Bushcraft knife design input needed

K

KFU

Part Time Knifemaker, Moderator
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
Messages
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I just finished up this new Hunter. Its the first I have made and love how it feels. I currently also make a Bushcrafter but was wanting to make a Woods knife with the handle of the Hunter. Most Bushcraft knives you see have a pretty straight spine and palm swells so could this design morph into a good Bushcrafting knife? Im thinking if I thinned the blade down, dropped the point, and took out alot of the belly it just might work out. What are your thoughts?
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My current Bushcrafter
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Your current bushcrafter is ridiculously sick and I want it!

The only thing I'd change on the Hunter is to remove the point between the slab and plunge line ....... and let the slab flow to the plunge so that the finger has a nice spot to rest when choked up.
 
Both look great. I think your idea would work; it would certainly make for a very appealing bushcraft knife.
 
I like the ergonomics of your new model. I'm increasingly fond of handles that have a single contour, rather than contours for the index finger, palm swells, etc.

I'd use your new model with no modifications and would likely be very happy with it in all tasks. Only suggestions? Give the blade a large sharpenable bevel (convex or flat) and it should be good to go.
 
Both look fantastic and practical. I'd take that swept hunter handle to a more extreme sweep and give it a small light blade like the bushcrafter design to make a bushboot! The curved handle would allow for an easy draw for pocket or boot carry for the purposes of short dayhikes and trail/town edc. Here in Boise people would eat that kind of stuff up, seeing as how after work and school people flock downtown for a beer and a hike in the foothills. Leave the belly-the belly is fantastic. IMO, more belly the better, it increases useable cutting edge while keeping the length the same. This allows you to carry a smaller knife with more tip control while using it for larger slicing tasks. I love my HEST for that very reason. I don't think it matters much if the spine has a gradual drop point to it or if it's just straight-as long as one can batton and reinforce their grip/control along it, you will be fine. Some people are particular about centering the point of the blade along the center of the handle axis, but that's personal taste.
 
Thanks guys. I like the idea of a more swept handle and thinner blade. Maybe a nice alternative to my smaller Bushcrafter at around the same size, 3.5" blade with 4.5" handle sounds good. Im going to profile one out tonight and see if it "works"
 
trying to upload some photos-I drew out some profiles for you of things I've wanted for a while, especially considering the upcoming hunting and winter seasons. Discovered some not-so-far-away destinations that get bombed by snow every year so these have been drawn up with cold weather tasks in mind-I've been yearning to play in the white stuff for a bit ;) I even have some Wassail on the stove.
 
Alright, here are a couple I just profiled out. They are just a rough profile. I don't draw anything out since I suck at it so I just grind feel grind feel until it feels good. The top one has a 1 1/8" wide blade and about the same at the widest point of the handle.
The bottom one is a little over an 1" wide blade and the same at the widest point of the handle.
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Top one.... I do prefer more belly but more important for my needs (cleaning animals and ranch work) is a large handle. I can get by with a 2 " blade as long as the handle is a minimum 4.5"'s. I find this really helps with hand fatigue. The smaller/thinner the handle, the quicker my hands cramp and tire. Here is something crazy. The custom I want to build will have horse mat material (similair to what KOA uses) as a spacer/liner.
 
They look lovely
Congrats on the work!

If you could post the sizes of the blade, handle and thickness of the steel, it would help to visualize the knife in context
 
In terms of aesthetics I like it very much. Really elegant knife.

In terms of ergonomics, for extensive work, I prefer something more palm filling, so I like belly and bump on my handles. I think it is somewhat a pity most "bushcraft" knives come with straight handle spine. That said I'm kind of nit-picking, it is probably very good already as is.

Regarding handle material, I've come to appreciate wood again: sureit isn't as durable as micarta or G10 (not as tough, not as water resistant) but it is lighter, cheaper and easier to work which means you'll usually be able to get a more comfortable handle.
 
Great looking knives! For what I use a woods/bushcraft knife for, I prefer the blade shape on the hunter, with the majority of the belly in the upper third of the blade. I think a combo with the bushcrafter handle and the hunter blade would be spot on.

Good work!

Brandon
 
Those are both sweet! I especially like the handle on the bushcraft, those orange liners with that specific color of wood is awesome.
 
Thanks for all the comments guys! You see, its hard to make a knife that will please everyone. Everyone has their own tastes so thats why Im trying to do different patterns. Here are some pics of the finished knife of that bottom blank above. I like the size of it. It would make a good day hiking blade and I curved the handle more like Payette Rucker suggested.
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