- Joined
- Nov 26, 2010
- Messages
- 7,567
This is the second time I've had the pleasure of designing my own knife with JK Knives, I have to say it's an experience that only gets better. This knife is a little more "what if" I wanted to try something different and I did. It's nice being able to have the confidence to do that and it comes from knowing the skill of the hands I put the design in.
This is a brief initial impressions review, I only received this knife a few days ago and since it's my own design it's not in Jk's standard line-up. So I thought I'd use this as a chance to do a review of having your own knife designed more then anything else.
Specs:
7" overall
3" blade
O1 steel
Maple Burl scales
1/8" thick
JK Knives own standard grind
I have settled on the name Sam's Swayback. It's a design with my eldest son in mind. I thought it would be called Sam's Forge, Furnace or even Talon, but swayback just seems right somehow now I've held it. I'm not sure it's an accurate name though.
I started out by sketching initial ideas, they all sucked, then searching BF looking for things I like thinking "what do i want this one to be?" I settled on another EDC but abandoning the "minimalist" approach I had with the Toby Knife. I also decided I wanted a Wharncliff. I've like the blade style. I drew a lot more and started to see one pattern repeating itself. I narrowed it down to 6 or 7 versions, then four, then I drew them out in full size and made paper protpotypes, then cardboard prototypes.
I asked for opinions on the JK sub-form and received a whole bunch of real good advice. I modified the designs, also settled on a 1/8" thickness because of some of the comments, and paced around a lot for the next few weeks thinking about them. (I'm skipping the part where before asking for advice i started the while process over again...twice)
I can get obsessive over decisions like this, if it doesn't show, and sometimes I just need to walk away. So I did, when I came back to think about it one piece of good advice stood out over all the others, it was from John himself, "Pick the one that feels best in your hand."
The handle shape was difficult to get comfortable, I just like the lines on this one and that the "S" for Sam being incorporated. So I made some new prototypes of the final designs, and tried to make them as accurate as possible, then played with other knives up against them trying to figure out which one would feel best in 3D.
I also manged to cut myself pretty deep while working with paper and wondered, not for the first time, if I was the right guy to be interested in sharp objects. As you can see I was thinking about getting 3/32" thick stock but bumped it up to 1/8, what the heck, right? Also there was some concern the neck of the knife was too narrow.
I like it. It's kicked the Toby's Knife off my belt this weekend, which is saying a lot since I haven't put it down since I got it, and I have found that even 1/8" this make a great cutter. JK puts a nice edge on his knives but for some reason this one just feels sharper then normal and it might be that defined point. Either way the knife swallows up leather the same way most high end production knives get tested on cardboard. I could see me getting one in 1/16 sometimes as well. Having handled it a while I don't think the neck is narrow enough to warrant concern. Having said that I'd glad I went with the 1/8, I don't think this is going to be limited to slicing, although it might just be my new go to leather knife.
Now if only I could get better with leather, I'd be on to something
I try though, and it's fun, in some way it has been much better though using your own knife design to help you.
Mqqn who mentioned the rounded spine option a few times and convinced me to try it, have to say I am glad he did. It's purrrty!
And it fits my hand like a...well a knife designed to do just that. I could see it being more comfortable for a lot of big handed fellas if you make the handle about 1/2 to 1" longer so more of your hand can fit in the curve, but I'd also suggest putting your hand on a piece of paper and sketching your own. Why not, if your going to get a custom knife , may as well get exactly the one you want.
Also it's the best way I know of getting a knife with this stamped on the side:
This is a brief initial impressions review, I only received this knife a few days ago and since it's my own design it's not in Jk's standard line-up. So I thought I'd use this as a chance to do a review of having your own knife designed more then anything else.
Specs:
7" overall
3" blade
O1 steel
Maple Burl scales
1/8" thick
JK Knives own standard grind
I have settled on the name Sam's Swayback. It's a design with my eldest son in mind. I thought it would be called Sam's Forge, Furnace or even Talon, but swayback just seems right somehow now I've held it. I'm not sure it's an accurate name though.
I started out by sketching initial ideas, they all sucked, then searching BF looking for things I like thinking "what do i want this one to be?" I settled on another EDC but abandoning the "minimalist" approach I had with the Toby Knife. I also decided I wanted a Wharncliff. I've like the blade style. I drew a lot more and started to see one pattern repeating itself. I narrowed it down to 6 or 7 versions, then four, then I drew them out in full size and made paper protpotypes, then cardboard prototypes.
I asked for opinions on the JK sub-form and received a whole bunch of real good advice. I modified the designs, also settled on a 1/8" thickness because of some of the comments, and paced around a lot for the next few weeks thinking about them. (I'm skipping the part where before asking for advice i started the while process over again...twice)
I can get obsessive over decisions like this, if it doesn't show, and sometimes I just need to walk away. So I did, when I came back to think about it one piece of good advice stood out over all the others, it was from John himself, "Pick the one that feels best in your hand."
The handle shape was difficult to get comfortable, I just like the lines on this one and that the "S" for Sam being incorporated. So I made some new prototypes of the final designs, and tried to make them as accurate as possible, then played with other knives up against them trying to figure out which one would feel best in 3D.
I also manged to cut myself pretty deep while working with paper and wondered, not for the first time, if I was the right guy to be interested in sharp objects. As you can see I was thinking about getting 3/32" thick stock but bumped it up to 1/8, what the heck, right? Also there was some concern the neck of the knife was too narrow.
I like it. It's kicked the Toby's Knife off my belt this weekend, which is saying a lot since I haven't put it down since I got it, and I have found that even 1/8" this make a great cutter. JK puts a nice edge on his knives but for some reason this one just feels sharper then normal and it might be that defined point. Either way the knife swallows up leather the same way most high end production knives get tested on cardboard. I could see me getting one in 1/16 sometimes as well. Having handled it a while I don't think the neck is narrow enough to warrant concern. Having said that I'd glad I went with the 1/8, I don't think this is going to be limited to slicing, although it might just be my new go to leather knife.
Now if only I could get better with leather, I'd be on to something
I try though, and it's fun, in some way it has been much better though using your own knife design to help you.Mqqn who mentioned the rounded spine option a few times and convinced me to try it, have to say I am glad he did. It's purrrty!
And it fits my hand like a...well a knife designed to do just that. I could see it being more comfortable for a lot of big handed fellas if you make the handle about 1/2 to 1" longer so more of your hand can fit in the curve, but I'd also suggest putting your hand on a piece of paper and sketching your own. Why not, if your going to get a custom knife , may as well get exactly the one you want.
Also it's the best way I know of getting a knife with this stamped on the side:
that's cool, once again I'm honored.
