A few new designs to tackle after Xmas...

Fletcher Knives

Fletcher Knives

STEEL BREATHING BLADE MAESTRO
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I don't know about other knifemakers, but I stay up all night just about every night drawing knives. I'll have designs floating around in my head all night and if I don't put them on paper, it drives me crazy. I seriously just lay in the bed, staring at the ceiling visualizing designs and why they work or don't work. Some nights I get pretty tired and I think, "I might actually be able to fall asleep at a normal time tonight", but the second I lay down, it's like the damn circus comes to town. I start fidgeting and then the flow of knife visions begins.

Here are a few designs I want to knock out after Xmas. Since I first started making knives, one of the main goals I've had is to tackle the Bowie knife. I've been reluctant to get started on one, just due to not thinking I really had the skills to execute it properly. I think I can handle it now, so this will be a big goal reached for me. I have two different sizes, one big chopper and one large belt knife. I'm not married to the handle materials, but the idea I have now is for an Ebony wood scale and ivory micarta bolster. I think that will make for a nice modern bowie handle. Obviously these aren't really the traditional Bowies of olden times, but they're my interpretation of a modern Bowie knife.


HighPlainsDuo.jpg



The other design I've been toying with was inspired by the Zulu battle axe, or Isizenze. The shape of the blade is just so effective and I don't really see it often used. I wanted to make a chopper knife that really took advantage of the bite you can get from having an angle "sweet spot" as apposed to a straight or curved cutting zone. The point of that angle is going to be the contact area of the blade and should bite pretty damn good. I'll make one and do some testing to see what I think. Could be that I'm crazy and this design sucks, but I've had this one in my head for a while and I want to test it out.


Isizenze.jpg



So that's it. Discuss.
 
High Plains pair looks pretty nice. I'm not a huge Bowie fan, myself, but those look to be a cool take on them. I dig the handle shape.

Now the Isizenze? That looks pretty wild. Zombie-slayer all the way!

-Nadz
 
I'll preface this by saying I'm not a bowie fan at all, in fact, it's probably my least favorite style of fixed blade. That said, in the short time I've been hanging around on BF, there are probably 10-15 bowies that have really got my attention. Two of them are in the sketch you posted. The rest of them are Lamey masterpieces or uber high end custom/art knives. I guess that's a roundabout way of saying you've got a super nice design there. I could potentially see myself owning one of those.

I won't say much about the Isizenze, since most of my chopping experience is with axes and a khuk, more recently. It does look like a hell of a sweet zombie slayer, though.

Edit: Esteban didn't make it yesterday, I guess the snow is slowing down the pony express. Should be here today. I must have looked at the clock 100 times already, hoping quitting time is here.
 
Man, those are nice Bowies bro. Your drawings have been kicking ass.
 
Dylside said:
The other design I've been toying with was inspired by the Zulu battle axe, or Isizenze. The shape of the blade is just so effective and I don't really see it often used. I wanted to make a chopper knife that really took advantage of the bite you can get from having an angle "sweet spot" as apposed to a straight or curved cutting zone. The point of that angle is going to be the contact area of the blade and should bite pretty damn good. I'll make one and do some testing to see what I think. Could be that I'm crazy and this design sucks, but I've had this one in my head for a while and I want to test it out.


Isizenze.jpg



So that's it. Discuss.
Click to expand...

I don't think ya crazy at all, I've had this pic saved on my computer for ages now just waiting to redraw my version of it !

1003528245175919std.jpg

By pitdog2010 at 2010-12-10
 
indian4 said:
I'll preface this by saying I'm not a bowie fan at all, in fact, it's probably my least favorite style of fixed blade. That said, in the short time I've been hanging around on BF, there are probably 10-15 bowies that have really got my attention. Two of them are in the sketch you posted. The rest of them are Lamey masterpieces or uber high end custom/art knives. I guess that's a roundabout way of saying you've got a super nice design there. I could potentially see myself owning one of those.

I won't say much about the Isizenze, since most of my chopping experience is with axes and a khuk, more recently. It does look like a hell of a sweet zombie slayer, though.

Edit: Esteban didn't make it yesterday, I guess the snow is slowing down the pony express. Should be here today. I must have looked at the clock 100 times already, hoping quitting time is here.
Click to expand...

Thanks broski! That's a huge compliment!

They need to hurry up and deliver that Esteban. You're going to love that knife.

killstew said:
The Zulu looks right up your alley bro. You are the king of the big choppers
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Wow, the king huh?! Sounds good to me. I don't know that I deserve that title yet, but I sure do love my choppers and I hope I can live up to the title. :D

pitdog said:
I don't think ya crazy at all, I've had this pic saved on my computer for ages now just waiting to redraw my version of it !

1003528245175919std.jpg

By pitdog2010 at 2010-12-10
Click to expand...

Damn, that is almost just like mine. A little more dangerous looking but someone definitely had the same blade shape in their head. Who's work is that? That's close enough that I'm going to want to talk to that maker.
 
y0ukn0wwh0 said:
Dylan, That Isizenze is just nasty looking.. WOW!! What are the rough Specs?
Click to expand...

I forgot to put the specs in the first post. I'll fix that. The Isizenze is going to be 14" over all with a 8.5" blade and 5.5" handle, 1/4" thick steel. No idea what steel I'm going to use.
 
Dylside said:
Thanks broski! That's a huge compliment!

They need to hurry up and deliver that Esteban. You're going to love that knife.



Wow, the king huh?! Sounds good to me. I don't know that I deserve that title yet, but I sure do love my choppers and I hope I can live up to the title. :D



Damn, that is almost just like mine. A little more dangerous looking but someone definitely had the same blade shape in their head. Who's work is that? That's close enough that I'm going to want to talk to that maker.
Click to expand...


Sorry Dylan I just came across it searching the web and saved it, I save all the pics of knives that take my interest.:o
 
pitdog said:
Sorry Dylan I just came across it searching the web and saved it, I save all the pics of knives that take my interest.:o
Click to expand...

Right on. Oh well. Hopefully whoever it is won't think I'm trying to copy them.
 
Dylside said:
Right on. Oh well. Hopefully whoever it is won't think I'm trying to copy them.
Click to expand...

I don't think they would at all, my Knatchet design looks as close to the one I posted as yours does.

I think yours looks an awesome design, can't wait to see it come to life !:thumbup:
 
Dylside said:
Right on. Oh well. Hopefully whoever it is won't think I'm trying to copy them.
Click to expand...

Not unless you put a pointless swedge & silly saw back on it!

Your design looks much more functional especially if a finer edge is put close to the ricasso for feathering/notching (to go with the trademark thumb ramp).

.235" thick at the sharp end tapering to 5/32mm at the blade end, maybe 1/8 by the end of the handle for weight forward chopping.
Make it in spring steel at HRC 52 for shock resistance and what you got there is a bone fide double hard survival tool!
 
The Isizenze is rad! I really like that design. Im not a Bowie fan either, but.... I like the contemporary handle materials. Looking forward to seeing these.
 
The Bowie interpretations are fantastic bro!!

That Zulu inspiration looks mean and wicked, I love those lines. Personally I'd like to see it with the front end just a little a little more forward so more of an acute angle on the actual tip, but that's just me.

Great drawings btw, you and I would have got along great together in school. These days I lay awake planning photos and wondering where to get the background I want lol. Snow here now, tomorrow should be interesting :)
 
mistwalker said:
The Bowie interpretations are fantastic bro!!

That Zulu inspiration looks mean and wicked, I love those lines. Personally I'd like to see it with the front end just a little a little more forward so more of an acute angle on the actual tip, but that's just me.

Great drawings btw, you and I would have got along great together in school. These days I lay awake planning photos and wondering where to get the background I want lol. Snow here now, tomorrow should be interesting :)
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking as well, I think the sweet spot would fall on the upswept front section then instead of on the lowest point where it changes direction....if that makes sense !:confused:
 
pitdog said:
That's what I was thinking as well, I think the sweet spot would fall on the upswept front section then instead of on the lowest point where it changes direction....if that makes sense !:confused:
Click to expand...

I don't know...I think that secondary point would still be the sweet spot, I just like something that will stick good too :D
 
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