Getting better!

[bacustomknives]

You have a flowing pattern , but your going a$$ backwards, make the butt end of the knife the largest point a proceed down toward the blade

 

[KFU]

Bill, I am a small a$$ man! I find that when using a big butt kinda gets in the way, kinda like when you have too deep a rear choil and the bottom of the butt digs in your palm. It might not look as nice but IMO it works better in extended use.

 

[tonym]

Hey Chris, I'm honored you asked me to beat on this knife for you and give you my opinion on how it performs.

It looks like you are getting some great tips from some great makers here, so you're already ahead of the game!

The knife your sending looks like a neat little carver. I like where you put the contour on the handle. It will help keep the index finger close to the blade for good control. I see what Mr. Oneil is saying about the back of the handle, and that maybe troublesome when it comes to use, but we'll see.

Bottom line is I'll use the hell out the knife in the outdoors for a few weeks and give you all the feedback I can come up with.

The handle profile in the above pic looks fine if you are only going to use it in the hammer grip, but I prefer a knife that will be comfortable in many grips in that size range.

I am no knife maker and far from any kind of knife expert, however I use knives in allot of the outdoors activities I enjoy doing. While that pattern looks neat, those handle ergos is something I stay away from in a small knife. The birds beak like pommel has no use to me in a small knife and just becomes bothersome in different grips. I am also not a fan of a pointy guard, hell I prefer as little guard as possible. I get better control while using a knife when my hand is closer to the blade.

Just throwing my opinion out there fellas, I'm not the shy type..

 

[bacustomknives]

I wont go there lol THIS WAS A RESPONSE TO BIG BUTT POST

 

[KFU]

Tony, glad you joined in. In regards to the guard, I prefer little as possible also. I always hear people say, wow, I could slip right down on the blade, it needs a guard. I made these on the words of other people, if it were mine I would have the handle run right into the blade, kinda like a puuko or mora. Would people buy this sized knife with a minimal guard? In the top knife of the ones I just ground for example, if I just ran the front choil all the way to the edge and started my grind about 3/16 in, would that be enough?

 

[KFU]

Bill, I won't go into why I like small butts, there is less...nevermind!

 

[tonym]

Bill I find that when using a big butt kinda gets in the way, kinda like when you have too deep a rear choil and the bottom of the butt digs in your palm. It might not look as nice but IMO it works better in extended use.

I'm not sure, but I think what Bill is saying is start with the big butt and then shape the rest of the knife. You can always take more off the butt as you go. I am with you on too deep curves, sometimes it just too much and makes for some uncomfortable use. Although it doesn't look as cool, simple handles work.

Tony, glad you joined in. In regards to the guard, I prefer little as possible also. I always hear people say, wow, I could slip right down on the blade, it needs a guard. I made these on the words of other people, if it were mine I would have the handle run right into the blade, kinda like a puuko or mora. Would people buy this sized knife with a minimal guard? In the top knife of the ones I just ground for example, if I just ran the front choil all the way to the edge and started my grind about 3/16 in, would that be enough?

To satisfy the masses I think you're better off with some type of guard. It doesn't have to be too big and if done right you can still get plenty of control on the knife.

 

[Jack O'Neill]

he has room , he just ain't gonna do it . HeeHee

 

[KFU]

Oh Im gonna do it Jack! I just ran out of steel. I need to place an order tonight so I can have it by the weekend. Are you saying start with the butt profile in an inch or so and contour up to a tallest point of an 1/8 bigger around the ricasso and than sweep down to a drop point? In other words a half circle where the tallest point is 1/8" taller than the starting point.

 

[panch0]

Nice job there. These guys are gonna drive ya nutz. Hehehehe..... J/K, Sounds like you got a few good guys helping you out so I just want to see the outcome. There is a learning curve and your fourth one looks better than mine did.

 

[KFU]

Thanks Pancho, they are alot of help. I could not have done the four I have completed without the help of all the makers on here. Tony, I went ahead and chopped the guard off! You only live once right!

 

[Jack O'Neill]

Oh Im gonna do it Jack! I just ran out of steel. I need to place an order tonight so I can have it by the weekend. Are you saying start with the butt profile in an inch or so and contour up to a tallest point of an 1/8 bigger around the ricasso and than sweep down to a drop point? In other words a half circle where the tallest point is 1/8" taller than the starting point.

yes , basically that is what I am thinking , but I think my thought of 1/8" may be a little to radical . Just trying to remove that long straight line on the spine . When you do your drawings , just play with moving the lines a little .You will be surprised at the visual difference just moving a line 1/16th of an inch or so . Sometimes the slight curves work and then sometimes they do not . I usually draw mine out both ways and end up still doing some changes .

 

[bacustomknives]

yes , basically that is what i am thinking , but i think my thought of 1/8" may be a little to radical . Just trying to remove that long straight line on the spine . When you do your drawings , just play with moving the lines a little .you will be surprised at the visual difference just moving a line 1/16th of an inch or so . Sometimes the slight curves work and then sometimes they do not . I usually draw mine out both ways and end up still doing some changes .

grind the profile out then grind away anything you dont like,before you start your blade grind

 

[tonym]

Hey Chris, just checking in.

I got the knife on Wednesday and messed around with it on Thursday for a bit. (light battoning, made a bowdrill kit, notches, whittling etc.)

I only did some basic things, so I don't have much feedback for you right now, but as I use it extensively for the next couple of weeks I will add my 2 cents..

So far, I like where you put the swell in the handle, it keeps the hand close to the working edge for better control. I do think you took too much off the rear of the handle. The angle is of the handle is something I will comment on when I get to use it for a longer period of time. Good job on rounding off any sharp edges of the handle, it is quite comfortable and changing grips is easy.

Your edge is good, the shoulders are not too thick so it whittles well.

I'll be back with more in depth feedback as I use it more, I just didn't want you to think I threw it in a drawer...

Oh, by the way, Nice job on the sheath.

Here's some pics.

 

[KFU]

Wow, thanks for the pics and comments Tony! Please do let me know about the rear of the handle. Im going to making 5 or so 4" blades in the next couple weeks and want to use that basic shape with a couple tweaks. Ill put a little more of a drop point on it and will beef up the rear a bit if its more comfortable. The sheath was not made by me, I have a great leather guy! We came up with a sheath that will be horizontal, vertical, dangler, and RH LH carry. I think it will work out well.

 

[bacustomknives]

Cool reveiw buddy! Gotta hava tad more a$$ told ya, lol

 

[tonym]

Wow, thanks for the pics and comments Tony! Please do let me know about the rear of the handle. Im going to making 5 or so 4" blades in the next couple weeks and want to use that basic shape with a couple tweaks. Ill put a little more of a drop point on it and will beef up the rear a bit if its more comfortable. .

My pleasure. If you look at the rear of the handle you'll see it's the highest point in the knife. I wouldn't say it's uncomfortable, but it is awkward. It maybe more of a aesthetic thing, that's why I want to use it more to see if it is bothersome at all. In the short work I gave it, it didn't bother me. Adding a little to the ass will help in comfort as Mr. Akers suggested.

Now about the blade shape. I like the idea of dropping the tip a bit, but also try this. Look at the pic below from tip to ricasso. You will see the blade drops and then slowly comes back up in a slow curve. That mild curve even though doesn't look like much will add allot of power in snap cuts, pull cuts, and slicing.

In your knife once the tip drops the blade just continues out slowly. It worked well for push cuts, and whittling, but it wouldn't snap cut a small branch easily. Add that continuous mild curve and you will see a difference in power for those snap cuts.

 

[KFU]

I see what your saying Tony, I have a design in my head that will have all those ideas as well as flattening out the spine a little. I got 5 orders for that little EDC I posted so I am making those this week. I will shoot you a drawing or will profile one out in a couple of days. My next batch will be 5 Bushcrafters since I already have the sheaths on the way!

 

[Gnarly]

Small butt; forward swell.Love it.
Large butt?
Nah.That would discourage the forward swell.