BF survival forum knife.

tknife

tknife

Joined
Mar 18, 1999
Messages
9,966
I've seen other forums that have put together a forum knife, wonder if we could get that going here? It may be too much of a daunting task to take on, but maybe if there was enough interest we could convince one of the fine makers here to make them. 'Course we'd have to come up with a cool design too. Just thinkin'...
 
The only obstacle to that, would be sorting through the 6 or a dozen different designs we'd come up with. :)

It is a cool idea though, I could volunteer some grinder time. A couple others guys around here are getting into making, they might pony-up some labor too.
 
I know, ask 10 guys what their knife design would be and get 12 answers :) I figure the best way would be to get some designs drawn up based on everyones input, then vote on it.
A couple things I'd suggest to make it practical and help keeps the cost down would be simple carbon steel, 4-5" blade, Micarta (or simimilar) scales, simple pouch leather or Kydex sheath.

I say everyone start tossing around some ideas, see if it will take off. I think it'd be cool, and fun!
 
Sounds fun. I'd love to see something in scandi, or nessmukish.
 
Wheres Kyp Deagle? He had some nice designs posted here and everyone seemed to like them a lot. The one he got Justin at Ranger knives to make was pretty nice.
 
Fiddleback said:
Sounds fun. I'd love to see something in scandi, or nessmukish.
Click to expand...

I had a couple designs in mind too, and one is definitely Nessmukish. You were actually one of the guys I was thinking could maybe make them too ;) Or maybe a prototype.
 
tknife said:
I know, ask 10 guys what their knife design would be and get 12 answers :) ...
A couple things I'd suggest to make it practical and help keeps the cost down would be simple carbon steel, 4-5" blade, Micarta (or similar) scales, simple pouch leather or Kydex sheath...
Click to expand...

Heh! You got that right, man.

I like your specs so far, we could come up with a couple different design within those parameters.

I think I'm one of the few who prefers a thicker spine; perhaps we could agree on a basic or at least similar profile/size and compare thin vs. thick?

I'm working on a blade that fits these specs as we speak, give me a minute and I'll post a pic (so far, it's only got the profile and basic bevels on it, but it's definitely knife-shaped)

In any case, I've been thinking about making something for a pass-around, to get honest feedback, since I'm pretty new to making. You may have just given me the kick-in-the-pants I needed :) I know FiddleBack and SkunkWerx have already made a couple I'd like to get my hands on.
 
what about a pair?

something like a small utility/bushcraft and a small or midsize chopper? but that would probably get to be too costly...

i am most curious about the grind, because i know that there are alot of people that like convex grinds, but i also know that there are alot that prefer a high flat grind or a hollow grind. unless there were several in each grind, this could present a problem...or it could present none. it could go either way.

this is a good idea i think...would we put a special logo on the blade or would be just write something like
BF
Survival Forum
?

just some things to think about...
 
I have been thinking of a similiar knife lately. Not particularly for BF but one that could be blanked out easily by water jet, has easily interchangeable handles and possibly gaurd, full tang, 4" blade, scandi grind. I will draw it out and post it, but it won't be this minute. Basically a pattern of which quite a few could be blanked out, then the maker could put the bevel on them and heat treat. I had in my head that the batch could all be Paul Bos heat treated. So really, just a maker required to grind the bevels. A person could paracord wrap the blank, or build their own handles.
 
Any Cal, you're drifting dangerously close to full-on production mode. Not that that's a bad thing, necessarily.

Here's my current project... started with a Nicholson knife file, paid $.99 for it new at the "junk" store. I tempered it back (twice) in my kitchen oven at 350degrees for an hour, giving it a nice light bronze color and making it not so brittle.

Since the bevels are already there, all I've had to do is profile it and convex the edge a bit. With the full tang being beveled as well, I think I will end up drilling oversize for the pins/thong tube and allow the epoxy to fill in the gaps. (I don't have a drill press etc. to help keep the drilling perpendicular to the spine.) I intend to use fiber spacers under the scales, I've recently read that this actually helps the bond quite a bit, and it just looks nice.

The spine is very thick (7/32"), thicker than my Master Hunter (3/16" at the guard). I'm going to see if I can get it to cut decently as-is but I may have to thin it out more. I don't intend to taper it much more unless sharpness dictates it. There will be only the integral guard shown, and very basic scales added to it. I will likely drill out the tang a bit for weight/balance; as it is now, it balances a 1/4" behind the guard.

My intent is to have 4" of blade, with all of it being usable and razor sharp (no choil, although there will be a 1/4" round groove for scraping sparks off a ferro-rod at the plunge line). The depression on the spine is meant to be both a thumb-notch and a place for your forefinger when holding the knife "backwards" for small tasks. I think it needs some grooves in it for gription. I have a plain-looking but very stable chunk of treated oak decking that has "wilderness knife scales" written all over it.
http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t32/JTerrio/

Any questions and comments are welcome! What would you guys add or change to this design? It's meant for general woods use, able to withstand hard batoning and even some prying, yet still be a good slicer and skinner. I want it to spread peanut butter as handily as it does rougher work. I will sacrifice toughness for better cutting ability, if needed.
 
A trio of survival knives would be great to work on: a small neck knife, a 4"-ish utility knife and a short machete.
 
That's a pretty sharp looking blade, Gibsonfan! ;)

If we're just tossing preferences in to get a feel for what people want in general, I like the following:

- full tang
- around 4", preferably not any more (maybe a little less if anything)
- scandi grind?
- Preferably not the nessmuck-ish style (just personal preference)
- lanyard hole?
- low cost!!!
- tough enough to do very light prying, batoning, etc.
- geared towards all-around bushcraft performance

These are just some thoughts on what I feel a woods knife ought to be. I can't wait to see all the designs people come up with. I like this idea a lot!

[I'd also be down for the duo set of knives (one large/one small), but it would be really hard to do and keep costs down. Still neat, though!]

Edited to add: Carbon!!! Greatly preferred over stainless!
 
GibsonFan said:
The only obstacle to that, would be sorting through the 6 or a dozen different designs we'd come up with. :)

It is a cool idea though, I could volunteer some grinder time. A couple others guys around here are getting into making, they might pony-up some labor too.
Click to expand...

Agreed. From what I have gathered we all like:

Drop points
Flat grinds
Scandi grinds
Convex grinds
Wood handles
Mircata handles
Hidden tangs
Full tangs
Stainless steel
Carbon steel
4" blades
Big choppers (aka anything above 6";) )
Kydex sheathes
Leather sheathes
Stainless bolsters
No bolsters
One finger hilt
No hilt


Great idea........ all we have to do is agree on the above;) :D

I do like the idea, just might take some time. My vote:

Wood scales (curly birch)
O1, or 1095 steel
4" drop point...flat grind
1/8" thick at the most (would like it 3/32")
Leather pouch sheath
 
Gibsonfan, that's a nice design. Looks straighforward and super stout.
Spookypistolero, nice preferences you have there too. I'm sort of shying away from Scandi grinds in my designs. there seems to be an abundance of good ones out there already.

I'll try and get some sketches up tomorrow.
 
Thank you kindly for your comments.

OK gents, you've talked me into it... I'm going to finish that knife and put it up for pass-around. We'll figure out the details on that as we go along, I reckon. So my contribution will be a STOUT 4", mild drop point, full-tang... I bet we can talk someone into coughing up a thinner blade as well. (*ahem* FiddleBack and SkunkWerx!)

I'd love to do a big chopper as well (you guys know I like big blades! :D), but time and materials are somewhat limited so I'm going to stick with this one knife and do my best on it.

Spooky's specs are almost exactly the same as mine for a small knife, except I want to see how thick I can leave it and still have it cut very well. I was thinking of calling mine the "StoutFinger" but I might get sued! ;)
 
That would fit the bill nicely, pitdog...

I'm curious, how much belly do you guys like on your utility knives? I've been making mine with a pretty round but short belly, to maximize straight-edge length but allow for that sweep should it be needed.

Your opinions concerning drop-point vs. swept point vs. sheepsfoot?
 
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