My Intro and Knife DESIGN Freelancing

H

HamburgerHill

Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Messages
86
Hey everyone! My name is Anthony and I am pretty new to the forum. I never really introduced myself on here so here is a little something. I've always been interested in knives since as long as I can remember. It wasn't the fact that I needed a knife, but I liked the idea of carrying a tool with me just in case. To be honest I rarely needed to cut something, but I still liked to have my "pocket jewelry" with me. My dad always brought me fishing, hunting, and camping so I'm guessing thats where it all began. I think the first knife that I recall(when I was about 13) was a Buck 110 that I would carry in a sheath when I went hunting. Soon after I purchased some smaller folders(SwissArmy Tinker) and some other smaller folders from general stores and big box stores.

When I was in high school I started purchasing some more expensive folders (that I thought were higher end at the time). I think it was a gerber EVO and and kershaw leek. When I went off to college my love of knives kind of took a back seat to some other priorities(school, partying, lifting, women,etc..)and it probably wasn't in that order lol. Once I graduated and started my career at Johnson & Johnson my appreciation of knives was back and with some disposable income on hand, I began researching and educating myself on the many facets of the knife world. Soooo, I started reading knife reviews and watching youtube videos about some of the better EDC knives. At this point, my financial limits were under $100 so I purchased my first higher end knife(again, what I thought was higher end at the time) which was a Benchmade Mini-Griptilian. Weeks later I then purchased a better version of the mini grip, the Doug Ritter Mini Grip. I carried the Ritter for probably a year or so.

At this point I was the only one I knew of that carried a folding knife(other than my Dad) so I kind of felt out of place. This was when I started browsing around Bladeforums. I soon realized there was a huge knife following and that there were so many facets of knife use and collecting. So I embraced my obsession and began to really "dive" in. This is when I started collecting, which resulted in about 10 folders from Benchmade and ZT. I tried keeping all of my knives American made. I then found the "traditional" knife section and started collecting those, which resulted in about 15 GEC models and about 8 Case knives.

At this point I found my niche in what I really wanted in a knife. Which ended being a modern folder paired with a traditional. I liked the strength and engineering behind the modern folder and the slicing ability of the traditionals(not to mention the awesome patina 1095 takes). When I say collecting, I really mean having too many knives and carrying whichever I feel like for the day. I use my knives, but not abuse them. I actually like when my knives show some wear(probably won't help the resale value) but I really enjoy carrying and using them as designed. The scratched and patinas add character and make the knives that much better.

I've recently dove into the higher end production world(again, what I find high end at this point). I've recently aquired knives from Chris Reeve, Strider, and Hinderer. I'm carrying and Strider SNG CC and a Northwoods Michigan Jack as I type this. So, thats about it for me and my knife obsession at this point. I look forward to meeting people on here and sharing my love of knives with them. I would also like to mention a little interest I have below... not sure where it will go, but I have to try or else I'll kick myself for not trying.

I am an industrial designer by trait and a knife nut...well...always. So, I thought I would combine the two.

I've freelanced on the side for many large corporations and also just for fun. I thought I would try my hand at knife design or helping others bring their ideas and concepts to life(in a rendering). I am an experience 3D modeler and enjoy bringing ideas to fruition. Below are 2 renderings I did that show some of my capabilities. They are some examples of traditionals and a modern folder. I am not sure what posting this will bring me, but hopefully there are some knife retailers, knife companies, custom makers, or even someone that wants a knife designed for the heck of it. If anyone is interested in this type of resource send me a message on here and we can chat....Thanks again everyone for taking the time to read this loongggg message lol. I look forward to hearing any feedback or just starting a friendly conversation. :)

 
I think there awesome man ! Would really dig the bottom group handles on the top groups blade . Either way great looking designs . Keep at it
 
I know exactly what you mean when you say you want to pair a modern folder with traditonal shapes. Wouldn't it be great to have a knife with a traditional knife pattern but also have the ability to be taken apart? I really, really like both of your designs and hope someone will make them for you. I would be willing to help commission either of those designs.
 
Thanks guys! Amos, I actually meant that I liked to carry a modern folder along with a traditional folder in my watch pocket. But, I totally agree with you! That would be an awesome knife. Surprisingly I don't think anyone has ever mass produced one?
 
I really dig the clean look of the bottom set for gentleman's folders, be even sweeter in my opinion with a little flipper added on... Keep at it, hopefully your big break is right around the corner...
 
HamburgerHill said:
Thanks guys! Amos, I actually meant that I liked to carry a modern folder along with a traditional folder in my watch pocket. But, I totally agree with you! That would be an awesome knife. Surprisingly I don't think anyone has ever mass produced one?
Click to expand...

First off, great work Anthony, nice 3D renderings.

Second, you'd be hard pressed to find a quality company to create traditional knives with screw together construction. There are a few..boker, spyderco etc that have slipjoints with torx construction but for the most part the only way you're going to come across that true traditional look is by way of custom maker.

The quality companies, GEC namely are far too traditional to venture into an endeavor like that.

Best way of making it happen is a DIY :)
 
Neat designs, looks like you'd have to make some changes once locks/springs are added though. Hows the spring bar in the slipjoint attached also the tang wouldn't sit flush in the half stop position as it needs space for the spring to engage it, there's no lock or place to put one on the first design either and adding one will fairly significantly change the design. The thumbstuds are too close to the handles to work, and on the traditional the blade is set into the handle despite having a nail nick.
 
Thanks everyone for the greetings and feedback!

Strategy- I totally agree about the flipper, I feel it would have a similar look to an ADV butcher(but a gentleman's version).

Ryouch- Thanks for the info about the screw construction and I agree. I'm actually more interested in rendering normal traditionals from GEC(and the like)... since they pretty much dominate my watch pocket anyways. You can't go wrong with a traditional slipjoint and they are mostly form studies which makes it easier on my end(since I don't have to worry about the locking mechanism).

Eric- Thanks for the feedback. As you noticed, both of the knives rendered in the first post were missing some important components. The slipjoint had no way of actually opening the blade, and the modern folder didn't have a locking mechanism. These 2 renderings were more of just a pretty picture to show my capabilities visually. I will be modifying these 2 concepts further. I'm going to add a flipper and liner lock or an easy open and lock back to the gentleman's folder, and a liner lock to the modern folder. Thanks again for the feedback!

Iowa- Thanks and keep at it! It's great you already know what you want at such a young age. Don't let people's doubt or negativity deviate you from your end goal. Industrial design is a very broad field and can lead you in many different directions. I'm currently designing displays and packaging.
 
Here is another example. This one has stonewashed titanium scales with black coated liners, uses a flipper for deployment, with a locking mechanism similar to an axis lock.

 
Those are pretty cool! It's kinda tough to get the sharpened edge to look right in 3d..It's a problem for my own CAD stuff..What are you using for CAD if I may ask?
 
JS- thanks I really appreciate it!
Bhyde- thanks, I use rhino and vray.

Here's another, more titanium with some bronze accents...
 
Quick question:
on the first design you posted, isn't there a slight chance that the user could slice the tip of his/her fingers while closing the knife?
 
sjhong said:
Quick question:
on the first design you posted, isn't there a slight chance that the user could slice the tip of his/her fingers while closing the knife?
Click to expand...

If you are referring to the first image posted.. When I add the liner lock to it, yes there will be a chance of getting your finger cut. I feel that would be an issue with any liner lock though since you have to put your finger in the path of the blade to release the lock. If you have a way around this let me know, definitely open to suggestions. I've done this several times unfortunately lol. My thumb has some battle scars to show. Thanks for the feedback!
 
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