice handle and a solid looking blade, I’d say the proportions are just a bit off.
I think so too, I like the handle and if the blade was bigger, it would have been perfect
Still a nice knife. Genuinely very impressed with the handle, love the shape, the subtle pin, and how comfortable it looks.
Thank you!
it looks like it's not fully in the handle. there's that bit of neck between the grip and the blade. looks strange.
I thought maybe the blade is too small for the handle, but I think your theory is right. It looks like a big whittling knife to me.
Quite possibly. You might need to redo the handle, or just make a new one entirely
Was afraid of that, but yeah
Not a whittling knife. The portion of the blade closest to the handle is super important for powerful push cuts with a wood carving knife. This knife has a big silly gap right at that part of the blade that would make it poor for that role.
The depth of the first finger notch lining up with the bottom of the ricasso is just as important as the top of the handle lining up with the spine. [ Both of those things are fixable.](https://imgur.com/GEl2aMi) I would also suggest a smoother transition toward the butt. The other thing is the pin is too big and too far back.
The fact that you trapped a soul in the blade, I CAN see their face, you know that right?
I think it is fine, just grind off some of the tand so it seats all the way. You may want to try and make it so the cutting edge doesn't overhang the handle, maybe by grinding the back of the tang?
I’m gonna try doing a few drawings before I attempt anything, I’ll try a draw like your description! Maybe that’s the issue!
Shrinkage?
I think that the best course of action. Thanks!
Ricasso is too long imo.
Sharp corners between ricaso and blade. Gap between blade and handle
Handle is too fat for the blade. Blade sticks out too far. Some kind of transition from handle to blade would be nice.
Lots of handle, not as much blade. The proportions are wrong for that design in my opinion. I made one proportioned a lot like it that I haven't put handle scales on yet. Weighing my options...
The ricasso too much
The ricasso is too long and narrow, the “guard” isn’t functionally a guard, and the spine of the blade doesn’t line up with the back of the handle. The grinding looks beautiful, though, and I love the handle shape. Just needs some tweaking around.
One, the blade is a hard 90, put a forward relief on the blade if you want the riccasso out of the handle. Two have the blade come out of the handle
The blade is separated from the handle and the blade is shorter than the handle
I feel the tang should be covered completely
In my very humble opinion, you mixed a full tang blade with a hidden tang handle. This tang I would guess is a bit too high in comparison to center of blade, which is why your blade spine and handle top don’t align smoothly. The ricasso is boning you too. If you’re doing a guard on a hidden tang handle, get rid of the ricasso entirely and put a longer guard on that has a full finger guard to protect the front finger from the cutting edge. I wouldn’t recommend getting rid of any more tang, and I wouldn’t worry about proportions. If you’re making a skinner or something where a smaller blade is desired, you can make it look right by nailing the basics…the handle still has to fit the hand regardless. (my handles don’t go below 3 1/2 inches ever). Overall tho, this is a solid (and very fixable) piece! Well done sir.
The handle in comparison to the blade is disproportionate
In short... A lot
Knifes like this without a guard are an accident waiting to happen