Knife design suggestions

[S.Alexander]

Hi, I'm going to make my father a birthday knife and was looking for some feedback on the design before I dive in. It will be made from 1084 steel, either 1/8 or 5/32 stock. Not sure which one yet. Overall length around 10-11 inches. My dad loves Bowie knives so it will have to be in that style. I designed a few knives recently, and was thinking of using #4 in the picture.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks ap

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[dzlvs8]

In my opinion, I like the handle on number 4 the best but the contrast of the edgy handle and rounded bowie is a little weird looking. But it's hard to tell from just a drawing.

 

[S.Alexander]

I see what you mean by the contrasting styles. It may look interesting. I drew up a few other designs as well, with a couple other handle designs.

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[mccandmatt]

Is this going to be your first knife?

 

[S.Alexander]

Is this going to be your first knife?

It will be my 6th knife.

 

[Portman30-06]

I would pick 11 but with a bit more blade length or 1 with the blade flipped so the curve is on bottom. Just my thoughts

 

[eric brinkerhoff]

Number 9 and number two.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Why not ask your father which he prefers? Unless it is to be a surprise, he's the one that counts.

 

[mccandmatt]

I say #11

 

[tryppyr]

Ah, I see you design the same way I do... draw a bunch of billet sized boxes and see what shapes fit into the box.

The standard advice in these cases is to take some paint sticks and cut them into the shapes you have created so you can hold them in your hand. I think by doing so you would likely eliminate or alter at least half your designs due to discomfort you would feel while using the end product.

As men we often have a preference for designing things with hard angles in them. I guess it appeals to our masculine design sense.... our preference for things to look rough and tough. In the hand, however, curves are more comfortable. Hard angles create friction spots that apply pressure unevently. Not pleasant. The handle design for #7 is a good example... all straight lines and hard angles. If you held that in the hand and tried cutting rope, you'd feel what I mean.

Likewise, guys seem to want finger slots up front. I guess those sharp pointy bits look cool to us. The question is what purpose do they serve, other than to create extra friction on the leading finger(s)? And putting the pointy bits in the middle of the handle... welll... what were you thinking?

So think a little more about smoothing out your handle designs so they are comfortable to hold and use. Remove sharp angles near the fingers, and replace them with gentle curves.

 

[Hesparus]

It seems there's no agreement here; I like #6. Despite what Tryppyr said (which I tend to agree with) I like the fact that there are no straight lines on it. #9 is cool for this reason, too, but I think it's a little bit extreme and that the curves will make it difficult to make and use. I think the handle on #6 will be comfortable and very useful. On many of your designs the blade sticks out pretty far in front of the handle which I think will make it difficult to use for many tasks.
The finger grooves in 9, 10 and 12 can look cool, but they limit your ability to hold the knife in different positions. I like that sort of thing for fighting knives that you'd only be holding in one position, but for a working knife I think they work against your hand.
So as it is, I think #6 is my favorite by far, but I think #2 has some potential as well. The handle has good lines and would be comfortable and useful. I like what you did with mirroring the shape of the butt with the tanto point, but I would recommend against doing this style of blade. First, they are more difficult to make than you think — keeping the corner at the base of the tip can be pretty hard to do with a file or a grinder. Second, the american tanto point is not as useful as most people think. They are pretty popular with production knives, but you don't see a lot of serious makers doing them (no disrespect to those who do). If you kept the design as it is but turned it into a drop point I think it would make a great knife.

- Chris

 

[S.Alexander]

Why not ask your father which he prefers? Unless it is to be a surprise, he's the one that counts.

Yeah it's going to be a surprise. I think he's kind of expecting a knife though.

 

[JGarrison Knives]

Since its a gift from his son I'm sure whatever design you give him he will like. Since he is also a knife guy he will also want more knives from you so you will get a chance to make them all.

 

[S.Alexander]

Ah, I see you design the same way I do... draw a bunch of billet sized boxes and see what shapes fit into the box.

The standard advice in these cases is to take some paint sticks and cut them into the shapes you have created so you can hold them in your hand. I think by doing so you would likely eliminate or alter at least half your designs due to discomfort you would feel while using the end product.

As men we often have a preference for designing things with hard angles in them. I guess it appeals to our masculine design sense.... our preference for things to look rough and tough. In the hand, however, curves are more comfortable. Hard angles create friction spots that apply pressure unevently. Not pleasant. The handle design for #7 is a good example... all straight lines and hard angles. If you held that in the hand and tried cutting rope, you'd feel what I mean.

Likewise, guys seem to want finger slots up front. I guess those sharp pointy bits look cool to us. The question is what purpose do they serve, other than to create extra friction on the leading finger(s)? And putting the pointy bits in the middle of the handle... welll... what were you thinking?

So think a little more about smoothing out your handle designs so they are comfortable to hold and use. Remove sharp angles near the fingers, and replace them with gentle curves.

I find "paper billets" the easiest way to design so far. If I do it free hand I always make them too big.

Thanks for the feedback on the handle designs too. I will have to smooth them out for comfort's sake.

I'm thinking ill go with blade 4 with a more rounded handle.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If I wanted to make a bicycle...I would look at some bicycles and see what they looked like.

If I wanted to make a bowie knife, I would look at some bowie knives and see what they looked like.

A simple look through The Gallery, or a google search for "bowie knife images" will give you a lot of ideas. Print out the one you like and copy the basic blade/handle shape onto your billet drawing rectangle. Tweak that as you wish, whilst retaining the basic "Bowie" impression.

 

[S.Alexander]

If I wanted to make a bicycle...I would look at some bicycles and see what they looked like.

If I wanted to make a bowie knife, I would look at some bowie knives and see what they looked like.

A simple look through The Gallery, or a google search for "bowie knife images" will give you a lot of ideas. Print out the one you like and copy the basic blade/handle shape onto your billet drawing rectangle. Tweak that as you wish, whilst retaining the basic "Bowie" impression.

Yeah I did that. That's where I found the basic shape for #4. I think I'll draw it out on the billet today.

 

[Overmountain]

This is an image edit I did for another member here, but I think is kinda the quintessential hunter/outdoor/general purpose knife shape more or less (the red line). Like Hesparus said, no finger grooves unless you are intending for the blade to be used in only one hand position. Same for the American tanto tip as well. It does work extremely well as a penetration device, hence why a lot of makers use it, but not ideal for a general purpose knife.

I don't like to draw into a billet if I can help it. I would suggest getting a french curve, flexible ruler, and literally getting outside the box. Then measue it up and order your steel.

 

[dzlvs8]

In order of most liked....
6
10
8
9

But that's just me. Do what YOU like. Thats the best part about making knives to me. You can make what you want!

 

[S.Alexander]

This is an image edit I did for another member here, but I think is kinda the quintessential hunter/outdoor/general purpose knife shape more or less (the red line). Like Hesparus said, no finger grooves unless you are intending for the blade to be used in only one hand position. Same for the American tanto tip as well. It does work extremely well as a penetration device, hence why a lot of makers use it, but not ideal for a general purpose knife.

I don't like to draw into a billet if I can help it. I would suggest getting a french curve, flexible ruler, and literally getting outside the box. Then measue it up and order your steel.

I had never heard of a French curve before. I googled it, and what a great idea.

 

[S.Alexander]

I ended up modifying the bowie in #4. My dad likes the classic blade style of Bowies, and has always liked finger grooves. I modified the handle shape, then cut it out on a paint stick. I liked how it felt in the hand, and was also natural feeling in an inverted grip. I moved the single finger groove forward and rounded it off.

I roughed out the blade shape. It ended up being very similar to one of my favorite Bowies from online. Lets see how it ends up when it's finished.

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