Recommendation? Design Critique Request - Thanks!

Sando

Sando

Knife Maker
Joined
Jul 4, 2002
Messages
1,148
(It's a little scary asking for a critique, but there's so many great makers here I'd like the advice anyway.)

This is a prototype, but I feel like it's really close to my goal. The steel is MagnaCut (quick machine finish so don't judge that) and the scales are tapered African Blackwood.

I'm trying to make something that looks clean and fast. Of course function is important, but I'd like to put some emphasis on flare. I'm an old guy, so I'd like something that looks more contemporary than me.

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Some of my issues:

* I think the blade is a tad too wide.
* The false edge should be longer.
* The bevel around the handle should be a little larger, but is looks so cool as is.
* I have mixed feelings about the choil. It's nice, but it adds some extra contour that isn't necessary.
 
I dont know .... I think that overall looks pretty darned cool (I would maybe describe it as "sassy" - if that makes any sense). I would maybe lose the little bit of metal below the front of the handle and just behind the choil. I would keep the choil (but then again, I like sharpening choils. *maybe* make the but of the handle just a *little* less high (but I will defer to others on that). Consider a third pin in the middle of the handle. I think the two as is *looks* great - but from a robustness/longevity issue, I think the third pin would make for a more secure and robust scale attachment.
 
Sando said:
(It's a little scary asking for a critique, but there's so many great makers here I'd like the advice anyway.)

This is a prototype, but I feel like it's really close to my goal. The steel is MagnaCut (quick machine finish so don't judge that) and the scales are tapered African Blackwood.

I'm trying to make something that looks clean and fast. Of course function is important, but I'd like to put some emphasis on flare. I'm an old guy, so I'd like something that looks more contemporary than me.

View attachment 1698638

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View attachment 1698642


Some of my issues:

* I think the blade is a tad too wide.
* The false edge should be longer.
* The bevel around the handle should be a little larger, but is looks so cool as is.
* I have mixed feelings about the choil. It's nice, but it adds some extra contour that isn't necessary.
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I think it's a great streamlined design. Only possible issue I could see you running into is the handle scales getting in the way when sharpening being so close to the the plunge line but they might not depending on how you go about sharpening and what you use.


My only advice is if you are not happy with certain aspects of your design make another and incorporate the changes because it will bug you until you do it. I'm the same I'll work on a new design then once it's completed and I've had it in my hand I think maybe I should do this or that & 95% of the time when I make the next one with the small tweaks and changes it's a improvement and I'm happier with the outcome.
 
So, I’m not a maker, just to take that into consideration- but overall I like the design. I don’t think the blade is too wide, it looks to be just right to what you’d want in a utility design. The Swedge could be pulled back more, but I think the area makes a good place to rest your thumb for harder pressure so I wouldn’t consider that a must. The angular handle slabs give it a very modern look, the only critic I could think of would be to maybe round off the finger guard a little more, or maybe flush it with the scale. Otherwise aesthetically you could add another pin in the center, or maybe an inlay of some sort if you wanted to “class it up”. But that’s not picky, I’d buy it!
 
Kraken82 said:
I think it's a great streamlined design. Only possible issue I could see you running into is the handle scales getting in the way when sharpening being so close to the the plunge line but they might not depending on how you go about sharpening and what you use.


My only advice is if you are not happy with certain aspects of your design make another and incorporate the changes because it will bug you until you do it. I'm the same I'll work on a new design then once it's completed and I've had it in my hand I think maybe I should do this or that & 95% of the time when I make the next one with the small tweaks and changes it's a improvement and I'm happier with the outcome.
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HAHAHAHA RE: sharpening. What a screwup. My paper design had a larger ricasso. But when I made the handle template, I must of had a brain fart. Doing a little math, I can only put a 25 degree edge (50 inclusive) on this iteration. Or make the choil longer. Kraken Tactical Edc Kraken Tactical Edc , you really saved the day. A bigger ricasso in the next iteration.

AdamFuzzyballs AdamFuzzyballs It does need a little more rounding at the finger guard. Maybe I'll put an inlay in the 'deluxe' version.

C Cushing H. Thanks for the adjective: sassy - that works. I'm kinda partial to two pins not evenly spaced. Add some tension to the design. But I hear you. I could put a couple hidden pins near the middle to add a little umph. (The handle is skeletonized for balance.)
 
What you discussed about the handle butt is good. I also agree that the little metal tab below the handle front needs to go. The line of the edge should carry straight back, or it will snag in cutting.
 
I'm not sure how much weight anybody should put on my opinion, but it's a public forum and you asked for input, so here goes. I like it and think "clean and fast" describe it well. To get "cleaner and faster", in addition to the suggestions above, I would make the plunge on the swedge much shallower - a really steep plunge there looks un-aerodynamic. And I would taper the tang - that adds a sleekness to the design that I think would go well with what you're doing here. (Plus tapered tangs just make any fixed blade full tang knife look a million times cooler.)
 
I quite like the current shape of the butt, i think it fits with all the other angular aspects. Obviously i would need to hold it to really say
I'm also sceptical about the sustainability of most African woods, especially black ones, so i would probably try to find a synthetic

+1 on the tapered tang
 
I like it! I do agree about the little tab at the front of the finger guard area , and a bit of rounding at the heel of the butt, but I don't think I would change the ricasso at all! Overall it is a very sleek design that looks good and looks functional!
 
Nice knife. Great lines. I'd have it in a moment. And while I understand the comments regarding rounding the butt, I like the line as is, just as much. Nice knife.
 
I really like it, beautiful. Edited...think minus tab next to choil would look cleaner with that design. Flush with bottom of scale. Your false edge is perfect to my eyes, would leave alone if mine. .
 
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For functional reasons I don't think scales should extend out on the ricasso so that they are above the edge.
 
Awesome sleek looking Edc design. I feel like it needs one more texture. Maybe blasted flats, or Jimping or a liner. Just one more wee feature.
 
i think it looks great. i like how the handle material mimics the angle of the plunge line. for critique, the edges look kinda square, and could use some more rounding. and get rid of the point on the end of the handle as mr hanson suggested.
 
Round the handle scales and have the pins a bit but not to much closer to eachother.
Spine to edge don't have then 50-50 but 40-60 or 30-70
 
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