BF-W&SS bushcraft/survival knife project

GibsonFan

GibsonFan

Joined
Jul 7, 2006
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You guys may have noticed, I hang out over in W&SS a lot and that's the kind of knives I'm learning/trying to make. (hunters, choppers, skinners, etc.)

Well, those guys are trying to put together a design for a handy, sturdy, <5" blade, full tang, carbon steel knife for general use in the boonies. They'd love to have a knife with a BF* or W&SS logo on it (I'm thinking etched). NWA has already graciously offered his input and I think he's got a couple orders coming in :) Allan Molstad is knee-deep in the convo as well ;) Thanks guys!

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=468628

I'd like to ask you gentlemen to offer your ideas on this kind of knife, and see how many of you might be interested in this type project. Some of the guys over there are talking about a limited "run" of like 50 knives (once they agree on a design), would that be feasible for any of you? The idea I threw out has a few fans, but there's no way in heck I can make a bunch of them in a timely manner. Besides, I can't guarantee the quality that you guys can.

Bear in mind, they're a stingy bunch and it looks like the price point is $100-150 with sheath. I know, I know, they want custom work at production prices ;). They're all very willing to skimp on frills and focus on performance. I understand this may not be economically worthwhile to you gentlemen, but even if you don't want to make them, your input will be appreciated.

*yes, they're aware there may be copyright/royalty/whatever issues involved with calling it a "BladeForums" knife... I think they're going to call it "Wilderness & Survival" to avoid that.
 
Make it as a kit. Then the new owner can be more involved in the process.
I'd say one of the easiest ways to save on cost is to have major parts ( blade and handle material ) water jet cut. Use brass corby bolts and don't use any tubing for a lanyard hole. Stick with a scandi grind cause it's fast. O1 will give you the advantage of striking a spark off the spine with a sharp rock if need be but A2 is little tougher and being an air quenched steel is a little easier to work with having less warpage to deal with during HT. And not much more than O1 dollarwise.
 
No offense guys, but I'm pretty amused by the number of people who say "just have 'em blanked and I'm in for whatever comes up." (here and in the original thread)

If it was that easy, I'd own a factory and be a millionaire by now. There's plenty production knives that come dang close to all the specs listed there... they want something special, that they had a say in designing.

This may sound retarded, but not too many guys in this particular "market niche" even know what A2 is. They want a basic steel they're already familiar with, and they want it affordable. They also want short-cuts in the fancy handle materials, not in the steel or grind. ("Stick with a scandi grind cause it's fast.")

There is some interest for a kit, but most of those guys want a knife they can just order and use.

Check the thread, saves me from repeating everything :)
 
Maybe if we come up with a design first, then more makers would chime in? That way they could see what they were getting into :D
 
I read through a bit of the original post and most of what I see guys suggesting sounds like maybe a slightly thicker and simpler version of a good old fashioned 4-5 inch drop point hunter. That's easy, man:D BTW.......why do you feel that there is an absolute need for the knife to be a full tang design? Is that merely for economy of production (no guard, keep the cost down) or because you feel that it is stronger?
 
GibsonFan said:
Joe... yeah, pretty much... yes... and yes.
Click to expand...

Well, I can understand that. Where I am at this time, I would forge a blade like that out of W2 round bar with a burly hidden tang and a guard for about that price range. I can't guarantee that it will be pretty,but I wound't send it out if it didn't cut:D No i couldn't make 50 of them unless you were willing to wait 12-18 months for me to finish the run and didn't mind that they all look slightly different.....lol;) It would probably be closer to the $125-150range because I would have to buy a sheath from somebody like Sullivan or Treestump.
 
GF,

A2 IS a basic steel used by Chris Reeves, BRK&T, and many other knife makers. It's nothing special just a very good knife steel. I have spent a little time over on the survival forum and I think the posters over there are more savvy than you give them credit for.

Short cuts in the handle material are fine but the cost of labor is where it hits you in the shorts. Materials cost for 50 knives of this nature would probably be less than $15 per knife. A scandi grind is not a short cut for shortcuts' sake, rather it is one of the best grinds for an outdoors knife. 'Been used all over Europe and many parts of the world for many centuries, the main grind for most bushcraft knives, and is easy and fast to make.

A waterjet cutter doesn't care what the steel is shaped like it just cuts whatever you scan into it, so you can draw up any "special" shape you want. The reason I suggested it is because it saves a lot of time ( that labor cost thing). The profile and all holes are already cut for you, and they're all in the right place! Some may argue this but IMO I don't think one is adding "soul" to a knife by cutting out blanks with a bandsaw and drilling holes with a drill press. Nothing against it, they're neccessary steps. I'd rather save the customer the labor costs by having those steps accomplished by a faster means and since this project appears to be based on budget minded customers, well....
 
I don't mean to shortchange those fellas' knowledge, I consider myself one of them :D In any case A2 isn't at the top of their wish list. It's just not a real hot topic over there, put it that way.

I'm beginning to agree with you on getting blanks cut, because this idea has a lot of support and they'll likely need to do it that way if they all want their knives this summer. And of course, with those kind of numbers the labor is a huge factor.

I told them when they decide on the design, I'll draw it up for 'em (if someone else hasn't already) and get a quote on laser-cutting blanks from Admiral. You guys know any other places that would do a short run like this?

Thanks for all your input gentlemen. BTW it looks like we have Spark's blessings, with reasonable conditions. :)
 
Gibsonfan, Try this # 406-755-7989 and talk to Josh at Glacier Jet Technologies in Kalispell, MT. I have him do my cutting for me and he does a good job. His prices are competitive as far as I can tell and he'll do small projects.
 
interesting idea. I'm only on knife number 5 (and 6,7,8) right now, but my design is the first iteration of my dream "widerness hiking" knife. it is bsed on a northwest patch utility knife, with about a 4 inch blade. 3/32 spine width with a long flat grind. full tang so that wht guard there is is integral tang and handle material. maybe is should post pics.

obviously I'm not skilled enough to make these for sale on any sort of schedule yet, but the design is pretty interesting.

I'm glad to see something about my kind of wilderness knife - the arguments about 9 and 10 inch axes that you can filet with are so old :)
 
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