New Design Mockup--The Grimalkin

[FortyTwoBlades]

With the Traveler's Celt design nearly ready to be put into production, it was time to start thinking about what to put next in the development pipeline. Had a burst of creative energy a few days ago and whipped up this lovely little necker design based around grips that are actually comfortable with a scale-less knife. The Grimalkin (meaning "grey cat") was the result.

This cardboard mockup was drawn at 1:1 scale and printed, then glued to the cardboard and cut out. While a knife this small is able to fit on a single sheet of paper, on larger designs I use a program called PosteRazor to print tileable pages that overlap to form the 1:1 scale drawing using standard copy paper. A handy rapid means of testing out the size, shape, spatial relationships, etc. to make quick adjustments.

 

[Josh1992]

Super sweet looking knife bro!!

 

[Insipid Moniker]

I dig the looks, but I generally have a hard time with that size fixed blade. Any possibility of a bigger brother with some scales if this one sees a good response?

 

[popedandy]

Looks like a pretty good design

 

[TOPOS_]

Looks great! pardon my ignorance on your brand but, what will the cost and materials look like?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I dig the looks, but I generally have a hard time with that size fixed blade. Any possibility of a bigger brother with some scales if this one sees a good response?

Part of the intended purpose with the design was to overcome some of the issues that I personally have with most skeletonized neck knives, so I hear you there. The knife is intended specifically to be choked up on in various ways (as this tends to make most of the handle on a typical knife moot anyhow) and fill out the hand without the need for wrapping or scales. However, it's possible that if this one is well received that a larger and/or scaled variant could come about in the future. It's still early in the process of spec'ing things out but the current intention is for it to be done in 4.5mm stock with the full flat grind deliberately cutting into the spine thickness to reduce it down to 1/8", and all edges would be rounded for comfort, with the exception of the straight clip of the point, which would be squared for scraping tasks.

Looks like a pretty good design

Thanks!

Looks great! pardon my ignorance on your brand but, what will the cost and materials look like?

This would be in partnership with Imacasa/Condor like our Baryonyx Machete and the upcoming Traveler's Celt wilderness tool, as I have a longstanding relationship with them and their mix of manufacturing capabilities hit all the right notes for the kind of tools I design. As mentioned above, this is still very early in the process so I don't have pricing information yet. As far as materials go, the current intention is that it would be done in 1075 at 56-58 RC with a natural as-heat-treated finish and protective clear coat. I have some ideas for the sheath that would be fairly novel, but am still working on those details.

 

[Shotgun]

Looks more comfy than the izzy. A plus for your design is that it has round holes to make putting scales on easier. What's the Celtic one?

 

[19-3ben]

What's the blade length on this? I'd love this with about a 3 1/4" to 3 1/2" blade. Would make some mean competition for the Bk14/24. I love the idea of a naked carbon steel for this knife.

Very very interested!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Looks more comfy than the izzy. A plus for your design is that it has round holes to make putting scales on easier. What's the Celtic one?

The Traveler's Celt is a multi-functional tool based off of Bronze and Iron Age socket axes, as well as some socket axes and hoes still used today in rural Africa. It can be used on its own as an ulu knife, push chisel, trowel, or hand axe (in the neolithic sense), mounted on a straight shaft for use as a light-duty spade or digging bar, bark spud, etc., or on a bent branch or two-piece handle for use as an axe, adze, or hoe.

This is a digital mockup of the most recent prototype--the folks in El Salvador are working on a sample right now:

Uses an oval socket like the Condor Matagi and Crocodilian Machete, which prevents rotation when mounted without needing a set screw or nail, and improves comfort when using the tool unmounted. This was the previous prototype, with a round socket, mounted up on a two-part handle in axe configuration.

And this is a modern African socket axe, mounted on a bent branch. These are usually easiest to obtain by cutting a branch where it joins the trunk of the tree.

What's the blade length on this? I'd love this with about a 3 1/4" to 3 1/2" blade. Would make some mean competition for the Bk14/24. I love the idea of a naked carbon steel for this knife.

Very very interested!

Lucky you! Blade length is 3-1/4".

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Excellent design. The second picture in hand is my own natural grip on smaller knives, thumb forward.

You might want to edit post #5, last paragraph, "at 56-68 RC".

 

[LG&M]

I like it,
3.25" blade is very useful.
What are your thoughts on a sheath?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Excellent design. The second picture in hand is my own natural grip on smaller knives, thumb forward.

You might want to edit post #5, last paragraph, "at 56-68 RC".

Thanks for the kind words, and for catching the typo! Getting 1075 to 68 would be quite the accomplishment.

I like it,
3.25" blade is very useful.
What are your thoughts on a sheath?

Thanks! There are a few different possibilities sheath-wise, but I'm currently thinking it'd be fun to go with a flat over-the-top snap pouch with suspension eyelets. Working out the details on that front currently.

 

[Kwon Kwang]

I think it's a great design and a great size for EDC. I'd definitely carry it.

 

[Spyder59]

Looking very enticing to me too.

 

[FOG2]

I too think it,s a great design, and a good size. Very nice work!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Thanks, guys! I'm pretty pleased with how the concept turned out. Now it's just time to diagram the sheath.

 

[jbmonkey]

Like everything about it, except needs a bigger brother. Longer handle longer knife. Perfect.

 

[dogrunner]

I like the blade a lot! I prefer 4" handle. Hope you put this one into production!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

No promises on a larger version since it'd be putting the cart before the horse at this stage in the game, and I'm not quite pleased with the blade shape/presentation on this one (it'd need a bit more tweaking/manipulation) but here's a quick sketch of a full-size iteration next to the original.

 

[noseoil]

Nice design on the neck knife. I like the versatility of the grip & different holds available.

Also, the blade shape is good. One of the things I don't like about the Izula is the rounded entry which is pushed too far forward for some types of cutting IMO. It just isn't comfortable for me to use. Your pattern looks like it will be a better user in general, nicely done.