Design Critique

B

bigern26

Joined
Oct 2, 2009
Messages
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This is a knife I just drew up. Its main purpose is for gutting and skinning small game. I got the idea because we hunt a lot of squirrel around here and its hard to find a good knife for using on them and rabbits.

If I do decide to make this one it will be hidden tang with brass guard and redwood burl handle!!

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Wouldn't a short boning style knife work best for small game?

Your blade seems pretty tall for such small critters.

Just thinking.

Mike L.
 
Since no one else had chimed in, I'll add another comment:

A lot of people don't like clip point designs for skinning because they can snag. If you like the clip point then keep it.

Make a template out of thick cardboard or thin wood and see how the design fits your hand. You may want to make the handle a little bit longer to afford more control, but the template will help you decide if it is needed or if the handle needs a little bit different shape.

Try to make the "web" on the lower guard thinner, it will look better, I believe.

Mike L.
 
I see what you mean about the guard!!

Thanks for the advice so far!!
I am taking it all in as constructive criticism!!:)
 
You have a three inch blade with a 2.5" clip. I would make it a three inch blade with a one inch clip. Try that and see how it looks/feels.
Stacy
 
I cut out the second design form card board and it felt pretty good, I am going to soon cut it out of steel!!
 
The clip is the curved or angled section that goes from the spine to the point.

The way you have your grind running straight off the blade, the tip would be very thin and easily broken.

Stacy
 
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I like Stacy's idea about the clip. I'd probably just make it a drop-point, but I'll admit a bias towards that design. Handle and guard look good to me. The handle could be a little longer, like Mike said, but the palm swell is in the right place, for my hands, anyway. I like to have the palm swell rise slightly above the line of the blade spine, maybe 1/8" to 1/4" on most of my knives. It seems to put the blade in a "better position", but I'm having trouble putting into words what I mean.
 
Ern,

For a small game fixed blade knife, think bird and trout style. A 1 inch wide blade is too big. Heck, I field dress deer with a 1 inch wide, 3.5 inch blade.

3/4 inch wide or less, 2-3 inches long is plenty for small game. The A.G. Russell Woodswalker is a good size, or a Russell Green River paring knife.

As another size reference, for most of the rabbit and squirrel that I field dress and butcher for the freezer I use a folding Barlow, Congress, or Stockman. The largest blade on my Congress is a 2 inch spearpoint that is 7/16 inches high.

Nathan
 
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