My project is progressing very well.



Here's where we left it before ...



Here's what occured to me during lunch one day.

Gary

Wow, that looks fantastic! It should look even better when it's not just a sketch.

Hehe.

Sal, I'm gonna snicker ....

That first picture is of the bolsters, already engraved and darkened. That's complete!



Gary

HA, zooming in on the picture fooled me!

That Barlow looks diferent in a good way. Nice contrast between the handles and the bolsters. What material are the bolsters made of?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/2014 08:53PM by Julio.

Bolsters and frame are solid brass, Julio.

Gary

Hi Julio,

There are as many techniques as there are materials. On this design, as in the Old Mill Design on the Oval shaped pocketknife, these engravings are "line cut" designs. The artwork is made up of lines and strokes and dots. Each individually cut into the base metal. When I do "High Relief Engraving", it is the exact opposite of this. The design is left alone, and the background is removed. This leaves the design in high relief. This is the "cut away everything that doesn't look like an Acorn" technique. You remove a huge amount of material in relief work.

In "line cut" designs, I do not highly polish the background. I use a very high Satin finish. This removes the glare and distraction that would be present on line cut designs if highly polished. The Satin finish gives a somewhat antique look. It will oxidize some. If you want to keep it brighter (as seen here) then a Jewelry Cloth such as you polish Sterling Silver with, or the Cotton wadding called "Never Dull" will keep it nice, without the mess and grit of something like Brass-O. Never use that stuff.

There are tons of special knowledge topics that need to be realized in order to judge what is being observed. One item might have a very interesting look. Another might have ten times the work in it. It's knowing the techniques involved that helps. These are the types of things I think the forum should enjoy discussing.

Thanks, my Friend,
Gary

Hi Gary,

Thanks for explaining. This kind of work must have taken a bunch of time and concentration in order to achieve this much detail. The finished knife looks really nice. Great work!

sweet!

It's not assembled - but almost there. You can clearly see it now.

Thks for reading.

Gary

I'm thinkin Jerry needs that one for a matching Christmas set . A little red and a little green .
Thats cool the way the bone turns almost see thru as you polished it .

Know that's a classic knife and a great X-mas present!!

Gary,
I'm glad you mentioned the fitting/recarving on the other thread. I never would have seen that if you hadn't mentioned it. The effect is just as you desired!