- Joined
- Dec 11, 2006
- Messages
- 1,659
I designed this knife for a female friend, who is a backpacker. It was intended to replace a lightweight folding knife on backpacking trips.
Keeping the mission in mind, there were two main goals for this knife; To keep the overall weight low, and to have maximum blade length while keeping the overall length as small as possible.
Here are the design features considered when making this knife.
- Thickness from edge to spine: Was kept on the small side for this knife. More steel was going to add more weight.
- Less handle thickness: A trade mark of my style is generally a fairly large, shapely, hand filling handle. That is because I want knives to be comfortable after hours upon hours of use. However, keeping the backpacking goal here in mind, and the overall weight, I wanted a smaller lighter and more streamlined knife. The intentions for this knife is not go sit for hours and do a bushcraft project. It was designed for more casual use, yet to still be comfortable.
- Steel thickness: This one is 1/8” : A backpacking knife is generally called upon to do lighter tasks, such as opening food, cutting food, cutting rope, and depending on the area, even fire prep. Sharpness and slicing ability rule! Yet any that have used thin steel hard knows that a thin knife can still take plenty of abuse. Should you need to call upon it for more strenuous tasks, the benefits of a fixed blade over your folder will make it worth its weight in gold.
- Maximum blade length, but still minimum overall length: This was done first by giving the desired blade dimension. Then, to cut down length, a formal “guard” was eliminated. Instead, besides the palm swell and generous curve was put in place before the cutting edge. There is also another slight palm swell, so that the handle is shaped in all 3 dimensions. I felt, again with the intended plans for this knife, that these things are good for reducing possibility for forward movement of the hand toward the cutting edge. Just a quick aside, on my knife philosophy; Most “cutting” motions tend to pull the knife from your hand, rather than force your hand forward. I consider the design of the “butt” just as important as the guard. Also, any motion that you do that wants to move the hand forward should be handled through a combination of secure grip, provided by the shape of the handle, or proper knife hold (such as placing the butt in the palm of your hand). Proper handle shape will help decrease the possibility of movement, while proper knife hold will eliminate it all together. Proper knife hold should be utilized any time there is a chance of that occurring. With that in mind, I tend to be more comfortable with “less” guard than most, but will design anywhere from a generous guard, all the way down to almost nothing, depending on the knife intentions.
Also, of special note, this knife was designed around a female hand. Therefore I think it is better suited for women, or men with hands on the smaller side. The reason is I have found that the “forward” grip works just fine for me, but when I turn the knife completely around, I feel my hand fills up the handle too much. With the smaller hands that have tried this knife, all different knife grips worked extremely well.
Enough talking about it, here are the pics.
If the handle pins looks like a rip off of NWA's style, it is. My friend also knows Nick too and she asked if I could do the 4 pin thing. I asked Nick and being the nice guy he is, he said okay and set me up with some pins. While I love this a lot, it will probably be the last time I do it so that I am not copying one of his trademark things : )
Additional Specs:
Blade Length: 3 5/8”
Overall Length: 7 3/4”
Thickness: 1/8”
Handle: Midnight Tiger G10
Grind: High Flat grind, with polish convex secondary bevel.
Steel: O1 (Considering offering this one in other steels as well)
This design is a bit different. So, I wouldn't mind hearing some feedback, especially from you backpackers.
I am letting my friend name the knife, and whatever name she comes up with, I will more than likely make an XL version. Just a touch bigger and more roomy for a guys hand.
Now......the part I must admit. My wife wanted one too. So, I have another almost complete in pink G10 (rolls eyes) LOL. Not a big fan of pink, but what are you going to do : )
Thanks,
B
Keeping the mission in mind, there were two main goals for this knife; To keep the overall weight low, and to have maximum blade length while keeping the overall length as small as possible.
Here are the design features considered when making this knife.
- Thickness from edge to spine: Was kept on the small side for this knife. More steel was going to add more weight.
- Less handle thickness: A trade mark of my style is generally a fairly large, shapely, hand filling handle. That is because I want knives to be comfortable after hours upon hours of use. However, keeping the backpacking goal here in mind, and the overall weight, I wanted a smaller lighter and more streamlined knife. The intentions for this knife is not go sit for hours and do a bushcraft project. It was designed for more casual use, yet to still be comfortable.
- Steel thickness: This one is 1/8” : A backpacking knife is generally called upon to do lighter tasks, such as opening food, cutting food, cutting rope, and depending on the area, even fire prep. Sharpness and slicing ability rule! Yet any that have used thin steel hard knows that a thin knife can still take plenty of abuse. Should you need to call upon it for more strenuous tasks, the benefits of a fixed blade over your folder will make it worth its weight in gold.
- Maximum blade length, but still minimum overall length: This was done first by giving the desired blade dimension. Then, to cut down length, a formal “guard” was eliminated. Instead, besides the palm swell and generous curve was put in place before the cutting edge. There is also another slight palm swell, so that the handle is shaped in all 3 dimensions. I felt, again with the intended plans for this knife, that these things are good for reducing possibility for forward movement of the hand toward the cutting edge. Just a quick aside, on my knife philosophy; Most “cutting” motions tend to pull the knife from your hand, rather than force your hand forward. I consider the design of the “butt” just as important as the guard. Also, any motion that you do that wants to move the hand forward should be handled through a combination of secure grip, provided by the shape of the handle, or proper knife hold (such as placing the butt in the palm of your hand). Proper handle shape will help decrease the possibility of movement, while proper knife hold will eliminate it all together. Proper knife hold should be utilized any time there is a chance of that occurring. With that in mind, I tend to be more comfortable with “less” guard than most, but will design anywhere from a generous guard, all the way down to almost nothing, depending on the knife intentions.
Also, of special note, this knife was designed around a female hand. Therefore I think it is better suited for women, or men with hands on the smaller side. The reason is I have found that the “forward” grip works just fine for me, but when I turn the knife completely around, I feel my hand fills up the handle too much. With the smaller hands that have tried this knife, all different knife grips worked extremely well.
Enough talking about it, here are the pics.
If the handle pins looks like a rip off of NWA's style, it is. My friend also knows Nick too and she asked if I could do the 4 pin thing. I asked Nick and being the nice guy he is, he said okay and set me up with some pins. While I love this a lot, it will probably be the last time I do it so that I am not copying one of his trademark things : )
Additional Specs:
Blade Length: 3 5/8”
Overall Length: 7 3/4”
Thickness: 1/8”
Handle: Midnight Tiger G10
Grind: High Flat grind, with polish convex secondary bevel.
Steel: O1 (Considering offering this one in other steels as well)
This design is a bit different. So, I wouldn't mind hearing some feedback, especially from you backpackers.
I am letting my friend name the knife, and whatever name she comes up with, I will more than likely make an XL version. Just a touch bigger and more roomy for a guys hand.
Now......the part I must admit. My wife wanted one too. So, I have another almost complete in pink G10 (rolls eyes) LOL. Not a big fan of pink, but what are you going to do : )
Thanks,
B
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that knife looks great Brian.. i like it a lot... cool design...:thumbup:
LOL!
