Blade designs. Opinions please

C

CasperD

Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
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Hello y'all. I just ordered my first piece of steel (yay), and I have been designing a few knives.
Please tell me what you think. Any advice,tips,critisism, etc. is much appreciated.
Squares are 1x1 cm, added my $60 ruler for y'all Americans.
61ey.jpg


I'm thinking black G10 for the first one, and some kind of black/red micarta and stainless steel bolster for the second one.
Tell me what you think!

EDIT: I know the 1st one has a weird shape/is out of proportion. I'm just looking for advice, these are not the final designs. More incoming
 
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Personally, I think both designs need more curve to the edge section of the blade. Both have very long flat areas that won't be very useful for cutting. Think about how you're going to use every part of the blade ... what will EVER reach the back section? How would you use the blade to get something back there? With more curve to the blade the whole length of it becomes a cutting zone. You can use a rocking motion to cut tougher stuff.

The handle on the first one looks painful to me, especially that finger slot. Too pointy by far.

The handle on the second one looks too fat, leaving no clearance at all for the fingers when you try to flatten that long straight blade onto something.

Designing a knife isn't really just about drawing something that looks cool or something that is easy to grind. It's more about designing something intended for a particular usage. If that usage is simply to sit in a drawer and open the occasional letter or box, design isn't all that important. If it it supposed to be used for something more demanding, you need to consider that usage while designing.

Also, based on the desings I'm going to guess you're planning to make one or both from a file or some other limited size piece of metal. There are a lot of threads with advice on that subject. My one piece of advice is don't let the size of the piece of metal constrain the design. Don't allow the design to be dictated entirely by the material. Don't be afraid to remove more metal to get the shape you really want. Okay, that's three pieces of advice, but they all basically lead to the same point.

- Greg
 
Thanks a lot for your input Greg!
I have made some adjustments to the second design, and I'll drop the first one for now.
Check it out:
h3uh.jpg

Again, critisism more than welcome!
 
That does look better. Now cut one out in wood or plastic and see how it feels in the hand. See if the handle shape allows you to use it the way you think you want to use it.
 
Just upgraded to inkscape. Tell me what you think!
633t.png

Also, thanks a ton for your help, Greg!
 
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