Help design my knives...

[Fletcher Knives]

So I've started making knives. I've finished 8 so far. I don't have pictures of them yet, but a couple of folks around here have seen them. I know that Fiddleback (Andy) and R.A.T.(Jeff) have seen them. I've gotten good enough at it that I want to try some new designs. I have a few designs already that I like, but I'm interested in what you guys like. My only guides are that I'm going to be using O1 steel that is a maximum of 3/16" thick. I don't dig the 1/4" stuff so I'm not going to make it. What I want from you guys is some suggestion, drawings, whatever of your ideal knife. What would you want for an EDC or good woods knife, chopper, etc.? So throw the ideas at me.

 

[Carolina River Rat]

You should make a Nessmuk if you haven't already.

 

[Chris_Norden]

Any scandi/pukko shaped blade with a full tang will be a winner in the bushcraft circles.

And a drop point with a high convex grind.

If you keep it simple but high quality I'll think you'll do great. All the best knives and successful custom makers make simple designs at a higher quality, as a knife user this is all I want.

Good luck!

PS: I think I slightly pointier kephart with the point raised ever so slightly above the centre would be a hit.

 

[hwpaintballer]

I find my self liking either utility style fixed blades or neck knives.

 

[Fletcher Knives]

Thanks for the input guys. It's hard to get into making them right now as it pertains to coming up with designs. I'm sure it has been that way since the beginning of sharpened steel. I find myself not wanting to make a copy of anything that anyone else has done, but at the same time there almost isn't a single blade or handle shape in the world that hasn't been done. You get people like Fiddleback, Koster, Gossman, NWA, etc. making the best versions of all the great utility customs, and then you think, "how in the hell could I improve on this?!" So far I've got 7 designs that I think are going to be winners that are going to come out of this current batch of steel I've got. One in particular that comes in two versions I see being my signature knife. Well, time to get to work grinding!

On a side note, I am going to do a Nessmuck. I don't know that it will come out of this batch, but it will happen soon. I like it. It has a slightly different, more contoured handle and a shorter blade to handle ratio than any I've seen so far.

 

[pitdog]

Thanks for the input guys. It's hard to get into making them right now as it pertains to coming up with designs. I'm sure it has been that way since the beginning of sharpened steel. I find myself not wanting to make a copy of anything that anyone else has done, but at the same time there almost isn't a single blade or handle shape in the world that hasn't been done. You get people like Fiddleback, Koster, Gossman, NWA, etc. making the best versions of all the great utility customs, and then you think, "how in the hell could I improve on this?!" So far I've got 7 designs that I think are going to be winners that are going to come out of this current batch of steel I've got. One in particular that comes in two versions I see being my signature knife. Well, time to get to work grinding!

On a side note, I am going to do a Nessmuck. I don't know that it will come out of this batch, but it will happen soon. I like it. It has a slightly different, more contoured handle and a shorter blade to handle ratio than any I've seen so far.

A shorter blade to handle ratio sounds like a great idea buddy, I have handled and owned a couple recently that seem to have too much blade for the handle, one being the RAT knives RC4 !

 

[Fletcher Knives]

A shorter blade to handle ratio sounds like a great idea buddy, I have handled and owned a couple recently that seem to have too much blade for the handle, one being the RAT knives RC4 !

Yup. I've found that I have an easier time handling a knife that has the weight either more centered or slightly toward the handle. I know that a lot of people want their weight forward toward the tip, but I think that has a lot to do with chopping capability. If people can get past using their knife instead of their axe or hatchet, then I think we can move them onto knives that are more comfortable for the type of use that knives should handle. I discovered this in a knife that I made out of a file recently. It has a 1/4 hick blade (that I don't actually care for) but has a slightly longer handle than blade and with the small added weight of the micarta scales, I found it was actually a lot more comfortable to handle than most of my other knives. It just feels like it's more in your hand than out of your hand, if that makes sense. It's really nice. My knives should be absolutely gravy for batoning, but I'm not concerned with them being good choppers. That's why I'm also making big choppers, but I'm not going to try to squeeze both a good chopper and a good field knife into one design. Ya feel me?