My First Knife Design - A Bushcrafter

Brian Andrews

Brian Andrews

Joined
Dec 11, 2006
Messages
1,659
Any of you that know me, know that I tend to like the overall design of a bushcraft style knife. I have used many, and there are many good ones. However, I always tend to find myself wanting to combine design features of each one into one knife.

That is what I have tried to do here, with my knife. First the knives that inspired this.

The Koster Bushcraft:

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I really like the overall blade shape of this knife, and the shape of the butt. However, the one thing that I am not so hot on is how thin the handle is. I have even handled the "thick" version, and it is not much better. For doing small amounts of cutting, this is a great knife. However, for an extended cutting session, I am wishing for a thicker handle.

Next up, the Skookum Bush Tool:

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(Image copied from Skookum website).

I really "think" I like this design. It looks nice, but with probably a 2 year wait (now) I don't think I will be getting one anytime soon.

Finally, the Bark River Aurora:

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Love this knife, especially the handle. While I will never stop using this knife, there is just something in me that wants a scandi grind on a bushcrafter. Also, sometimes this overall package seems a bit long to me.

Enter, my design. You can almost see the influence of all 3 knives on what I have done here.

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To be continued......
 
The blade shape to me, seems to be much a combination of the Koster and the Skookum.

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Where I spent most of my time was with the handle. I really designed it in 3 dimensions.

First, you see the wave that aligns with the edge itself:

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Perpendicular to that, I have another palm filling swell:

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Carried through to the bottom:

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Finally, and this is a hard thing to show in photos, but the handle is tapered from top to bottom.

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To be continued again.....
 
Here are just a few more photos of the features.

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Finally, a shot of the knives I do have together:

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There still some final touches that need to be made, but I was awful excited to get it out and give it a try, and get some pictures taken.

Overall, I am extremely happy with the design. While I like it a lot, the next one I make with the same overall profile, but a bit slimmer design (in the distance from the edge to the spine). I don't know for sure.....I need some more use before I decide that.

Any thoughts, changes, etc? I bet this would be cool in a full convex too.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention. This was made from 1/8" thick O1, that was heat treated by one of the very gracious custom makers here on the forum. Thanks for the help!
 
I like it. I am a sucker for beefier blades and a scandi grind. Ever consider angling the front edge of the handle, similar to the Koster?
 
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Wow Brian, that's a beauty! I really like the wider blade profile and beefer grip as well.:thumbup::thumbup:

ROCK6
 
Niiiiiiiice:thumbup:

I'll take one:D

You planning on a leather or kydex seath for it?

-jontok
 
I like the beefy grip, taller profile, tougher point, and the handle contours seem very well thought out. The contours at the butt of the handle and the egg shape taper are especially knice.

If I could offer a few suggestions they would be to bring the edge closer to the handle and straighten out the part fo the edge closest to the handle instead of the slight curve that is there now. I find that the straight edge closest to the handle is one of the most important parts of a bushcraft design. It is where the magic happens while notching and carving.

Overall, that is one fine looking knife. Will this design be offered for sale on your website?
 
Its really nice Brian!! I like it and it was skillfully made obviously. I like the blade shape too. Scandi isn't my choice of grinds. But it looks like you've got the grinding of one down.

What I've found about making new models of knives is that you shape a handle till you think you've got it "perfect" and smooth it and finish it up like you're done. Then wait a day or so, go back into the shop, get a half-round bastard file and go at the handle again. Feel around the knife for squre points, or angles. You'll thank yourself for that second go at the handle. I'm not criticizing. Your handle looks great. But this has always improved every one of my humble knives.
 
That's a winner Brian. :thumbup: Very well thought out design and very nice craftmanship.

Jeff
 
Thats one hell of a great knife... I dont have big hands and i still prefer to have a knife handle that i get a good grip on. Most knifes handles are too small.. How long is the blade??? I would agree with the earlier mention that it would be nice if the edge went closer to the handle... It looks as it would make you take it out and do something... Love it...

Sasha
 
Nice job, Brian. I have gone that same route myself and have wanted to try one of my designs with a Scandi. Are you going to offer this model in your store? I'm a sucker for a Bushcraft blade and am "with you" on the combination of features. Nice.
 
Great work Brian, I love what you did to the handle. IMO thats one of the most important features that will make a knife a user. I also love that you gave the blade more belly then the rest of them. That has always been my issue on alot of bushcraft blades out there.

It seams my almost perfect blade is the Fiddleback 1 off I have. I love everything about it. The only thing I would change is making the blade 1" shorter.

The one you made looks about perfect, however I do prefer convx grinds as I get more control on the blade. Thats just a me thing. Most of the scandi knives I have used just bite the wood so deep its harder for me to control. With practice I am sure I could work past that though.

Again excellent work, I would be proud to own that knife
 
That is one sweet blade!

So when do you start selling them?! With the wait times on those other ones, I bet they'd sell like hotcakes.

You don't leave much to criticize, but if I were to nitpick on one thing, it would be to make the bottom finger grooves more rounded instead of triangular, but that could just be the camera angle. Also, someone else mentioned that it is nice to have the edge closer to the handle.

But other than that, WOW!!! You did an amazing job on that one.

Nice choice on the egg shaped cross section!!

P.S. Great job on the grind too. Did you free hand it, or did you make a jig to get the proper angle and make it consistent?
 
Oh, now that's a real beaut! You should have a passaround once you make another... *hint* *hint* *hint*
 
Brian that's awesome buddy ! You really hit the nail on the head when you went all out on the handle, that is the part that really makes or breaks a knife no matter how nice the actual blade is !!!
That looks about as close to my idea of a perfect bushcraft blade that I have yet seen.....great stuff !!!!!!
 
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