I said to Mike that I'd let him have feedback on the edge - it was a beautiful first shave after just 30 laps on horse. So I'm now off to my grandson's christening with a very closely shaven face.
The shape and line of the blade is excellent, but for me the scales ramp the look up even more. This is a complete package. It is a thing of beauty and if it were mine I would certainly display it and probably be scared to use it!
Truly, that is an absolutely stunning piece of work. So good to know there are still true craftsmen out there willing to take the time to produce a genuinely beautiful item.
I'm glad this thread has come to life again - if only to highlight Mike's fantastic work. That old expression of function over form doesn't apply here - they are both equal.
There is quite a fashion for making blades with fantastical designs, choppers, axes, extreme points, ornately worked spines and/or gaudy multi coloured scales - they just don't begin to compare to this in my opinion.