Help With First Knife Design

T

txjeeper

Joined
Nov 9, 2016
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5
I need help with the design of my first knife. It will be primarily a bushcraft knife but may also see use as a hunter. Blade length is 3 7/8 inches as I can only have a 4 inch blade my dorm. I plan on using 1.5 inch wide 1084 but don't know the thickness. It will be drop point and I am leaning toward a scandi grind but am open the suggestions. Handle will be a homemade canvas laminate. Sheath will be kydex with option to scout carry. I plan on only using hand tools but may have access to a disc sander and bench grinder.

My questions are:
How thick of steel should I use?
Is there a better grind/tips for creating a scandi grind?
Any thing you would change/general advice?

I have read and watched a lot of videos on the actual making but have not found much on designing.

Thanks


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1/8" is the basic standard thickness. Many will use less, say 3/32". I have only used 1/8" so far and it has been working fine. Files are fine, especially for the first couple knives as if you do mess something up it's not too much like would be with power tools. Get a good 24 hour epoxy for the scales. Read the stickies all the way through. Post a picture of your design and people will critique it before you actually start work on it.
 
No advice here but an observation... you're not allowed to have a knife with a blade longer than 4 inches at college... in TEXAS? What is this country coming to? :confused:

LOL
 
1/8" is a good thickness. I would not get the steel 1.5" wide unless you have a big curve to the handle or somewhere. 1.25" is usually more than wide enough to make a drop point hunter. Most first blades are far too wide .... remember, the edge is the only part that cuts, the rest is just there to support the edge. I like a blade about 1" wide on a drop point hunter. A 3" blade and 4" handle works well. If you want a bigger field knife, try 3.5" blade and 4.5" handle with the blade 1.25" wide.
Full Flat Grind is what you want for the bevel. Canvas Micarta makes a great field knife handle, and is good for new makers.
 
3/16", full flat. Still my go to for just about every knife I make. Good weight, good strength, good performance. I hate scandi grinds.
 
txjeeper said:
I need help with the design of my first knife. It will be primarily a bushcraft knife but may also see use as a hunter. Blade length is 3 7/8 inches as I can only have a 4 inch blade my dorm. I plan on using 1.5 inch wide 1084 but don't know the thickness. It will be drop point and I am leaning toward a scandi grind but am open the suggestions. Handle will be a homemade canvas laminate. Sheath will be kydex with option to scout carry. I plan on only using hand tools but may have access to a disc sander and bench grinder.

My questions are:
How thick of steel should I use?
Is there a better grind/tips for creating a scandi grind?
Any thing you would change/general advice?

I have read and watched a lot of videos on the actual making but have not found much on designing.

Thanks


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

For first knife why you don t take some of free template patterns from dcknives . I made two knife from this template and I learned a lot about the size and shape of the handle to start design my own ....
 
milkbaby said:
No advice here but an observation... you're not allowed to have a knife with a blade longer than 4 inches at college... in TEXAS? What is this country coming to? :confused:

LOL
Click to expand...
It is a rule with the dorm. I can have a bigger knife but would have to keep it in my jeep and would rather keep it with the rest of my gear.

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milkbaby said:
No advice here but an observation... you're not allowed to have a knife with a blade longer than 4 inches at college... in TEXAS? What is this country coming to? :confused:

LOL
Click to expand...
It is a dorm rule. I could have a bigger knife, would just have to keep it in my Jeep instead of with the rest of my gear.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk
 
txjeeper , next one I will made from this free patterns is this .....DH40 Drop Point , worth a look :thumbup:
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
1/8" is a good thickness. I would not get the steel 1.5" wide unless you have a big curve to the handle or somewhere. 1.25" is usually more than wide enough to make a drop point hunter. Most first blades are far too wide .... remember, the edge is the only part that cuts, the rest is just there to support the edge. I like a blade about 1" wide on a drop point hunter. A 3" blade and 4" handle works well. If you want a bigger field knife, try 3.5" blade and 4.5" handle with the blade 1.25" wide.
Full Flat Grind is what you want for the bevel. Canvas Micarta makes a great field knife handle, and is good for new makers.
Click to expand...
I just started on some drawings during lunch and realized just how massive a 1.5" wide blade is on this length. The 1" seems good for the blade but I am not sure if it is wide enough for a handle, for me at least. Might go with 1.25" just to get a better sized handle. I would like to make a model and see what sized handle works best. What material is easiest to work with, as in can be worked in a parking lot without a vise?

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Make a cardboard template and see how it feels.
If you want to make a full mock-up, use a 1/8" balsa wood sheet to make the blade and tang, then add two 1/4" sheets as scales. Shape with a knife, file, sandpaper.
 
txjeeper said:
It is a dorm rule. I could have a bigger knife, would just have to keep it in my Jeep instead of with the rest of my gear.

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Click to expand...

If you can't get it done with 4 inches........


But really when I've dressed game (admittedly not that much) 99% is just using the tip.....
 
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