My Custom Fixed Blade Design: Idiocy or Doable? Criticism Wanted

N

Navyblu

Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
177
I'm looking to design a small-medium fixed blade for EDC. Nothing else fit exactly what I wanted, so I decided to do the design myself. While I'm fairly certain that my idea would be functional and doable, it's completely possible that my construction has some gaping flaws in it. Below you'll see my laughably drawn blueprints, but I'm sure you gents will get the general idea, and if you had a moment, send some critiquing my way.
Many thanks, have a good one :thumbup:

Note: Not everything in the drawing is to be exactly transfered to the real-life knife. The handle and blade are not proportionally drawn, and if the handle mirrored my comically bad illustration, it'd be an ergonomic disaster. I just put it on paper for the sake of getting a general idea. Also, the illustration only includes the tang of the blade.
http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums...C-A8DF-41E6-B536-945A1F82DE8B_zps4tthmj6x.jpg

Specs
Handle: Micarta
Steel: VG10 (Although a variety of others would do nicely)
Blade length: 3.25"
Handle length: 3.4"
Blade Width: 0.125"
 
Looks nice. Are you going to do a paracord wrap on the skeletonized handle? Would look awesome. Flat or hollow grind. I have often thought that I would like to make a knife similar to that, although I like wharncliffes better:) Nice knife/idea IMNSHO
 
I don't think it's idiocy at all. Personally, I think it looks like a solid concept, but if it were me I would ditch the subhilt kinda thing you've got going on. I find knives that size to be quite handy, partly because they can be very nimble in a number of different grips and it seems like that would negate a few options you might want to have.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
I don't think it's idiocy at all. Personally, I think it looks like a solid concept, but if it were me I would ditch the subhilt kinda thing you've got going on. I find knives that size to be quite handy, partly because they can be very nimble in a number of different grips and it seems like that would negate a few options you might want to have.
Click to expand...

Or at least modify it quite a bit.

As you make a cut, you change the way you are holding the handle of a knife. Having a pronounced sub-hilt separating your index and ring fingers, makes this more difficult. In short, it makes the process of using the knife less intuitive, and that's not what you want.

I've found that my ability to grip a knife comes from the friction of the scales, not the overall shape of the handle. So it seems better, to me, to have a nicely curved outline for the handle shape itself, and a grippy material with a lot of texture, to "stick" the knife to your hand.
 
Student762 said:
Looks nice. Are you going to do a paracord wrap on the skeletonized handle? Would look awesome. Flat or hollow grind. I have often thought that I would like to make a knife similar to that, although I like wharncliffes better:) Nice knife/idea IMNSHO
Click to expand...
I was thinkin of having micarta scales made for it, but I might just stick with cord rap. Also I'm gonna go with flat grind if I can. Better for slicing (: Many thanks for the feedback, I truly appreciate it.

Insipid Moniker said:
but if it were me I would ditch the subhilt kinda thing you've got going on. I find knives that size to be quite handy, partly because they can be very nimble in a number of different grips and it seems like that would negate a few options you might want to have.
Click to expand...
I see what youre saying. I think I'll take your advice and ditch the semi-circle finger choil I was going for. Thanks for the feedback man, means a lot. :thumbup:
 
Shorttime said:
As you make a cut, you change the way you are holding the handle of a knife. Having a pronounced sub-hilt separating your index and ring fingers, makes this more difficult. In short, it makes the process of using the knife less intuitive, and that's not what you want.

I've found that my ability to grip a knife comes from the friction of the scales, not the overall shape of the handle. So it seems better, to me, to have a nicely curved outline for the handle shape itself, and a grippy material with a lot of texture, to "stick" the knife to your hand.
Click to expand...
Now that I think about it, I see what you're saying. It's stuff like this that made me want to post my design first, I knew I'd miss something. Much appreciated, thanks for your time :thumbup:
 
I decided to make a 3D model of your knife. I tried to clean up the design a little and show it with the proper dimensions. Let me know if this is what you had in mind.

foDN6sH.png


wcKO7cX.png
 
Don't do one single cutout for the milling. The reason there is a kind of spider web of cutouts is because one big one compromises the structure. Otherwise it is a solid design.

One thing, you will almost definitely not get a blade of VG-10. Takefu is very weird about selling it. You could easily get it out of 154CM or CPM-154 though, or do something like D2. Steel choices are nearly limitless. If you want it to really stand out and have the cash to drop, get it done with a steel like S90V or K390.
 
I think the pronounced finger choil gives great hold and still allows various grips. So, I would prefer a smoothed out handle without the semi-hilt knobs. Take a look at the Fred Perrin Street Beat by Spyderco. It's a kind of perfection.
 
I agree with other post, lose the sub hilt thing. If you go with Micarta, make it canvas Micarta for texture, or sand blast it. If you want stainless go with 154cm or almost stainless d2. Let us know how comes along.
 
bpeezer said:
I decided to make a 3D model of your knife. I tried to clean up the design a little and show it with the proper dimensions. Let me know if this is what you had in mind.
Click to expand...
WOW!! That is unbelievably cool! Thanks so much, that's exactly how I envisioned it. That's awesome, I really hope it wasn't too much trouble.
 
dkb45 said:
Don't do one single cutout for the milling. The reason there is a kind of spider web of cutouts is because one big one compromises the structure. Otherwise it is a solid design.

One thing, you will almost definitely not get a blade of VG-10. Takefu is very weird about selling it. You could easily get it out of 154CM or CPM-154 though, or do something like D2. Steel choices are nearly limitless. If you want it to really stand out and have the cash to drop, get it done with a steel like S90V or K390.
Click to expand...

Alright, I see what youre saying. When I send the maker my design I'll mention that and have him modify it as not to compromise the structure. And I was fairly certain I'd never be able to make VG10 happen. 154cm'll do nicely tho. Many thanks man!! I really do appreciate the words of wisdom.
 
herisson said:
I think the pronounced finger choil gives great hold and still allows various grips. So, I would prefer a smoothed out handle without the semi-hilt knobs. Take a look at the Fred Perrin Street Beat by Spyderco. It's a kind of perfection.
Click to expand...

I'm still torn between my original design and smoothening out the handle. I'll definitely look at other designs before deciding, including the Street Beat. The feedback's much appreciated, thank you :thumbup:
 
Navyblu said:
WOW!! That is unbelievably cool! Thanks so much, that's exactly how I envisioned it. That's awesome, I really hope it wasn't too much trouble.
Click to expand...

Took me about 20 minutes, no trouble at all! It's good practice for me anyways :)
 
Navyblu said:
Alright, I see what youre saying. When I send the maker my design I'll mention that and have him modify it as not to compromise the structure. And I was fairly certain I'd never be able to make VG10 happen. 154cm'll do nicely tho. Many thanks man!! I really do appreciate the words of wisdom.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Sometimes I'm full of more than crap!
 
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