Figured I should go ahead and post this. Don't know why I'm so nervous about it.
First, I'd like to say thanks to all of you. I've been lurking for a while and learned quite a bit. I appreciate you all taking your time to give all this great information and help people like me.
I don't plan on being a knifemaker or even a hobbyist. I just want to make a couple of knives for personal use. I do this for lots of things. I think it is good experience and helps me understand and appreciate it more. I'll be using all hand tools (complicated reasons involving living in an apartment). I'll also be sending them out for heat treat.
I decided to use O1. It seems to have a good compromise between the different properties. These will be knives for the outdoors. I guess you could say they're bushcraft knives, but I hate to use that term because it has become such a gimmick.
The first knife will be my EDC. 3-3/4" cutting edge, 8" overall, 1/8" thick and 1-1/2" wide with a scandi grind. I'm not sure how small to go on the angle. If I make the edge grind 1/2" (double what the pic shows) the angle comes to about 14.25 degrees overall. Is that too small? What does a Mora usually run?
The second knife will be a heavier duty knife, probably not used very often. 5" blade, 9" overall, 3/16" thick and 2" wide with a convex grind. While I don't believe in batoning, this will be capable of it, as well as using for prying. I planned on having a single bevel like a scandi. This would leave it 3/16" all the way down to the convex edge. It would basically be a big hunk of steel with a sharp edge. It doesn't have to be razor sharp. I don't know if this is practical.
The third knife shown is just a 5-1/2" version of the second knife. I noticed that at 5" it seems a little stubby. But at 5-1/2" it almost seems too long. I don't need a huge knife.
After designing the larger knife I noticed it looks like a butcher knife. Well, the old-timers used a butcher knife, so why not?
The 2 knives will have the same handle so both will feel the same in my hand. I've built a model out of cardboard so I know it is comfortable for me.
After looking at the specs for A2 I noticed it has far greater edge retention. I also understand it might have more of an issue with edge roll. Would A2 be a better choice for a bushcraft knife?
Anyway, here is the pic. Sorry about the quality.
First, I'd like to say thanks to all of you. I've been lurking for a while and learned quite a bit. I appreciate you all taking your time to give all this great information and help people like me.
I don't plan on being a knifemaker or even a hobbyist. I just want to make a couple of knives for personal use. I do this for lots of things. I think it is good experience and helps me understand and appreciate it more. I'll be using all hand tools (complicated reasons involving living in an apartment). I'll also be sending them out for heat treat.
I decided to use O1. It seems to have a good compromise between the different properties. These will be knives for the outdoors. I guess you could say they're bushcraft knives, but I hate to use that term because it has become such a gimmick.
The first knife will be my EDC. 3-3/4" cutting edge, 8" overall, 1/8" thick and 1-1/2" wide with a scandi grind. I'm not sure how small to go on the angle. If I make the edge grind 1/2" (double what the pic shows) the angle comes to about 14.25 degrees overall. Is that too small? What does a Mora usually run?
The second knife will be a heavier duty knife, probably not used very often. 5" blade, 9" overall, 3/16" thick and 2" wide with a convex grind. While I don't believe in batoning, this will be capable of it, as well as using for prying. I planned on having a single bevel like a scandi. This would leave it 3/16" all the way down to the convex edge. It would basically be a big hunk of steel with a sharp edge. It doesn't have to be razor sharp. I don't know if this is practical.
The third knife shown is just a 5-1/2" version of the second knife. I noticed that at 5" it seems a little stubby. But at 5-1/2" it almost seems too long. I don't need a huge knife.
After designing the larger knife I noticed it looks like a butcher knife. Well, the old-timers used a butcher knife, so why not?
The 2 knives will have the same handle so both will feel the same in my hand. I've built a model out of cardboard so I know it is comfortable for me.
After looking at the specs for A2 I noticed it has far greater edge retention. I also understand it might have more of an issue with edge roll. Would A2 be a better choice for a bushcraft knife?
Anyway, here is the pic. Sorry about the quality.
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