Knife Designs?

K

KCDesigns

Joined
Sep 13, 2016
Messages
48
Trying out Blade Forums again, I believe last time I wasn't posting in the correct section and was not as professional as I should have been. I appreciated all things said last time and have taken many of the comments and used them to help better my designs and understand more about this. I understand that they are just designs and I need to prototype and test functionality I just don't have the space or equipment to do so. Designing knives is just something I do during my down time at work and because I enjoy it. Since my last time on here I have still been designing knives constantly and posting them to my Instagram page (@KC.Knives).

Thought I'd share some of my latest and favorite designs to date and see what needs to be changed, what looks good, what looks stupid, etc.

Also if anyone needs help getting their knives or designs put into CAD and needs .DXF files or even if you have a 2D drawing you'd like to see turned into 3D shoot me and email and we can work something out! (KCKnifeDesigns@gmail.com)

Thanks for looking.
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Hey there KC, you've got some interesting designs there! I'm not a huge fan of "modern" designs so I'm probably not your target audience, but since you did ask for opinions I'll give you mine.

First, some of your designs seem to have a lot of sharp angles in the hilt, these angles will make them awkward to use and prone to causing hot spots and blisters if used for a long time.

Similarly, some of your designs have hilts that are far to thin to "fill" the hand, and thus would be uncomfortable to use.

Some of your blades have either large slots cut in them or complex blade geometry that would make them hard to produce and in some cases prone to breakage.

In short your designs are very visually interesting, and I think that's the main problem with their design. You seem to have spent more time designing their appearance rather than their function. Any design that favors form over function will look better than it performs.
 
Some of them are very good. Some of them look extremely unergonomic particularly design number 1 and 2.

I am no professional designer but in my opinion the others look very nice and remind me of something I would find in WE's lineup. You have alot of talent.

Just try and think of what would be comfortable for the human hand. Look at companies or knives known for their ergonomic excellence for inspiration. Some examples like Emerson and Spyderco. Also remember sometimes straighter handles are the most comfortable. (I like the neutral grip they afford that means you can hold a knife in many grips rather than forcing your hand into one "correct" grip)

Look at the Spyderco Pikal which is an interesting study in ergonomics as it is designed to be held in a reverse grip with the edge facing towards the person holding it, and yet still it is fairly comfortable in other grips.

Just my 2 ducats. You are off to a great start.
 
Hey wow that was a quick response!

I really appreciate it I will take all of this into consideration, as far as focusing more on design rather than functionality I would have to agree your'e right. While it is hard to come up with different than what is already out there, there is only so much I can do as far as functionality goes just in a computer program. If I ever do decided to proceed on making any of these designs I can promise you functionality will be heavily taken into consideration.

I would not want my name or brand on anything I wouldn't trust or use myself.

Thanks again for the feedback! Much appreciated.
 
Lapedog said:
Some of them are very good. Some of them look extremely unergonomic particularly design number 1 and 2.

I am no professional designer but in my opinion the others look very nice and remind me of something I would find in WE's lineup. You have alot of talent.

Just try and think of what would be comfortable for the human hand. Look at companies or knives known for their ergonomic excellence for inspiration. Some examples like Emerson and Spyderco. Also remember sometimes straighter handles are the most comfortable. (I like the neutral grip they afford that means you can hold a knife in many grips rather than forcing your hand into one "correct" grip)

Look at the Spyderco Pikal which is an interesting study in ergonomics as it is designed to be held in a reverse grip with the edge facing towards the person holding it, and yet still it is fairly comfortable in other grips.

Just my 2 ducats. You are off to a great start.
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Thank you!

And yes I know I can get a little carried away with some of my designs but I cant help myself. Are all of my designs realistic? Hell no haha but I have fun designing them and the feedback never hurt anyone.

Whenever I do go back and visit these designs I will try and focus on the feel of the knife when it is in the hand. I plan on buying a 3D printer so that I can get a better understanding with a real model.
 
I understand you very much want to make unique designs that are your own. That is an artist's nature.

However remember the famous quote of the designer, "a designer's job is not done when there is nothing left to add, but nothing left to take away" think Sebenza.

Either way many of your designs are exellent.
 
I like it! I will try and not over complicate my designs in the future.

I still have yet to find my style so for now its just trial and error. Thank you!
 
I follow your IG. Out of these I really like the 3rd the best. Really like it like I want to make it. Nice work.
 
well I can appreciate your solid modeling skills :-)
I like the one with the Timascus inlay

earlier was mentioned some advice and criticism about angles and edges etc.
I suspect these designs will be mid-tech style fabricated on a CNC mill
I also think these are an exhibition of design and skill, not really for practical use and knives like this hardly (never) get used.

So I would continue with your evolving journey :-)
 
HSC /// said:
well I can appreciate your solid modeling skills :)
I like the one with the Timascus inlay

earlier was mentioned some advice and criticism about angles and edges etc.
I suspect these designs will be mid-tech style fabricated on a CNC mill
I also think these are an exhibition of design and skill, not really for practical use and knives like this hardly (never) get used.

So I would continue with your evolving journey :)
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Thank you! I plan on having a little bit of both. Sorta how benchmade has their separate classes.
 
I really like several of your designs, like others have said, some of the sharper angles will not be terribly friendly in hand. But overall you have a very nice eye for these modern design focused blades. I think getting these in hand with a mock up or 3d print will help you iron out any ergonomic issues while keeping the overall integrity of the design. I'm interested to see what you come up with in future.
 
42pixels said:
I really like several of your designs, like others have said, some of the sharper angles will not be terribly friendly in hand. But overall you have a very nice eye for these modern design focused blades. I think getting these in hand with a mock up or 3d print will help you iron out any ergonomic issues while keeping the overall integrity of the design. I'm interested to see what you come up with in future.
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Gotcha! Yeah I'm gonna take another look at all of these and focus on reducing the sharp angles that would be in contact with the hand.

And yes I definitely plan on having most of these 3D printed to get a better idea of the fitment in hand.
 
Hi,
Seems like what you are designing are "art" knives. Form before function because you are not yet in a position to test the function. If you are having fun just doing the models, rock on, no one should argue with it as a hobby. If you are designing with an aim to make the designs, I think you would benefit from narrowing your focus and getting into prototype builds before you invest much more time in concept design.

Have you watched any of the John Grimsmo videos on Youtube? His Norseman shares some aspects with your designs. He took a lot of time figuring out how to make that one design. The drawn/modelled concept was just the beginning. Trying to figure out how to make a design can feed back into alterations to that design.

3D printing isn't a panacea for checking first concept designs. If I were you I would get hold of a block of Modelling Board (medium or high density...medium if you have to shape all holding in your hands, high if you can clamp it, both cut like butter compared to wood, Micarta and plastics). I got mine from easycomposites here in the UK but there are bound to be other places. Have a go at shaping some handles using little files and sand paper. Cut blades out of acrylic/polycarbonate plastic sheet (no bevels) or you could try the FDM 3D printing. Use that to narrow in on what features work for ergonomics, then feed that back into your designs. I would think about the 3D printing handles on the second or third iteration, where you are 90% confident that you have it nailed, and just want to check the last features.

Without a feedback loop, designs are just doodles (speaking from my experience, anyway). There is no doubt that you have nailed the process and skills of putting together concept models. The next logical step is to start developing one. I like the look of Knife 3.

Good luck! :D

Chris
 
I'm going to go against the pack here a little bit and state that some of your more modern shapes, if made, might out sell the more traditional looking ones. I carry a knife every day but I have basically an office job. I open letters and plastic bags and things.

I'm not worried about blisters or anything while using it. I believe that cool factor would be a good seller.

On that note, design me some cool kitchen knives to make!
 
I see "art knives" on IG every day that appear to be completely useless but are likely $X,XXX knives. The only difference between KC's designs and those are that they've actually been made.

K KCDesigns Would you entertain sharing your model of #3 with me to get one produced? Have you designed a lock mechanism? It appears to be intended to be a button lock on the pivot?
 
C_Claycomb said:
Hi,
Seems like what you are designing are "art" knives. Form before function because you are not yet in a position to test the function. If you are having fun just doing the models, rock on, no one should argue with it as a hobby. If you are designing with an aim to make the designs, I think you would benefit from narrowing your focus and getting into prototype builds before you invest much more time in concept design.

Have you watched any of the John Grimsmo videos on Youtube? His Norseman shares some aspects with your designs. He took a lot of time figuring out how to make that one design. The drawn/modelled concept was just the beginning. Trying to figure out how to make a design can feed back into alterations to that design.

3D printing isn't a panacea for checking first concept designs. If I were you I would get hold of a block of Modelling Board (medium or high density...medium if you have to shape all holding in your hands, high if you can clamp it, both cut like butter compared to wood, Micarta and plastics). I got mine from easycomposites here in the UK but there are bound to be other places. Have a go at shaping some handles using little files and sand paper. Cut blades out of acrylic/polycarbonate plastic sheet (no bevels) or you could try the FDM 3D printing. Use that to narrow in on what features work for ergonomics, then feed that back into your designs. I would think about the 3D printing handles on the second or third iteration, where you are 90% confident that you have it nailed, and just want to check the last features.

Without a feedback loop, designs are just doodles (speaking from my experience, anyway). There is no doubt that you have nailed the process and skills of putting together concept models. The next logical step is to start developing one. I like the look of Knife 3.

Good luck! :D

Chris
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Chris,

First off thank you I really appreciate it. I will definitely look more into getting these right as far as function. I love "art knives" and all the crazy designsI agree the knife should function better than ever for it to be a successful design.

I just got an email the other day regarding prototypes. A well known knife company(cant say any names at this point) is willing to do the prototyping for me. They are going to take my design and make it 100% functional and allow me to have access to it and make changed accordingly. I am excited!
 
Maelstrom78 said:
I'm going to go against the pack here a little bit and state that some of your more modern shapes, if made, might out sell the more traditional looking ones. I carry a knife every day but I have basically an office job. I open letters and plastic bags and things.

I'm not worried about blisters or anything while using it. I believe that cool factor would be a good seller.

On that note, design me some cool kitchen knives to make!
Click to expand...
I agree with you entirely! My day job consist of 80% office time and 20% out in the quarry when I need a break and wanna get away from the other office guys. So I don't do too much abusive things with my knives other than cutting a few things here and there.

Kitchen knives? Gotcha covered haha shoot me and email and we can work something out man
 
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