Ideal Size?

For a smaller knife I like a 3.5" to 4" handle and about a 3.5" blade, 1" high for pocket carry. Larger knives I like the 4"-5.5" blade and a minimum 4 1/4" handle with around 1 1/4"-2" blade height. Thickness for a larger knife I like 1/8" I've gone away from the thicker blades here recently and for a smaller blade I don't really have a preference with thickness.

 

For EDC purposes, I think a 3-3.25" handle with a 3.5" blade in 3/32" would be about perfect. I find 3.5" handles hit my palm funny, and a 4" handle eats into blade length when trying to stick with a 6.5-7" overall length.

I don't have an opportunity to camp or do fun bushcrafting stuff, so larger knives are focused on kitchen duty. Here, blade thinness is King. Since it's not carried, a full 4-4.5" grip is appreciated, and a blade length between 4.5-6.5" with 1/16” - 5/32" blade thickness really excel.

Handle shapes can be all over the place for me, but I do find that I like a bit of a palm swell, as well as a bit of tapering towards the ricasso. It lends to a more forward grip, which I appreciate in the kitchen and with detail work. On small handles, I like a bit of a hook on the bottom side (like your Bluegill) to tuck a finger tip into.

 

also should of added my preferences come from a hiking/camping/bushcrafting perspective with the smaller knives being more so ranch work/fixing things up or making things for around the house.

 

Probably a 5" hatchet blade using a true quarter round to transition to a 4" draw blade. With a 6" handle resembling the knatchet handle. Off the books of course so haters cant hate

 

As far as blade shapes:

For EDC, I like drop point, straight back, or spear point. I'm not super crazy about clip points or straight edges (ie wharncliffe/sheepfoot) fixed blades. Typically 3/4" tall blades.

For the kitchen, I like straight back, drop point, and Deba/Santoku style blades in the 1.25"-2" tall blades (depending on blade length). A paring/B&T style knife in the 4" blade length and 3/4" height range wouldn't go amiss, either.

Could you make me one of those super sweet Cutco knives with the serrated edge and scalloped flats?!

 

A 5" blade length is my sweet spot. Not too big to handle detailed work, but enough blade length to handle most fire prep. Handle length needs to be at least 4 1\2". Blade height 1-2". Steel thickness, no more than 3/16", preferably less. A lot of the 5" production knives tend to be way overbuilt. Love a nice flat/convex grind, hate Scandi.

Come to think of it, that sounds and awful lot like the muddy camp I keep wanting to email you about......

 

John. How about some teaser pics of the current work???

 

What about the ones that were in heat treat today?

 

I did a ruff sketch of my unicorn knife. I may need to calm it down a little. it came out to be 16 1/2 inches long.

 

I can't ever decide lol. That's why I buy multiple knives

 

• 
  Support BladeForums!
  Paid memberships don't see ads!

9 1/2"ish OAL, 5" blade, 1/8" stock, 1 1/8th high.