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Design Critique Wanted

zoe crist

zoe crist

Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Messages
264
Hi everyone..

I would like some design critiques on this new line I am working on. They are simple and seriously functional. They would be a low end version.. By low end I mean by price point. With each knife I conducted the ABS test. Shaving, rope cutting, chopping 2x4, shaving again.. Obviously skipped the bend test :-) the knives are 1095 and the Hamon one is 1075-1080. All are hand forged. All are 3/16" thick, top two are about 6" long and the bottom one is 5" long. I'am curious to get others opinions and suggestions.. thanks for looking

Zoe
http://www.zoecristknives.com
small_IMG_0365.jpg
 
this is the type of knife I go for. nicely polished. I do like a few forge marks.
 
My only critique is- they're not available on your website.

I really like the shape of the bottom one.
 
they will be available tonight :D I just need to post them.. check back soon :thumbup: Also I will have some in Harrisonburg, VA on Friday, sat, sun

Zoe
http://www.zoecristknives.com
Please visit me at table 20J in the Guild Section at BLADE in June
 
I'm liking the middle one, bet it works like a hot damn.
 
Zoe,

Very nice, I like them all though I am with Lorien. The middle one is my favorite but again they are all very nice.
Now I have another site to visit cruising the web.

Good work, Jon
 
I like the palm swell of the top two, and the blade design of the middle one. I also like the straight drop down choil of the middle.
 
First of all, these knives look great.

But my overall preference for a knife that will see serious use is to have a serious handle. Particularly if it is a larger knife that could see a fair bit of force applied to that handle. Wrapped handles are fine for neck knives and such, but I don't find them particularly comfortable on a larger hard-working knife. Just my preference and my experience.

I can see from your site that you are more than capable of executing some very nice handle designs - and I appreciate that you are building these to a lower price point - but in my view, synthetic or wood scales would add a lot to both aesthetics and functionality while not tremendously increasing the cost.

Roger
 
I agree, those knives are too nice to be running around without handles.
if your gonna have a sweet hamon then you should have a sweet handle
 
Thanks for all the suggestions and compliments.. Taking that into account i will make some with a Micarta option.. Or maybe a dymondwood.. how does that sound ? and they all will come with leather sheaths. I am trying to find a market. I have been making Damascus and knives for a hobby for a while and have just gone full time this year..shewww... hope it works. again thanks for the kind words and good ideas...

Zoe
http://www.zoecristknives.com
 
I would avoid using dymondwood for handles as it isn't very well liked by collectors/users. Micarta would be a much better choice IMO.
 
I like everthing about the middle one especially the wavy haman and dropped edge at the ricasso.
 
Zoe I really like the middle knife. But like some others above I would like it a lot more with Micarta scales. One of the reasons I've moved to customs has been the cruddy handle designs of most commercial knives. A good handle is a neccesity.
 
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