first knife design

J

jessecoffman

Joined
Aug 1, 2013
Messages
22
I am just starting to make knives and this is my first design. I came up with it myself but want to make sure it is not too similar to an allready existing knife. Does it look to much like an allready existing knife to any of you?
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Welcome to Bladeforums.
Filling out your profile with all the info - Age, Location, Hobbies, Occupation, etc. - with help us help you.

The design isn't all that bad, but you need to straighten it out some. Take the radical curve out of the handle-blade and make the bottom/edge more straight with just a little curve to the spine (top).

All those holes will be a difficult project without some good equipment and skills. I'd suggest a more simple solid handle for now.
 
Is that a folder or a fixed blade? It's a folder right? That is an even tougher build starting out. I am relatively new here as well but I have recently come to peace with the question of, "Is my design original enough?". I should preface that my motivation for making edged weapons/tools is purely because I can not afford to buy all the kinds I want to experience. I am not planning to produce knives to sell as a business. With that being said, I WILL sell some of my knives if someone want to give me money. But that is down the road. Right now I am learning to make the metal look like what I envision and to that end I will make many patterns that have been made before. I will even directly copy some of the ones that I like. The "Razel" invented by Jon Graham of GrahamKnives and now being produced by a major knife company, is a good example. I had something in mind very similar, then I saw his, and now I can't separate his from mine when I draw them. I will make a couple in the near future to practice the convergence of the two grinds. If someone sees it on my bench and wants to buy it then I will probably sell it. With the full history of course giving credit where it is due. I don't however think it would be okay to produce these in quantity to advertise and sell. Something like an ESEE with a more generic shape would be harder to draw such a line with though. So I plan to make what I like and maybe at some point I will come up with something original.
 
It was designed to be a fixed blade I was actaully planning to make the edge more of a straight then curved shape. I did think about making the overall curve less aggressive and probable will slightly, but I made a wood model and it feels pretty good in my hand. Btw I'm 14 and I have all of the tools I would need, except for a belt grinder wich I plan on buying eventually, for now I just have a jig to file the bevels
 
I apologize, I thought the pin/bolt surrounded by four holes was a pivot point and the hole on the thumb shelf at the base of the spine was a thumb stud. I can see the fixed blade there too. I wish I had started when I was 14. I too am working with files, it is not bad. As a matter of fact I like the feel of it. It is not as time consuming as I thought it would be either. I have not constructed a filing jig yet, haven't needed one for convex grinds, but I did make a cheap file guide to keep the plunge lines even. Good luck Mr. Coffman, I look forward to seeing you show it off on here upon completion.
 
Look at photo #1. Pretend the line under the photo is a solid surface.
Pretend the knife is rubber, and you put you finger on the spine just above the finger notch. Now pretend you push the knife down, straightening the knife until the handle at the finger notch meets that line. That would be what you would want the knife to be shaped like.
 
Here Is a more straightened out design, I also made the edge shape better. I think my first drawings look better but this seems like more of a practical blade.
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You thinned out the tail end of the knife too much when you straightened it. The handle length compared to the blade is a bit too short as well compared to your originals. The originals look more proportioned, this looks all blade.

Also, you probably should get some cardboard and cut the design out so you can feel it in your hand. You may find that the thumb ramp is too far back, handle too narrow, front finger grip too wide, etc. If you need to, bulk up the handle area with extra cardboard cut to the same template, to give you a real idea of how the knife will feel.

Another good trick is to get some graph paper, and then get a good idea of what general dimensions an "average" knife has. Mark out light dots and guidelines on the graph paper to show you the approximate positions you need to shoot for, and that will give you a box to work within when first making your final template. Once you have that "average box" design, then you can start getting fancy and going outside the box. :)
 
That is a lot better as far as the straightness goes. The handle gets too thin toward the butt. The original handle was fine.

I would still suggest that you make the handle simpler. All those holes and pins won't be an easy build without some expertise and experience.

Thanks for filing out your profile. Although it has no real info in it ( we like to know a bit about the folks we chat with here), we now know where you are regionally. There are several good makers in your area, as well as many bladesmithing events. There is an excellent guild that has classes just a short drive away. They are composed of very skilled blacksmiths and bladesmiths. They also hold several big events during the year. The Blacksmith's Guild of Central Maryland:
http://www.bgcmonline.org/
They have a meeting in two weeks, maybe your dad or mom can take you over to the Carroll County Farm Museum, where their lovely shop/school is.
 
I figured the handle was a little thin I just did a rougth sketch to see how the handle would look straightened out.
 
Whenever you finalize your design make yourself up a cardboard one first so you can get an idea of how it will feel in your hand. You'd be amazed at how many designs look good on paper until and then when you actually try using it as if it were an actual knife get either scrapped or greatly modified.
 
Here Is what I hope is my final sketch. I also made a cardboard one with extra cardboard for scales and it fits my hand great.
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Also forgot to mention I have a drill press at my house and for the bigger holes I can use my grandpa's mill. And the holes colored black would be 1/4 inch bolts/ pivots.
 
I thought I'd share my progress I changed the design a little and now have it cut out of 3/16 cpmd2, next I just have to file the bevels
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Very nice start. Resist the temptation to cheat on the bevels when filling them in. It will be worth the time and effort to do it right. Have fun you are on the right path.
 
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