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New Design "Skinny" Camper- Opinions?

raylaconico

raylaconico

Joined
Jan 30, 2004
Messages
4,030
I just finished this one today for myself since I sold my old personal knife. Hopefully I can afford to keep it! I used 1/8", 1095 steel. I chose a thinner stock for lighter weight, cutting ability, and I just like thin blades these days:o. It has a 5" blade, 9 7/8" overall, and weighs under 7 oz.

I'd like to get your opinions on this design, either good or bad. Let me know what you'd add or take away from it. Would this design be better for most people in a thicker stock like maybe 3/16"?

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It looks pretty good to me !

Altho, I wonder if extending the micarta over the finger guard would feel better?
 
I think 1/8 should be fine. The only thing I don't like about your knife is the thumb ramp and the jimping. Other than that it looks like a very solid well designed knife.
 
Beautiful lines.
Especially I like small thumb notch.
while it will do what it should do, it will never get in my way.
 
Great looking knife. I like the thinner blade knives. I agree with extending the micarta over the finger guard.
 
The only thing I don't like about your knife is the thumb ramp and the jimping.
Click to expand...

Dang, _I_ thought that part was executed perfectly !

How much would these sell for ?

As I study the pics a little longer, how about rounding the top rear corner a bit?
 
David E said:
It looks pretty good to me !

Altho, I wonder if extending the micarta over the finger guard would feel better?
Click to expand...

That was the original plan but I changed my mind at the last minute because I thought it would look nicer this way:rolleyes: It doesn't bother my hand this way but I guess it would feel better if I extended the micarta. I usually do cover the guards on my knives and I probably should have done it here. Looks are important but function should always come first... I'm still learning:o
 
I don't think there's anything I can say negatively about it. It looks comfortable to use and the blade is a good design.
 
I'm not too down with the jimping, it's right where you apply all the pressure on push hard push cuts. For thumb grooves personally I'd have them at least an inch above the handle, or not at all, I never hold my knife that low on the grip. I think any advantages in control or leverage or what ever the ramp provides would be more than lost by holding the knife any lower on the handle than necessary.

It is a fine looking knife though, but its gotta be function before form for me.
 
looking good, I like the thinner stock. so far i've only used 5/32", but I have some 1/8" stock lying around for some future knives.
 
Personally I rally like the blade just the way it is. I would buy it the way it sits, no question. I like the jimping, a lot.
 
My blades are for purely field use so I don't understand what utility the thumb-ramp provides. Can someone explain what activity it facilitates?
 
I'm not in love with the way the mircata is cut away from the ramp like that. I just don't really like ramps all that much, but I do like the jimping. I'll give you that the integration of thumb ramp into the actual grip portion of the handle is pretty damn novel! (just not my cup of tea).

Judging from the width of that blade, 1/8" looks to be a great thickness and will be stiff enough for any hard use chore. I just put a 5" x 0.095" koyote through batoning hell this weekend without any ill effects and generally I consider 1/8" to be thick enough for just about anything.

Lines look really great as they always do on your knives. I like how you manage to get what approaches a spear point while at the same time providing lots of belly around the bottom curvature.

Looks like a good knife!
 
That looks like a good basic all-around knife. I like the 5" blade size, too. :thumbup:
 
brians said:
My blades are for purely field use so I don't understand what utility the thumb-ramp provides. Can someone explain what activity it facilitates?
Click to expand...

Pushing with your thumb...

For some, the way they hold a knife or the size of their hands/length of fingers and thumbs, whatever, it feels better to have a raised portion at the back of the blade they can apply pressure to when notching or whittling. For some others, for the same reasons, they prefer not to. Technique is an extremely personal thing, and while there are a bunch of things I'm pretty good at, I've also seen lots of other people good at the same things who do them very differently than I do. If you wanted one without that ramp, I'm sure he could do it for you.
 
Thanks to everyone for the input:). I just rounded off the guard and the thumb ramp slightly. I don't usually do thumb ramps. I've only done it once and at my customer's request. I know some people don't like them which is why I don't put them on knives that I sell. However, I really made this knife for myself so I wanted to try it.

I think I will make another one without the thumb ramp and with the handle scales extended to the guard. I do like the blade and handle shape though.

Again, thanks for the comments. I really apreciate them.:thumbup:
 
Looks great ray - try not to over think it and enjoy using it. You will see quickly in using it what works and what doesn't :)

Notjing wrong with 1/8" also!
 
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