First Scandi / Bushcraft knife almost done, requesting feedback (pics)

PIndelicato

PIndelicato

Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Messages
1,577
Hi folks!

I've been making knives for 2 or 3 years now and decided it was time to try my hand at a scandi ground bushcraft style blade. I did some research and reading in this forum, and tried to incorporate some of the ideas that I picked up from my reading. This knife is almost done, and was hoping to receive some feedback from the people who routinely use this kind of knife to see if I should change anything before I put the finishing touches on it. Thanks in advance for any input!

Specs:

- 3/16" 1080 steel
- flats are hand sanded, etched, and polished to show 'natural' hamon (no clay applied before quench)
- AZ Desert Ironwood Burl scales
- 1/4" brass thong tubes (front and rear) and mosaic pin
- ~4 1/4" blade (tip to front of scales), just shy of 1" wide, and ~8 3/4" OAL

Questions:

1) What do you think of the overall design, blade shape, handle shape, etc.?

2) Do you like the front thong tube in addition to the standard rear location?

3) How does the handle thickness and shape look for this style of knife? (I normally go quite a bit thinner and more contoured on my knife handles, but it seemed from my reading that folks liked thicker and less contoured for this knife style. This is primarily why I have not finished the knife completely, as I'm wondering if I should thin or shape the scales further.)

4) Anything you would change or do differently that I haven't thought to ask about?

stearnsscandiwharnie012.jpg

stearnsscandiwharnie013.jpg

stearnsscandiwharnie017.jpg

stearnsscandiwharnie010.jpg

stearnsscandiwharnie028.jpg
 
it looks like a very solid bushcraft blade sir. loving the handles. a lot of folks these days are saying thin is in and would probably want it in 1/8. i don't mind the extra thickness especially since it looks like a great slicer.
 
I like the design. Your knife looks very nice.

The larger handles give better control and leverage until they get to big for your hand. Your handle looks fine.

In cleaning game the front thong tube will be more likely to get crud in it and require extra cleaning. However, it would give another secure anchor point if you wanted to mount it as a spear. I don't think I'd want one. I've never made a spear pointed with a knife.
 
I like everything about that blade. The only thing I might have done different is move the edge back closer to the scales.
 
P J 234,

Looks like a beauty of a knife. Only one comment from my experience with scandi's. I got a BHK Boat Tail Scandi, thought it would be a great knive. But at 1/8" thick with a somewhat shallow grind it is a really lousy knife (compared to what it could/should be IMHO.) Scandi's benefit from a thinner stock.


God bless,
Adam
 
Chapman's comment on bringing the cutting edge closer to the handle is a good one.

I like a large handle, and find that the one on the BushcraftUK Spyderco is just about ideal in size.
 
Thanks for the comments and suggestions, guys; please keep them coming!

-I personally like thinner stock as well, but thicker seems to be popular in general. (Perhaps that doesn't apply to the scandi/bushcraft world.)

-I normally would not put a lanyard tube at the front of a knife handle, but I thought I had read here that that was a desireable feature so I included it. If anyone else has an opinion on that feature, I'd like to hear it.

-I will bring the edge bevel closer to the handle on future versions.


Thanks again!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top