How about a Camp knife challenge ?

How about sending the batch of knives to one or two (or three) of the various W&SS gatherings that happen every once in a while? The participants could each pitch in a couple bucks for the shipping and a chance at giving each one a whack. They could fill out some sort of form and submit their data.
 
pitdog said:
I got to thinking how a Camp knife challenge for all our resident knife makers might be interesting and fun !!!!

My idea is that all the makers came up with a design of what they considered to be a perfect Camp knife and posted pics of the finished blades for us to vote on and select a winner !!!

I'd imagine that with enough interest most models made would get snapped up by one person or another and it would be a good way to highlight the individuals work and maybe get them some future sales !!!!

What do y'all think ?????
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I think you should do the reviews. Pics with some food prep, some wood usage, and a background of your beautiful area.

And I think the makers should pick whichever they want to send to you, be it their favorite, their best seller, a new design, whatever. Bottom line is that all knives cut.
 
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baldtaco-II said:
Food tests:

Onion dice.

Potato dice.

Spatchock a chicken.

Bacon slice.

Prep a round fish.



Wood tests:

Standard fuzzies.

Reduction to kindling.

Make a fig 4 trap or like.



General tests.

Cross grain bamboo cut.

Manila rope cut.

Nylon rope cut.

Rolled sacking or canvas tarp or denim jeans hack.

Rubber hose of tredder tire sever.
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I like your practicals- the food and wood tests. The general tests seems a bit scattered. I'm not sure if we are going for chopping performance or edge holding- making it have a dedicated competition style chopper testing will tend to weed out otherwise perfectly viable blades with 5-6 inch blades without real reason. As far as it goes, I'd almost suggest chopping through a red oak 2x2 board twice, then back to the kitchen.

And that's all I should say, maybe more than I should say. I'll go with anything :)
 
Rockywolf said:
I think you should do the reviews. Pics with some food prep, some wood usage, and a background of your beautiful area.

And I think the makers should pick whichever they want to send to you, be it their favorite, their best seller, a new design, whatever. Bottom line is that all knives cut.
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Thanks for the vote of confidence buddy but I'd rather they went to someone a little more skilled in bushcraft than me, I'd like to see some traps made etc and mine leave a lot to be desired, LOL !!!!:D
 
baldtaco-II said:
I can certainly think of others but for example; would X have a use for a dozen butterflied chickens and a shitload of fish. .
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Heya, I wonder if this is why koyote sent me this link?

I'll be happy to drop off whatever with our Meat Department, see which can do a case of chicken fastest/easiest, fillet out big fish, little fish, cut a lamb carcass in half at the 8th vertebra, you know, easy stuff.

Oh yeah, they'll get used. They'll get _dirty._

Then to the Deli for chopping veggies. They'll get dirty there too. And used.

Then, if the store manager hasn't fired me for bringing in Non-Standard Knives (she banned my necker from visible wear because it apparently skeered a customer) I'll be able to report back.

Best regards,

...Blanche
 
I think you'd be disqualified for being a housemate of mine, blanche :D

It's a good idea, though.


I was gonna vote for pitdog and some friends because pitdog isn't so old and crusty he only has one type of knife he likes ;)
 
Pit, this is a great idea!

It seems most of you are fond of having a max and minimum length, I would suggest only a maximum. My personal favorite camp knife is 4.75". A hair shorter than the length requirments being tossed around here. Although I would not put any requirments, pit is looking for the perfect camp knife, so one maker might think it to be much larger that 7 or 9. Let's see what everyone comes up with.
 
koyote, hey

I think I got a bit carried away with “utility” after pitdog said about “a good all rounder”. That scattering under General are the kinds of things I've usually got handy for broadening a utility test [without recourse to rocks or rebar ;-)]. In hindsight, perhaps of those General tests only the rope ones are relevant to how I usually conceive of a camp knife rather than a small utility knife.

Bottom line is if every hurdle I mentioned gets binned and replaced good. I'm only too happy to just brainstorm with ya all at this point. As the thing takes on more structure I'll reel mah neck back in and let you guys get on with it. Strikes me that those of you that are going to be at the core of this would do well on a Skype conference call or something.


Apikoros

Blanche, hola

Excellent can-do attitude. Ideal person to have in this mix by the sound of it.

I'm pretty certain that necker would have got most employees here sacked on the first trial. I think my country has infected yours. They'll be after your lighters next. After all once smoking is banned why would you want to carry a lighter or matches – what are you, a bloody arsonist. :-)
 
koyote said:
design choices aside, is this something you want to have tested by a group, like send it out to tony and big mike...?


...photos of knives doing at least some of the work?
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This is a great Idea, I’m sure we could find many testers in our area.

And photos are always paramount in my reviews.

Build them and we will test. :thumbup: :cool: :thumbup:





Big Mike

”Scaring the tree huggers.”

Forest & Stream
 
G'day Pit.

Interesting Idea.

As a camp knife means different things to different people, how about we leave it totally up to the makers (ie no limitations on length etc).

This way we'll all get an insight into each makers own thoughts on what makes a great camp knife to them.

With regards to testing, I'd love to see the makers themselves put it to use as a campknife in camp (no simulated testing in the backyard guys :D ).

I reckon this would provide us with a fantastic opportunity to see how function influences design :thumbup:




Kind regards
Mick
 
WIP pics would help with the "function influences design" aspect.

I like all the tests suggested. I am having my morning coffee here thinking about all this and what I would come up with.

Should we Makers that are going to participate start submitting designs or go right to the grinder and finish these out and then post them???

I like the idea of one person testing these as it will give a better comparison, as long as we can all agree on a tester.

Raffling the knives out after our costs have been met could be a complicated task, though I am game for anything.

Craig
 
Frankly..... I think there should be NO RULES

An all around camp knife is just that.... and ALL AROUND camp knife.

Size limits, weight classes..... suck.

I don't want to hear what tests the knives are going through until after the submission. Part of the designing process is have the ability to weigh the options and make a descision on which way you want to go.... Heavy chopper, lightweight carver, thin slicer or sharpened prybar!

The testers should be the ones with the rules...... and ONE rule only....

Put the knife through everything!

If I decide to make a 9" chopper, I have to face the fact that it might fail the "fillet o fish" test.... but it'll kick ass on the battoning and chopping portion. If I make a 4 1/2" bushcraft Scandi, I realize it isn't going to be the best at clearing brush or limbing branches... but most likely breeze through trap making and fuzzsticks.

Nobody, will have a knife that'll excel at everything... but after the dust/smoke clears some designs will stand out... and EVERYONE can learn from it.


Rick
 
Magnussen said:
Frankly..... I think there should be NO RULES

An all around camp knife is just that.... and ALL AROUND camp knife.

Size limits, weight classes..... suck.

I don't want to hear what tests the knives are going through until after the submission. Part of the designing process is have the ability to weigh the options and make a descision on which way you want to go.... Heavy chopper, lightweight carver, thin slicer or sharpened prybar!

The testers should be the ones with the rules...... and ONE rule only....

Put the knife through everything!

If I decide to make a 9" chopper, I have to face the fact that it might fail the "fillet o fish" test.... but it'll kick ass on the battoning and chopping portion. If I make a 4 1/2" bushcraft Scandi, I realize it isn't going to be the best at clearing brush or limbing branches... but most likely breeze through trap making and fuzzsticks.

Nobody, will have a knife that'll excel at everything... but after the dust/smoke clears some designs will stand out... and EVERYONE can learn from it.


Rick
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That sounds perfect! :thumbup:
 
I guess that would work. As long as the testers are willing to attempt to fillet a fish with a 9" chopper.

Hopefully the testing will be done in order from least harsh to most. Otherwise the makers that decide to go with the thin bladed slicer could very well see their knife shattered during the chopping tests.
 
Count me IN.


I will gladly donate my knife for a raffle too. :thumbup:



This will be a NEW design for me....so I'd love to hear some suggestions!



pitdog -

Can you update the first post once you have your "criteria" figured out?

I need specifics - put a list of tasks you want it to accomplish (as has been suggested here already). It will help me determine steel/handle/design decisions.

Also, something to consider - how will this be carried? Do you want it to be an all-around-strapped-to-the-belt camp knife? (sounds like you do...but I wanted to clarify).



Timeframe is not a big deal to me (as in, I never have time anyway...:p)


I would like to see these go all in a big box to 2 or 3 guys with extensive side-by-side reviews. I don't care about a winner being picked...I would just like to see the results. If I make a knife that I think chops well, and somebody else's does better...I'd love to see it and why - great feedback.

Don't be afraid to have specific criteria....handle shapes will be different for every maker regardless. Just consider if we asked 10 people to make a Bowie knife - would they turn out the same? not likely. ;)


Let me know as soon as you get your list nailed down, as I'd love to jump in on this one.

Thanks!

:thumbup:

Dan
 
p.s. my vote would be for something more toward the 6-8" blade range....but my reasons are selfish...I don't have anything in that range and would love to design a new model ! :D
 
This is really turning into something very cool. Pitdog, I hope you follow up with this and start to come up with a criteria. The response from some quality knife makers could turn this into quite a learning experience for everyone involved.

I have a design that I think I might even put into this little challenge just to see how it stacks up against some fine makers.

Paul
 
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