Knife Designs-What do you look for?

outdoorsfan

outdoorsfan

Joined
Sep 30, 2009
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I am curious if there are certain design traits that seem to draw you in your knives over and over or do you have a wide variety of styles and features? Practical or fanciful? Big or small? General purpose or specific?
 
5" & under blades,9" & over blades.
Bushcrafters & choppers pretty much make up my collection & get used the most.
Bushcrafters come in all sorts of blade shapes & handle shapes,from the classic Kephart to John's great little Semi Wharnie
& to the cheap mora.
I do like little knives too like neckers & tin knives,though I would rather carry a necker in my pocket than around my neck.
Bowies & fighters don't get my attention,but I have been thinking about a Rule # 9 lately,something about that one gets my attention.It looks like a good defensive/edc knife & should work for all around duties too as I'm sure Protourist will agree.
 
I'm starting to wonder that myself, :)

For fixed blades I'm guessing? The list is simple but it seems to get more complicated when I think about it:

-A good point
-full tang
-Prefer wood scales
-5-7" in OA for EDC
-around 8.5 for camping/working with 3-4" blade
-Simple lines, but not necessarily plain, i do like curves - I do't like decoration thats out of place (whistles or bells for that matter)
-Very attracted to older designs, or knives that look "out of time"

I'm to attracted to choppers at all, I like the knatchet but in the end I'd rather have a hatchet/hawk and knife combo.

Also I look for something with strength built into the design, I do like a good point but between being slightly heavy handed, not wanting to carry 3 tools when i can carry one and stress it out, (and impatience), I tend to put a lot of strain on things.
 
mykel m said:
5" & under blades,9" & over blades.
Bushcrafters & choppers pretty much make up my collection & get used the most.
Bushcrafters come in all sorts of blade shapes & handle shapes,from the classic Kephart to John's great little Semi Wharnie
& to the cheap mora.
I do like little knives too like neckers & tin knives,though I would rather carry a necker in my pocket than around my neck.
Bowies & fighters don't get my attention,but I have been thinking about a Rule # 9 lately,something about that one gets my attention.It looks like a good defensive/edc knife & should work for all around duties too as I'm sure Protourist will agree.
Click to expand...

The Rule #9 has such a simple design, a handle that fits my medium/large hand perfectly and a blade shape that just works. It's roughly the size of a standard steak knife so it's a size that even knon-knifeknuts will find comfortable and true knifeknuts will carry everywhere we go.
I use mine for everything.
At restaurants, steaks will often cut themselves when they see me taking it out of the sheath.:D
ebony2-1.jpg

Ignore the specs of Moosehide I got on the blade. I didn't see them when I took the pic.:o
I'm really surprised that more of these haven't sold. I should have done a passaround. I'm betting that anyone trying one would have to buy one. John did a ridiculously good job making the handle. It is a dream.
 
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JK Knives said:
I`ve been thinking of doing an EDC or necker size version of the Rule #9 and the Trapline.
Click to expand...

I like the way you think.:D Both of them would work well either larger or smaller.
 
I'm a sucker for small knives. If it is 3.5" or smaller I really like it. I have been liking negative angle knives more and more. I prefer tips that are in the middle or that are lower.
 
protourist said:
The Rule #9 has such a simple design, a handle that fits my medium/large hand perfectly and a blade shape that just works. It's roughly the size of a standard steak knife so it's a size that even knon-knifeknuts will find comfortable and true knifeknuts will carry everywhere we go.
I use mine for everything.
At restaurants, steaks will often cut themselves when they see me taking it out of the sheath.:D
ebony2-1.jpg

Ignore the specs of Moosehide I got on the blade. I didn't see them when I took the pic.:o
I'm really surprised that more of these haven't sold. I should have done a passaround. I'm betting that anyone trying one would have to buy one. John did a ridiculously good job making the handle. It is a dream.
Click to expand...
Sold!
The R#9 will be my next JK on order,thanks for helping me make my mind up.Maybe I'll do a DIY handle on this one,just gotta remember to shape both ends before glue up.
 
You won't be disappointed. Yes, I am biased but John made it into a great knife despite my efforts.:D
 
in a fixed blade?

between 10 and 14 inches OAL
full tang
micarta or G10 handles
handle at least 5 inches
full convex
functional choil
tool steel
camp style or chopper
thicker steel stock
rounded spine
penetrator tip
glass breaker
thumb notches

..of course, I'm just dreamin':D
 
Mr. Night said:
in a fixed blade?

between 10 and 14 inches OAL
full tang
micarta or G10 handles
handle at least 5 inches
full convex
functional choil
tool steel
camp style or chopper
thicker steel stock
rounded spine
penetrator tip
glass breaker
thumb notches

..of course, I'm just dreamin':D
Click to expand...

You are in for a treat when you see the one I`m working on right now, you just described it! (except for the rounded spine, he does not want that)
 
I would say I look for something different from everything else... a certain "je ne sais quoi" that makes the knife unique. Sometimes it's the shape, steel, handle material, whatever. Oh, and I look for makers that's been at it for a while.
 
I look for handle ratio. I despise skinny or short handles. The Rule #9, Phoenix, Pocket Scandi, all get a lot of use. I have many other knives, but these see the most time.

A Rule #9 is an excellent choice...you will love it.
 
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