Another hair-brained idea... pin-up knife

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tryppyr

tryppyr

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I started thinking about what I wanted to do with the trench knife handle. It's a big, manly looking thing.

TrenchWIP1.JPG


Though this was a refugee from WWI, presumably, I understand these trench knives were used in the first part of WWII as well. Which got me to thinking about that war and its defining symbols.

The image that came to mind was of the pin up girls painted on the noses of the aircraft... so I had a thought... perhaps a blade in the shape of a pin-up girl, with her hair flowing into this big bruiser of a handle. Her legs and hips would form the blade, her torso and head would be the ricasso, her hair/hat the tang.

Not sure I'm really going to go through with this, but I do want to sketch out some ideas.

Another complete impractical idea brought to you by the producer of clownish knives. ;)

- Greg
 
Instead of the pin up girl, I'd go with a large drop point and etch a shark face on to the point.... kinda like the old shark faced P-40's...
RT%27shark.jpg


Then mayby do a Bette Page pin up girl for the maker's mark Ala' Loveless

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Jason
 
JasonSCarter said:
Instead of the pin up girl, I'd go with a large drop point and etch a shark face on to the point.... kinda like the old shark faced P-40's...
Then mayby do a Bette Page pin up girl for the maker's mark Ala' Loveless
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That's a stellar idea! It would cover the idea of relating the piece to the war era but still be an actual knife.

There's (A) knives, and there's (B) art, and there's (C) art knives... a trucker-babe/mudflap girl with an edge ground on it and a knuckle duster handle would be (D) none of the above. Maybe a wasp-waisted dagger blade, with an etching of a staning pin-up gal would convey the idea.
 
This sounds like a really interesting idea. I hope it works out.

On a side note, can you post a link to the knife you did that is the two intertwined snakes. I lost track of the thread and don't remember how it turned out.
Thanks,
Rob
 
Actually it’s already been done, during WWII in Italy. I have one in my theater knife collection. These theater knives were made during the war for the GIs, they are cast aluminum letter openers with a girl’s body as the grip. I’ve heard of them being made with real blades, but I haven’t been able to find one yet.
 

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How is the law on brass knuckles where you live?
It would be a shame if you got in trouble over a project you're working on.
 
The handle alone would be a set of brass knuckles. Mounted on a blade it is merely a handle.
 
Beyond that, we don't have too many possession laws governing inside the home in the U.S. when it comes to handheld weapons. Of course, there may be some states that get a little picky, but it's fairly rare. Additionally, if it's an obvious "art piece" and not a weapon, one would probably have a pretty good leg to stand on even in less hospitable states.

For what it's worth, I do agree that you should attempt a redo of the original. Sometimes working on mundane or uninteresting projects improves your ability to do more detailed work.
 
Thanks for the suggestions and comments.

One key problem with the suggestion of making it like the original is the amount of damage that was done to the handle. Compare the two pictures and you'll see what I mean. The one I have has no guard at all. It was broken/ground off when I got it, and I've since evened it out on the grinder... gone completely now. If I move in the direction of mimicking the original I will end up with a fighting knife that has no guard.

That's why I said it's too late for that approach. I need something different... something that isn't diminished by the absence of the guard.

- Greg
 
For what it's worth, the guard is primarily useful in keeping you off the blade, which has been effectively handled by the rest of the design. Many (most) of my "fighting" knives do not get guards.

A new guard could also be worked into the knife.

None of my business, of course, just rambling.
 
Actually, I thought about Bowie. I haven't really committed to a blade plan yet... still working on another project at the moment, so there's still time for some idea to grab me.
 
The original blade shape for the trench knife was a triangle shaped spike. It was made to penatrate the heavy trench coats worn by the Germans. I'd go with that.
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sharpeknives said:
The original blade shape for the trench knife was a triangle shaped spike. It was made to penatrate the heavy trench coats worn by the Germans. I'd go with that.
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To my knolledge the Americans had three different types of trench knives during the time they were involved in WW1

Two out of the three in deed had triangular blades. They also had mean steel fist guards like knuckle dusters.
The third kind had the brass handle like brass knuckles.
They had a dubble edged blade. (like in post#6)

Most soldiers didn't like any of them becouse off the limited ways they could be used.
Also they were weapons only with no utillity use.

Many of the knives with the brass handle (like Gregg has) had the knuckles ground off leaving a dagger with vinger coils.

Personally if I'd get hold of the handle that Gregg has I'd make something as close to the original as I could.
I'd make a new guard between the handle and blade.
Also I'd be seen as a criminal here in Germany since they are VERY illegal to own. The law look at them as brass knuckles first and as a knife second.

But since Gregg isn't afraight to think outside of the box, here's an other idea:

Grind off the three bottom knuckles, leaving the one for the index finger.
So you get a handle with a ring for one finger.
I think a handle like that would suit a heavy chopper or camp knive very well.

The handle would still be instantly regonisable to people who know knives but it will have a more friendly civilian use.
Click to expand...
 
I really like the playfulness of your ideas and your attempt at humor. You need to put as much or more effort into your design and execution as your concept, or your ideas and clownishness may fall short and not be taken seriously…

It's always funnier when it's serious.
 
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