Made my first knife

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Jan 5, 2001
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I feel kind of sheepish about posting this, but I'm all excited and I have to share it with people who will understand...

I recently finished making my first knife. I had been working on the design for a while, with the thought of finding someone to make it for me. Eventually I got up the nerve to try making a knife myself, so I asked a few questions of my friendly local knifemaker Phil Tham (a.k.a. txwoodchip).

Phil was tremendously helpful. He not only answered my questions, he offered me his help and the use of his shop. I suspect he laughed himself sick when he saw the design I wanted to make as a first attempt, but all he did was diplomatically encourage me to simplify some of the more difficult aspects. Then he helped me make it all work. There is no way I could have done this without Phil and I am deeply grateful for all of his help.

mobius_basic.jpg


The Mobius Basic is a simplified variant of my first knife design. It is intended to serve as a defensive knife and to handle a broad range of more mundane tasks. The unusual grip permits several hand positions, both inside and outside the grip.

mobius_basic_gripped_inside.jpg


The inside grip provides superior retention and power, as well as fully protecting the hand.

mobius_basic_gripped_outside.jpg


The outside grips allows for greater precision, a wider choice of blade positions, and works nicely when wearing gloves.

The lower guard acts as a traditional guard and blade catcher, but it also keeps the hand from sliding forward onto the blade when using an outside grip.

The index-finger grooves provide positive indexing for both grips and help keep the hand in place under stress.

The pinkie-hook at the bottom of the grip keeps the hand firmly in place when using an outside grip. It acts as part of an extended blocking/binding area when using an inside grip. And it can be a striker in either case. Likewise, the thicker area at the bottom of the grip can be used as a striking surface and hammer.

The downward angle of the blade puts it more in line with the natural angle of the wrist. This is particularly important for this design, since the inside grip limits the ability to angle the blade somewhat more than an outside grip.

Model: Mobius Basic
Weight: 3.0 oz
Material: ATS-34
Thickness: 0.130"
Overall Length: 8"
Blade Length: 3-1/8"

My designs have been influenced, at least to some extent, by every knife I've ever seen. I have been particularly inspired by the work of Sal Glesser, Fred Perrin, Bob Dozier, and FrontSight. I owe special thanks to Brendon Hutton, who brainstormed and traded design critiques with me. Please understand that while I have incorporated ideas from all of these people into my designs, they are not in any way to blame for my results. :)

I try to design and make knives that are practical, functional, and comfortable. Pretty would be nice too, but only after the others factors have been covered. As you can probably tell . . . :rolleyes:

I'm interested in any comments or feedback on the design. I expect to produce at least a few more variations on this concept. Eventually I will try for the recurve blade shape I had originally intended to be part of this design.

--Bob Q
 
A very interesting defensive blade, Bob. It's always an inspriration to see someone put their thoughts into actual steel.

I wonder what kind of carry system(s) you might have conjured up for this. Maybe neck-carry?

Good luck and "Keep on Truckin".:cool:
 
I'd say the world needs more knives like that, a sort of combination of ideas, let the form follow the function, whatever it looks like. If the handle were solid, no one would find it strange at all. But you've added a whole range of capabilities by allowing it that one extra feature.

Coincidentally, Architect was asking recently about a commercial design with a hole in the handle for a grip: Kitchen Knife Identification Needed.

Another aspect of your design that I like is the blade angling down from the handle. It allows for cutting without knuckles dragging on the cutting board. :)
 
I like the design a lot. Keep em coming. I can't wait to see your second blade.
Kyle Fuglesten
 
Very cool. :cool:

I agree with knifenerd that it looks like a neck-knife, what with the skeleton-type handle and all. What type of steel is it?

Nice job. :)

~ashes
 
Thanks to all for the kind words and encouragement!

knifenerd: I think it would work as a neck knife, although it is a bit long (8" overall). I intend to make a horizontal belt sheath for it, once my kydex supplies get here. The inside grip should make for a very fast draw.

Esav Benyamin: I appreciate the tip about that kitchen knife. I'll have to go look it up.

Ashes: The steel is ATS-34.

--Bob Q
 
Wow, that's amazing in a couple of areas: 1) It looks totally new to me and 2) It intuitively makes sense.

Good job!
 
I like it. It looked kind of strange at first, but seeing it in your hand and the different ways it can be held, it looks like a really nice design.
 
Originally posted by Ashes
Very cool. :cool:

I agree with knifenerd that it looks like a neck-knife, what with the skeleton-type handle and all. What type of steel is it?

Nice job. :)

~ashes

me: I am more impressed by the avatar pic of this person's quoted post. If that is your girlfriend / fiancee' / wife / etc... you are very lucky, my friend. Cheers! :cool: :D

Oh yeah - the knife is nice, too. :)
 
Originally posted by shmoopiebear
me: I am more impressed by the avatar pic of this person's quoted post. If that is your girlfriend / fiancee' / wife / etc... you are very lucky, my friend. Cheers! :cool: :D

Oh yeah - the knife is nice, too. :)
The person in that picture is the person who uses that username, it's a chick and that's her picture.
And for the knife, I photoshopped it to make it (what seems to me) as a more useful cutter and a better thruster for SD, but that's only my opinion. I have no way of posting the picture but if someone wants to for me just throw your email address up and I'll send it over to you to put up here. I think you did one hell of a job, especially for your first knife bquinlan but I think the angle of the blade would be awkward for cutting tasks.
 
very cool knife...

was just wondering how comfortable is it to hold using the inside grip since the handle looks a bit thin even with the cord?

aaah....shmoopiebear has taken a fancy for ashes....she is nice isn't she(great hair and great smile)....and her daddy owns a knife shop as well (i think)...
 
I like that design. What are you thinking about for carrying it? Kydex? Leather? Get out and use it and see how it works.

Will you be making more?? Perhaps selling them??
 
Originally posted by powells85
The person in that picture is the person who uses that username, it's a chick and that's her picture.

-snip-


me: OOPS! My bad. Well, I'll be. She's more than just a chick but... oh well. Never mind. :o
 
Hey Bob, looks like you done a good job of finishin that blade out. Congratulations again for completing your first blade!
 
Hey, good job! I, too, find it inspiring to see someone put their ideas into a concrete form. Necessity is the mother of invention... you saw a need and filled it (or, began to... keep on making 'em). I also like to see you craft the knife with a function-first mindset. IMHO, that's how the best tools get made.

Trout
 
powells85: I'm interested in seeing what you would change. Send your picture to bquinlan2@october.com and I will try to get it posted.

Point44: I was concerned about that thin grip too, but it feels good in my hand. Even without the cord-wrap it seemed fine to me.

nevarmore:

I'm going to use kydex. It will become my EDC as soon as I can get a sheath made.

And I will definitely be making more. Thank you so much for being the first to ask about that! :D

I'm limited by a lack of equipment for now, but that will slowly improve. I would love to sell these, and variations on the concept, if there turns out to be a market for them. fingers crossed! I'm even working on a kind of mid-tech arrangement, so we'll see what happens.

txwoodchip: Thanks, Phil! And thanks again for helping me realize a dream.

--Bob Q
 
Originally posted by Point44


-snip-

aaah....shmoopiebear has taken a fancy for ashes....she is nice isn't she(great hair and great smile)....and her daddy owns a knife shop as well (i think)...

me: I concur... absolutely. Nice lookin' woman and a father who owns a knife shop? Well, I'll be damned. It's like dying and going to heaven. :)
 
Can we cal it "the Rhino"?

I really like it! Very interesting and I can't wait to see where you go with the design.
 
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