Input Needed

JK Knives

JK Knives

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I`ve decided to start offering a "Bushcraft" design, but I don`t claim to be a "Bushcrafter", just a guy who likes being in the outdoors. Heck, I`ve just started camping 4 years ago, and I`m almost 62 years old! I do enjoy hiking with my wife, but again, I don`t claim to be a great woodsman. So any feedback would be appreciated.
I`ve decided to offer two grind options on these, and offer them at a price comparable to a higher end manufacturer`s prices.

Finished these up this morning, both are in redwood burl.

Specs:

9 1/4" overall
4 3/4" blades
1/8" thick O1 steel


Full grind



Scandivex grind (scandi grind with a slight convex edge)

 
I really like them both, the Scandi-vex a little more. We bring many knives to use and play when we camp and find the thinner blades get the most food prep and small wood carving tasks. We love using larger khuks, parangs and small machetes for bigger work, yet it's back to thinner Mora-like objects when cooking for 4-16 people.
We always have a hawk with a hardened hammer poll for pounding work, yet again I've found myself pounding with my knife pommel quite a lot over the years and so do like the pommel on a Skookum or on the HI Seax or the very thick steel of handle on my Barkie Gameskeeper.

My few cents,
Mark
 
First off I've seen a lot of your work over the years and I really like your style. Great looking functional blades from what I can tell.

I'm much younger than you but I've been camping, backpacking, fishing, and hiking since I was a youg child. By no means am I an expert but I do enjoy bushcraft and have my own opinions regarding knives.

I would think a zero ground Scandi would make more sense as it would be very easy for the user to add a convex edge if it is wanted. This is the stereotypical bushcraft knife grind.

Having the grinds come back as close to the handle as possible is a plus in my book and I know others agree.

The blade length seems a little long, I would drop it to 4 or 4.25 inches personally. My personal knife is actually 3.75" in length but around 4 is relatively standard.

I can't tell what the hight of the blade is but the handles appear that they could be small for some users. Personally I have small hands but most like a large handle. A handle that can be used in a variety of grips for long periods of time without discomfort is a must. Mike from MCQBUSHCRAFT has some recent videos on YouTube displaying some of these grips. I would test your handle in these grips and then ajust accordingly if needed.

Hopefully none of this is taken the wrong way as my criticism is based on my own opinions and likly means little. I have enjoyed seeing the knives you have made over the years and I'm happy to see you breaking into this market.
 
Gorgeous knives man. Being from the CA coast, redwood handled this nicely always resonates with me. Looks like a very funtional blade for both camping and hunting. Would love to see some photos from above too to see the rest of the handle profile.
 
Knife looks good, but I like a little thicker stock, and a full Scandi grind. Have no use for a partial this, and a little Of that. So to speak.
 
I like the knife. I'd like a bigger handle. Hacked has a good idea: 4" blade. I'd like to see it a bit taller and a 5" handle. Busch knives need comfort.
 
Beautiful knives.
Love the full flat grind on top.

I see a strong Kephart influence in them. For a working woods knife, that design is hard to beat. Simple and yet elegant.

For a woods/camp knife, that top one is about perfect in my estimation. Should be more than tough enough for most realistic woods chores. The length gives it just enough for any light batoning that might arise. I think that length is right in the sweet spot.

Hacked makes a good point about the leverage youngain by bringingnthe edge right tight to the handle.

I like a knife that can be flipped over and used to scrape effectively. Like scraping peppers and onions off a cutting board. Or moving stuff around in a cast iron frying pan. Even taking shavings of a stick for a fire.

I know the Scandi thing is all the rage right now. And it does a fine job working wood. I don't care much for it in food prep, or other general utility work. All knives are a trade off in some regard. I like the sliceyness of the full flat. But that is just me.

The spear point works very well for almost anything woods related.

I would say,you're right on target. So much so, that I scrolled up and revisited the top knife several times while writing this.
It just plain works for me.
 
Last edited:
LostViking said:
I know the Scandi thing is all the rage right now. And it does a fine job working wood. I don't care much for it in food prep, or other general utility work. All knives are a trade off in some regard. I like the sliceyness of the full flat.
Click to expand...

I find a thinner Scandi works well enough for general use and food prep. The problem is everyone is all about overly thick blade stock these days. Deering knives makes some good examples of Scandi knives that would be more practical for all around camp use in my opinion. Personally I don't think a Scandi grind works on anying thicker than 1/8 and I personally don't care for a knife that thick.

I'm also a big fan of a flat ground knife, especially when the there isn't extensive material left behind the edge creating a thick edge bevel or what I consider poor edge geometry. Those are my two favorite grinds and all that I use day to day.

Just my opinion, I'm sure it's wrong.
 
I would like to see the design with a little more belly and continual curve to the blade-like a Skookum Bushtool blade. I like no more than 4" or so on the length of blade.
 
hi
as a wood working knife less than 4" is much more comfortable to use the point of the knife
my personal preferences is 3 3/4"
a full 5" or 4 1/2 handle give all the flexibility of any grip you want
and the longer handle allows power cutting
is the handle oval and full hand filling?
 
I think the top one is a winner. I know how your Kephart performs in O-1. I'm sure these will be just as reliable.
 
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