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Feedback on my Tanto design
- Thread starter Damneddesigns
- Start date
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What does this discussion on music have to do with knives? Let’s stay on topic. This isn’t MusicForums.com.
Huh? Not sure what you are talking about.I was discussing how I feel that understanding how a knife functions is more important to proper knife design than marketing skills.
I'm glad to continue as to clarify the point for you more.
I'll take two examples from Loveless. A 6 Inch Fighter and a Crooked Skinner.
I assume they are both sharp and it appears they both have Loveless's branding.
Why did he, who I think we can all agree was an excellent knife designer, make them look different? Why did he name them as he did?
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2013
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- 21,999
I was discussing how I feel that understanding how a knife functions is more important to proper knife design than marketing skills.
I'm glad to continue as to clarify the point for you more.
I'll take two examples from Loveless. A 6 Inch Fighter and a Crooked Skinner.
I assume they are both sharp and it appears they both have Loveless's branding.
Why did he, who I think we can all agree was an excellent knife designer, make them look different? Why did he name them as he did?
I'm sorry, I missed where you listed your credentials, the ones needed for you to be able to make an objective assessment as to what "proper knife design" looks like. Let me scroll back some pages, maybe I missed it. I expect you also listed all the ways in which this guy's design is improper as well.
Yes, this thread has definitely turned into "the nature of knife design"... and for the poor OP, probably far from what he intended.
But every design has some purpose. And I think that's what we're still trying to figure out.
If his purpose is to design a functional tool, I will tell him what I think would make it a better tool.
If his purpose is to design a good looking, functional tool, I will give him my thoughts on both aspects
(both of which I've done to some extent)
If his purpose is to make something cool looking that you can put in your pocket, heck, I'm ok with that, and will tell him what I think looks cool, and what doesn't.
But let's face it, he didn't post this on a fashion or design site, asking if it would make a cool, tactical looking accessory. He posted on a knife site, where most of us are expecting a knife, no matter how cool looking, to function well as I knife. If he had designed a mid-tech guitar, and posted it on a guitar site, do you not think people would ask about how it plays, what type of sound he expected to get out of it, and if the frets were spaced oddly apart for a reason?
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OP, I'm sorry this has gotten dragged out to such a degree. At least for me, that was never the intent.
If your knife is intended to be sold to people who buy and use knives in the $200:
I don't feel the proportions of your tanto lend much to usability. I've posted earlier where I would personally make improvements.
If your knife is intended to just be a cool looking $200 knife, for people to buy along with your pens, or wear with an interesting watch:
I still feel the blade looks a bit squashed, and missing the visual balance your drop point has in comparison to the handle.
Like I've tried to state before, decide who you're designing this knife for (even if it's a combination of the two). Figure out what THAT audience wants, and go from there.
Good luck. I'm out.
But every design has some purpose. And I think that's what we're still trying to figure out.
If his purpose is to design a functional tool, I will tell him what I think would make it a better tool.
If his purpose is to design a good looking, functional tool, I will give him my thoughts on both aspects
(both of which I've done to some extent)
If his purpose is to make something cool looking that you can put in your pocket, heck, I'm ok with that, and will tell him what I think looks cool, and what doesn't.
But let's face it, he didn't post this on a fashion or design site, asking if it would make a cool, tactical looking accessory. He posted on a knife site, where most of us are expecting a knife, no matter how cool looking, to function well as I knife. If he had designed a mid-tech guitar, and posted it on a guitar site, do you not think people would ask about how it plays, what type of sound he expected to get out of it, and if the frets were spaced oddly apart for a reason?
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OP, I'm sorry this has gotten dragged out to such a degree. At least for me, that was never the intent.
If your knife is intended to be sold to people who buy and use knives in the $200:
I don't feel the proportions of your tanto lend much to usability. I've posted earlier where I would personally make improvements.
If your knife is intended to just be a cool looking $200 knife, for people to buy along with your pens, or wear with an interesting watch:
I still feel the blade looks a bit squashed, and missing the visual balance your drop point has in comparison to the handle.
Like I've tried to state before, decide who you're designing this knife for (even if it's a combination of the two). Figure out what THAT audience wants, and go from there.
Good luck. I'm out.
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- May 14, 2012
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- 11,568
Im out for now as well, not sure if i can or want to add anything more. :/
I couldn't state what elements of the design allow the knife to function or not fucntion, because, as we found out, the designer never considered function when designing the knife.
Clearly you think that is fine, and that's, like, your opinion, man. Like I said, clones and tactilols sell great. So many many people agree with your philosophy.
I guess his "knockout" logo is kinda clever.
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2013
- Messages
- 21,999
Really? You aren't able to comprehend the function? You didn't see the edge and imagine it being sharp? I mean, that's kind of the point of a knife, right? With that tanto shape, he'll effectively have (wait for it) two sharpened edges. Virtually anything any other tanto shaped knife can be used for, this one could as well. I mean....it's right there, how are you missing it? This is absolutely world-class entertainment at this point.
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2019
- Messages
- 128
Hey Guys, I know this thread didn't start of particularly well and this is probably my fault. Perhaps I didn't make my expectations clear enough.
I designed 4 knives, 5 months ago. I prototyped the modified tanto but the blade shape looked odd to many and I decided to park it even though I have people ask me when i'm releasing it.
From my initial posts on facebook groups, the sheepsfoot garnered the most attention so i prototyped it next. When I sent it in to a few reviewers for feedback, they were happy with it. One piece of feedback was that the gimping on the spine was sharp since the swedge made it too thin. I modifed the swedge to end earlier along with other some other feedback like weight reduction and clip and put it forward to production. All of that feedback helped me improve not only that particular knife but also the other ones prior prototyping.
When i looked at the swedge and gimping on the tanto, I didn't like it so decided to modify the spine. I matched it to a mini i'm prototyping which has the harpoon like thumb rest.
I then felt the aggressive blade didn't match the handles so modified it. I posted up both the versions to get a feel from the community on feedback of their preferences. The one I posted here was the one picked by most.
Now, I get where all of you are coming from. Everyone has a difference in opinion and I respect all of them. I personally don't think of knives as a tool in the sense that some of you do but there's no reason for me to disrespect you for your thought process. To me knives are cool, I have no day to day use for them, but I still love carrying. I'd also love to own a gun and god knows I would rather not use it, not for it's intended purpose anyways.
I've designed and sold fidget spinners for the past 2 years. Does anyone need them? Not my place to say but I've designed about 50 unique ones, with retail of some going up to $200, by offering an aesthetic, price, quality and service that people could get behind. What i'm trying to do now is expand my design and my business into bigger markets/ products. I just didn't think of it the way some of you do. Do i want to sell a product and make money? of course I do. Do I want my name on a product that's absolute crap? Of course not. Do I want to build a world class tool? I hope that someday I do. I hope I can learn as I go along and get feedback on renders, prototypes and even production models.
Also, I don't know what bubble is being referred to here, as with anything, people's tastes change and I'm more than willing to adapt and offer people what THEY want and not what I think they want. These designs I've posted here have all gotten positive feedback in other places like reddit, instagram and Facebook. Ok, maybe this forum has members that are more passionate or see knives as more than an EDC product that cuts but my point is that those people's opinions are important since they're potential customers, more so than feedback from those that aren't. I've showed off multiple variants, including some with changes like were advised here but the small group I showed, picked the one from my OP over the modified ones. I took everyone's feedback and took nothing personal other than "you shouldn't be designing because it's disrespectful to knifemakers who spent years learning".
At the end of the day, I'll produce the designs that get the most positive feedback. I can't possible pick one design over the other solely because I or a small majority of the people interacting think it's a better product for the customer. The customer decides the product that suits them whether it is based on functionality or aesthetic or a mix of both.
Thank you guys for the feedback, I'm producing a small batch of the tanto and this drop point and the drop point from the initial 4 is being prototyped with a different grind. I'll continue to seek feedback and improve.
If any of you are at Blade west, pass by table J11 and say hello. Peace!
I designed 4 knives, 5 months ago. I prototyped the modified tanto but the blade shape looked odd to many and I decided to park it even though I have people ask me when i'm releasing it.
From my initial posts on facebook groups, the sheepsfoot garnered the most attention so i prototyped it next. When I sent it in to a few reviewers for feedback, they were happy with it. One piece of feedback was that the gimping on the spine was sharp since the swedge made it too thin. I modifed the swedge to end earlier along with other some other feedback like weight reduction and clip and put it forward to production. All of that feedback helped me improve not only that particular knife but also the other ones prior prototyping.
When i looked at the swedge and gimping on the tanto, I didn't like it so decided to modify the spine. I matched it to a mini i'm prototyping which has the harpoon like thumb rest.
I then felt the aggressive blade didn't match the handles so modified it. I posted up both the versions to get a feel from the community on feedback of their preferences. The one I posted here was the one picked by most.
Now, I get where all of you are coming from. Everyone has a difference in opinion and I respect all of them. I personally don't think of knives as a tool in the sense that some of you do but there's no reason for me to disrespect you for your thought process. To me knives are cool, I have no day to day use for them, but I still love carrying. I'd also love to own a gun and god knows I would rather not use it, not for it's intended purpose anyways.
I've designed and sold fidget spinners for the past 2 years. Does anyone need them? Not my place to say but I've designed about 50 unique ones, with retail of some going up to $200, by offering an aesthetic, price, quality and service that people could get behind. What i'm trying to do now is expand my design and my business into bigger markets/ products. I just didn't think of it the way some of you do. Do i want to sell a product and make money? of course I do. Do I want my name on a product that's absolute crap? Of course not. Do I want to build a world class tool? I hope that someday I do. I hope I can learn as I go along and get feedback on renders, prototypes and even production models.
Also, I don't know what bubble is being referred to here, as with anything, people's tastes change and I'm more than willing to adapt and offer people what THEY want and not what I think they want. These designs I've posted here have all gotten positive feedback in other places like reddit, instagram and Facebook. Ok, maybe this forum has members that are more passionate or see knives as more than an EDC product that cuts but my point is that those people's opinions are important since they're potential customers, more so than feedback from those that aren't. I've showed off multiple variants, including some with changes like were advised here but the small group I showed, picked the one from my OP over the modified ones. I took everyone's feedback and took nothing personal other than "you shouldn't be designing because it's disrespectful to knifemakers who spent years learning".
At the end of the day, I'll produce the designs that get the most positive feedback. I can't possible pick one design over the other solely because I or a small majority of the people interacting think it's a better product for the customer. The customer decides the product that suits them whether it is based on functionality or aesthetic or a mix of both.
Thank you guys for the feedback, I'm producing a small batch of the tanto and this drop point and the drop point from the initial 4 is being prototyped with a different grind. I'll continue to seek feedback and improve.
If any of you are at Blade west, pass by table J11 and say hello. Peace!
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