Critique the design for my first knife

[UnixDork]

I plan on making this one with O1, and micarta scales. I'll be making it with only hand tools. The blade should be just under 3 inches. The scales will go on with stainless corby fasteners, which I've used before to re-handle a knife.

What do you think?

 

[Leu Custom]

very nice and compact design!

 

[Bruce Bump]

Very good design with just a couple suggestions to consider. I like a finger guard even if its just a little stopper just in case the hand gets cold or slippery you cant slide onto the sharp edge. It looks like you had one there but flattened it off to match the choil. I say put it back on.
The other thing is the pommel has the squared corners that rub a hot spot after hours of skinning. I have had that complaint from one of my Canada bear hunters. It takes a long while to cape a griz apparently.

 

[Will Leavitt]

Very nice overall.... couple of things.

Consider replacing the rear corby with a piece of matching tubing for a lanyard or thong.

Think about how the front of the scales will match up to the plunge cut, some people like it to match the plunge, some don't but if you don't want it it match make it a little more distinctive.

Like Bruce said, I'd round off the butt a bit more. I'm not a fan of sharp corners in the handle area, it creates hot spots (that being said I'm working on an EDC that does have a sharp pointy area thingy )

Lastly, not a functional but a design issue. People naturally make patterns and lines in their mind when looking at objects. Your mind will make a "centerline" when looking at a knife, bolts/pins or anything else on the handle that's not the blade or the handle material should fall along the mental centerline or make some sort of pattern along the centerline. Run a line from the point to one of the corbys and see where the other falls along this line. Just a design rule of thumb I follow.

Looks much better than the early monstrosities I inflicted on the knife public

 

[UnixDork]

Thanks very much for the help!

 

[Trace Rinaldi]

I like it, very usefull looking design.. Just me, I would take a bit of the drop out of the point, and shave a tad off the belly of the blade. Basically a bit pointier, and it would add a bit of cutting edge to the limited blade length.

 

[UnixDork]

I like it, very usefull looking design.. Just me, I would take a bit of the drop out of the point, and shave a tad off the belly of the blade. Basically a bit pointier, and it would add a bit of cutting edge to the limited blade length.

I see what you mean, my first draft was a lot pointier. Since this one will be carried every day I wanted it to look a bit more like a butter knife and less stabby just so it would be a little more PC. I wish I didn't have to consider things like that but it is what it is.

 

[Reg ELLERY]

Unixdork

I like your knife the way you have drawn it. My brother is a slaughterman / bonner slicer he works for hours with knives. Blokes like that will be able to feel all sorts of things with knifes. If this knife is your first for a bit of light work here and there for a few minutes at a time. I say make it as drawn try it. The other blokes have made valid points and on a technical level I agree what they say is correct. However in the early days my brothers green river russell and other brands that I can not remember had the corners at the back on wood scales just like or very similar to yours. Check out the scandinavian knives which have handles sloping into the cutting edge with no guards.

Consider if the knife is meant to be cutting back on the pull stroke or the push or just genneral work.

What ever you decide on it looks to be shapping up fine. Have you considered making the handle lighter by drilling a honey come of holes in the full tang. Only if the handle is tang is thick. Make sure you sort out the pin holes first. The extra holes will allow the glue to key in for better bonding.

Its looking go so far keep going.

 

[atakach]

my opinion don't be afraid to go deep with that finger guard, it'll make a world of difference in the comfort, and maybe start back an inch or so and gradually drop that tip a little more . just my opinion other than that looks great. dont care for corby rivits, but hey your blade . looks real good!!

 

[UnixDork]

I have officially wussed out, I'm having David at Great Lakes Waterjet cut the blank for me.

 

[greatlakeswaterjet]

Its not wussing out. Its using your time wisely and not burning up bandsaw blades and grinder belts Its still your design and a nice one at that.

 

[SDS]

Just a thought. You might want to cut this pattern out of plexiglass or thin wood and see how it feels in your hand. That may make a difference in what you decide you like or don't like before you have the blank cut out.

It's what I do before I start cutting up my steel.

SDS

 

[Harry Stone]

Just a thought. You might want to cut this pattern out of plexiglass or thin wood and see how it feels in your hand. That may make a difference in what you decide you like or don't like before you have the blank cut out.

It's what I do before I start cutting up my steel.

SDS

Thanks, I'll do that for my next one.

ps - I'm UnixDork, I finally ponied up the money for a knifemaker membership since I've more than leeched enough info and help from this forum.