design thoughts

TLR · Oct 6, 2014

Hey guys I'm making some hunters for a friend. He's an artist and really wants as much movement in the knife design as possible. We are finishing up this design but I'd appreciate any thoughts you might have. The cutouts are identical (as well as I can cut) other then the curvature in the handle. Opinions?

Patrickknives · Oct 6, 2014

I would try to carry a radius (pretty big, maybe 2-3') across the spin, right now you have two radius, handle and point of the knife ending in a big flat. That may work to soften the downward curve of the handle.

TLR · Oct 6, 2014

Patrick, thanks for the input and I agree with you. We tried that and he didn't like the cant on the tip as it has a higher likelihood to dig in when skinning.

If I go with the top one I'll definitely pull back the hump on the top of the handle slightly no matter what.

tim37a · Oct 6, 2014

I would use the bottom knife but make the top a fair curve from tip to butt.

Tim

PT Doc · Oct 6, 2014

Top one seems unnatural and has a disruption the flow, so a halt to the movement that you were seeking.

Salolan · Oct 6, 2014

Try evening out the flow by drawing over the top of your current drawings using a french curve. This should maintain your design elements while making the curves more appealing. I found that once I started using the french curves in my designs they were far and away more appealing to the eye. Personal preference, but I would also lose the little nub at the heal of the blade.

Chris

alohadave · Oct 6, 2014

The top one makes me think of a kukri. The curve of the handle, combined the the curve of the blade should flow well. And you could make it a mini style kukri so it has the shape but not the size.

The blade as is is straight and doesn't really have any curve compared to the handles.

S.Alexander · Oct 7, 2014

I'm having a bit of difficulty picturing how it will turn out. It looks like too much of a silhouette. It seems to be too busy though.

Can you draw in the different components of the knife? Maybe add where the scales will stop at the choil, or add a guard if there is one, pin location, and the grind lines.

C_Claycomb · Oct 7, 2014

Agree with using French Curve, makes a huge difference. Like the bottom one better.

To my eye the flow of the cutting edge is interrupted buy the guard. If it was me, I would look at having the edge near the handle point more towards the index finger cut out. Done right this would make the line more of a sinuous "S" from tip to butt. You could slightly recurve the edge to get this effect. While I don't like recurves for wood working knives, they can work well for hunters where they increase the length of the belly, which gets most of the work, and the can help with flow.

Dan Farr's work might give you some ideas:

Photo from RogerPinnocks excellent collection.

Might want to look at how Dan and Nick Wheeler shape the butts of their knives when they have a similar shape profile.