Design etiquette

Just a short point on being innovative: Take inspiration from many places. Look at many knives made by many different people and find out a lot about how different knives are made and what the pros and cons of different designs are and how they function for different kinds of use etc. Blade shapes, handle shapes, guards, fasteners, grinds, edges, points, blade geometry, sheaths, materials, everything. If you have a more vast knowledge base, you'll feel more freedom while coming up with designs and the risk of getting stuck on anyone elses work is smaller.
 
Design is only one part of what makes a certain knife a knife. Unless the design is unmistakably unique, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Besides, for purposes of learning or practicing copying other knives seems like a great way to start off, as long as you don't do it for profit.

I think a maker's mark might also help you. Some other factors that make a knife a knife are things like heat-treatment, fit and finish, quality of workmanship etc. etc. These kinds of aspects are often tied to specific makers. If you excel in one or more of these aspects, you may gain a reputation for it. This is where the maker's mark can be handy; even if your design isn't unique, your maker's mark is. No one will be able to confuse your Loveless inspired design with an original Loveless. No harm will be done.
 
This is a great point. Hard to dispute if I copy a style but put my mark on it, obviously I am not trying to duplicate.

Still working on my mark.
 
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