Creative Block, neck Knife desgin ideas ?

[Rprecision]

So here it is,

This is my second homegrown knife. I would like to make a neck knife. I have a section of .125 O1 from another project, some spalted maple scales, aluminum pins readily available via lathe.

I have settled on a 3” blade with an overall length around 7”. I am planning on a ¾- full convex grind. Thin contoured slabs.

I am encountering a designer’s block; I am at a loss for the design. I am looking for a general use outdoors type design. Where do you go for ideas ?

 

[Battle Creek Knives]

go outside look directly into the sun for about 5 seconds, then close your eyes real tight..

your idea is right there.. do you see it??

seriously, I would just browse neck knives on the net and find something that fancy's you and design something close to that, more then likely you'll come up with a design between two that you like most...

good luck, and keep that steel cool when you cut it.. I see its already tempered

 

[fast14riot]

Well we all have our own preferences but I do think the Folts Minimalist is the best necker I have ever used. Handy shape, too. It may be a little smaller than you are looking for, but that's my opinion. If it's going to worn around the neck think about the weight as well.


-Xander

 

[tryppyr]

So here it is,

I would like to make a neck knife.
.
.
.
I am looking for a general use outdoors type design.


Where do you go for ideas ?

So you want an outdoor necker???

Where I go for ideas is outside. I wander around with my eyes open and my mind empty, waiting for something to inspire me. A leaf, a bird, a fallen piece from a car, some trash on the side of the road. Just look around... the ideas are in your head already. They just need something to give them gravitas.

 

[12345678910]

go outside look directly into the sun for about 5 seconds, then close your eyes real tight..

your idea is right there.. do you see it??

seriously, I would just browse neck knives on the net and find something that fancy's you and design something close to that, more then likely you'll come up with a design between two that you like most...

good luck, and keep that steel cool when you cut it.. I see its already tempered

It is Starrett O1
Annealed and spheroidized, butter soft.
They just give full HT info on every packaged bar.

 

[james terrio]

...good luck, and keep that steel cool when you cut it.. I see its already tempered

What the Count said. Starrett O1 is a dream to work with and makes excellent blades. :thumbup:

Rprecision, you might want to play around with a few templates made of cardboard or paint-stirrers to get a feel for what you want.

 

[Rprecision]

Thanks for the ideas,

eyes wide open, look.........plot plan scheme........got it

 

[Tai Goo]

For creative blocks I recommend getting outisde of your comfort zone, and experiment. This often also involves changing your process of knifemaking as well.

In terms of designing, I think there is a tendency to design knives around the tools and processes you are accustom too. You might even try forgetting the process while you are in the designing mode, and then go back and try to figure out how you are going to make it,… Make adjustments to suite your skill level and tooling if needed.

Look inside yourself for inspiration,... not just outside.

Do whatever you have to do to make it fun and keep it fresh.

 

[Danbo]

Not much in the way of original designs, I'm afraid. Pretty much everything has already been done. So, I would search for neck knives; pick something you like bladewise and handlewise and do your own variation on it.

 

[tryppyr]

Not much in the way of original designs, I'm afraid. Pretty much everything has already been done.

I understand why people say that, but I still think it's a rationalization. Reminds me of numerous times they have said the same of computers... and they have always been wrong.

 

[gga357]

I understand why people say that, but I still think it's a rationalization. Reminds me of numerous times they have said the same of computers... and they have always been wrong.

I agree that computers are constantly changing, but those changes are practical and useful. The limitations of how fast electrons travel exist, however they have made progress in process and parallel computing.

Functional and practical knives have not changed much in recent history. Slicing a tomato or whittling a stick has not changed too much over the years.

Art knives are a different story. If I could get a sheath maker to make a sheath for a Hibben Alien then I would buy both.

 

[Tai Goo]

I'd have to agree with Tryppy on that one.

It's like saying you can't write an original song...

 

[tryppyr]

I understand why people think there is no need for new knife designs... the tomato has not changed such that a new design is required to cut it. But some things are changing that call out needs for new cutting tools. New materials are being made that old knives aren't very good at cutting. Is that important enough to warrant a new design? Maybe, maybe not. Will that become the next Bowie or Ginsu? Probably not, but it will serve a need.

All I'm saying is it is a mistake to assume we've reached the end of innovation in any field. Sure, there will always be people that need a good tomato cutter and a bread slicer. But there will also be people who notice those tools aren't very good at cutting some new materials, and are willing to add a new tool to the tool drawer that will cut those materials cleanly and easily.

 

[tryppyr]

I just thought of an example that I think is a real need.

If you've worked in a shipping room recently, you'll now that these days large orders of things come in pallets wrapped in multiple layers of cling wrap... thin plastic film that sticks to itself, holding the boxes on the pallet together to keep them from shifting.

The recipient has to remove the cling wrap in order to get the individual packages out. Usually, the person is equipped with a box cutter... and MAYBE and EDC. Try using either of these on the cling wrap (especially where it is strected over a void between the packages) and you'll find that the wrap tends to bunch up rather than cut cleanly. It takes multiple attempts, and frankly even those often fail. I usually get so frustrated I start tearing at it with my bare hands because the knives either start destroying the boxes or are useless against the bunching of the cling wrap. It would sure be nice if someone solved that problem and created a knive that could cut the cling wrap AND safely open the boxes. May not be the highest grossing new knife design, but I'd bet there are many shipping and receiving clerks that would buy them.

- Greg

 

[gga357]

I'd have to agree with Tryppy on that one.

It's like saying you can't write an original song...

Tractor and love
Tractor and love lost
Truck and love
Truck and love lost
Really what else is there?

 

[gga357]

Greg,

Agree new materials or procedures may require changes. Nylon webbing increased the need for serrated blades where serrations were not popular before. New innovations do drive the need for more innovations.

Greg

 

[james terrio]

It would sure be nice if someone solved that problem and created a knive that could cut the cling wrap AND safely open the boxes.

Huh? I've opened more pallets and boxes than I can count, it's just not that difficult. Try using the sharp side next time

There will always be wacky new knife designs and whiz-bang gizmos; overpaid designers, wannabe engineers and marketing yahoos need to justify their salaries somehow. But for general utility a good old-fashioned drop point or wharnie is pretty dang hard to beat.