| Author |
Message |
|
Patrick Kelly
|
 Posted: Sun 30 Jul, 2006 5:40 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
Oooooo! I'm feelin' the love on that one John. 
I love the figure of the new wood. What are you doing differently with the pommel cap?
|
|
   |
 |
Jean Thibodeau
|
| Posted: Sun 30 Jul, 2006 5:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| John Gage wrote: | Hi Patrick,
Here is an updated picture of the ballock with the start of the new hilt. I am redoing the pommel as well which has not been added yet. Let me know what you think. I hope your back feels better. 
John |
Oh, very very nice.  The photography is getting more subtle while still giving lots of information about the shape. The only thing I would like is to see just a " tiny " amount of extra contrast on the handle to see the geometry of the handle better.
But, bottom line, it's a really nice photo. ( And cheating with Photoshop it would be possible to tweak the contrast on the handle without going so far as to be " lying " i. e. changing the reality of the piece, only show it off better. )
Also good soft lighting without overexposed hot spots or any dark shaddows on the blade.
John: Just giving you my opinion of the photography as positive criticism.
The knife itself is great: No positive criticism needed. 
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
|
|
|
|
|
John Gage
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Sun 30 Jul, 2006 6:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hi Guys,
Patrick I am happy that you like the change. I like it much better too. Having changed the grip I decided to make another pommel to fit the grip rather than making the grip to fit the old pommel. It will basicly be the same as the first.
Jean, No worries, I appreciate your advice. I will have some in process pics of your dagger for you very soon.
Regards,
John
http://www.GageCustomKnives.com/
|
|
 |
|
John Gage
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Sun 30 Jul, 2006 6:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Jean Thibodeau wrote: | Very nice and what a difference a little more work makes ! The first pict of this one seemed promising or at least I thought it would be once finished.
The guard furniture: Do you know if it served a specific practical function or is it just a traditional style used on many but not all ballock daggers. On some it might be useful in parrying when in wider versions leaving a bit of a space on each side of the blade. Or does it help make a more secure fit in a scabbard so that the blade wont fall out easily ? Finally, is it just decorative ?
Oh, I wonder about the similarities between some ballock dagger blades and some rondel dagger blades.
The single edged ones with somewhat wider blades seem to be more functional as general purpose knives as well as selfdefense weapons and remind me mostly of early dirks. I like both kinds by the way and I'm only commenting on the variety of blade shapes, if I could afford it I would order one of each.
Looking forward to mine though. |
Hi Jean,
Honestly, I am not sure whether or not the guard shape serves a function or if it's decorative. There are so many different sizes and styles which makes me think that it is just decorative. Just speculation of course. It's very hard to pinpoint the reasons because of the wide variety of blade styles and hilts. Some blades are obvious of their intended purpose like the one pictured with the reinforced tip where others were more for general purpose. I am doing research but the research cannot be black or white, unfortunately. I will add more details where i can.
John
http://www.GageCustomKnives.com/
|
|
|
|
|
Bob Burns
|
| Posted: Mon 31 Jul, 2006 12:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
That is one beautiful Ballock dagger if ever I did see one! Awesome!
Bob
|
|
 |
|
|
Tim Lison
|
| Posted: Mon 31 Jul, 2006 1:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
Wow, that's darn nice! Great work John!
|
|
|
|
|
Jean Thibodeau
|
| Posted: Thu 24 Aug, 2006 6:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Oh, just an update on the Ballock that John is making for me that should be finished soon.
Here is a pic that John sent me today. Cocobolo handle and bronze furniture, final assembly and sharpening not yet done.
 Attachment: 97.21 KB
[ Download ]
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
|
|
|
|
|
Pamela Muir
|
| Posted: Thu 24 Aug, 2006 6:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I am so envious! That is quite stunning.
Pamela Muir
Founder/Lead Instructor
Academy of Chivalric Martial Arts
"I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night. He's gotta be strong, And he's gotta be fast, And he's gotta be fresh from the fight." ~Steinman/Pitchford
|
|
|
|
|
Jean Thibodeau
|
| Posted: Thu 24 Aug, 2006 7:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Pamela Muir wrote: | | I am so envious! That is quite stunning. |
Thanks, I'm also looking forward to handling it as the feel of a piece is " almost " more important than it's looks IMHO: Balance, texture(s), shape make all the difference between a good looking knife or sword and one you just itch to hold.
I always like to get to know a piece with all the senses and this is why pictures only tell you so much.
The first handling is always part confirmation of how one imagines it will feel and part surprise.
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patrick Kelly
|
| Posted: Thu 24 Aug, 2006 9:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Here's a few updates on mine
|
|
|
|
|
Jean Thibodeau
|
| Posted: Thu 24 Aug, 2006 9:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Patrick;
That's truly impressive.
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patrick Kelly
|
| Posted: Thu 24 Aug, 2006 9:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Jean Thibodeau wrote: | Patrick;
That's truly impressive. |
Thanks Jean, yours also.
Think it'll go well with the Svante?
|
|
|
|
|
John Gage
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Wed 30 Aug, 2006 12:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks Guys,
I am glad that you are liking how your blades are coming along. I've been working very hard on completing orders and designing new and exciting medieval reproductions. Also I would like to point out that the bloodwood and brass and the ebony and steel ballock daggers featured in this thread have not found a happy home yet.
Regards,
John
http://www.GageCustomKnives.com/
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patrick Kelly
|
| Posted: Wed 30 Aug, 2006 4:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
John,
I'm extremely happy with the way my dagger is progressing. Some of the things that are added to my collection are pretty open ended. I don't have a clear view of what I want and usually wind up with a good basic representation of a given type. On the other hand, there are some things I'm pretty particular about. I have a clear vision of what I want and those are the pieces that tend to stay around permanently. I've been looking for a ballock dagger for a long time. It's such a classic design that spans the high medieval period up through the renaissance and can fit into many interpretations. When I saw that first photo of yours I knew I had to have it. It's exactly what I've been looking for and I'm thrilled with the way it's coming along.
|
|
|
|
|
Jean Thibodeau
|
| Posted: Wed 30 Aug, 2006 4:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
John;
To echo what Patrick said I'm happy also with mine also.
Oh, you might take a fresh side by side pic of the two "orphan " ballocks in search of a buyer: Your photography has improved and the subtle differences in blade shape would be nice to see next to each other.
Very small differences in blade profile make each distinct and appealing: Both the one that tapers more and the one that tapers less would appeal to me on alternating days. 
I do like that mine is of the more tapering kind though. ( So I'm not wishing it was the other. )
Hmmmmmm .......... available for immediate delivery ! Just trying to help you sell these. Just trying to tempt the weak.
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
|
|
|
|
|
John Gage
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Mon 18 Sep, 2006 9:01 am Post subject: New Ballock |
|
|
Hi all,
I just finished this one up, Hope you like it,
Regards,
John
Attachment: 87.34 KB
Attachment: 104.46 KB
http://www.GageCustomKnives.com/
|
|
|
|
|
Jean Thibodeau
|
| Posted: Mon 18 Sep, 2006 9:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
John;
That looks great and the photography is getting very good also as the lighting makes seeing the shapes and bevels clearly.
The photography's two roles are met: One the functional goal of giving information and the secondarty goal of being a really great pic aesthetically.
( Sent you a P.M. about something unrelated. )
P.S. Oh forgot to say that the scabbard also looks great together with the dagger.
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patrick Kelly
|
| Posted: Mon 18 Sep, 2006 4:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
John beat me to it! 
Needless to say, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be very pleased with this one. I love what he's done with the scabbard. I think it will make a perfect companion to the Svante.
|
|
|
|
|
Gordon Clark
|
| Posted: Mon 18 Sep, 2006 5:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That one is really beautiful! Love the scabbard.
Nice job John - and congrats, Patrick!
Gordon
|
|
|
|
|
John Gage
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Mon 25 Sep, 2006 9:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Gordon Clark wrote: | That one is really beautiful! Love the scabbard.
Nice job John - and congrats, Patrick!
Gordon |
Thank you Gordon .
http://www.GageCustomKnives.com/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a standard topic