Patterns

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GoatOnFly

Joined
Jan 9, 2016
Messages
16
New to the forum and thought I'd share a few designs. I'm starting to get my shop together for knife making. I've done a bit of woodworking before, so I have some tools. Right now I'm mostly drawing patterns and designs to be ready when I take the full plunge. Any tips are very welcome.

 
Cut some out in cardboard and get a feel for them. Next move to some cheap wood and see how that feels. I wouldn't recommend any fancy grinds right off the bat. That Tanto-ish design you've drawn up is very nice looking and has good aesthetics but would be rough for a beginner to perform. The notch in the choil area is good. Not only to keep your finger from getting cut, but to also keep from hitting the plunges with files/belts/stones while sharpening. I didn't do this on the first couple of knives and learned the reason the hard way.
 
I've been doing that with a few of them on thin MDF. Can't wait to get started on some steel, few more weeks and I'll be moving and grooving.
 
You've got an eye for the details from what I see in your drawings. The swept plunge line with the front of the handle matching the angle is something I think quite a few makers miss. It's those little details that add up. Sometimes someone may not even notice it, they just think it looks better than other knives they've seen. I also like the 2/3's grind on that knife with the swept bevel. Not underground or over. It's sharp. That's one of the nicest mdf knives I've seen. LOL.

The swept belly is IMO, good as well. Think about nearly any cutting you might do with it and at least for me, an open belly to the work surface is key.
 
Haha, I can't take credit for that one completely. It was heavily inspired by another knife I saw on Instagram.
 
Your designs look well thought out with good lines. We all borrow ideas every now and then. If a design is largely a copy of someone else's then try to give credit to the original maker of course. But "inspired by" is no big deal. On the small design, I might try a version with the handle a bit longer. Try to get at least three fingers on the handle.
 
I'm not in the business of saying I created something if I didn't. It's kind of like the fly fishing world, I'm a pretty active fly tyer and most flies you see out there are inspired or tweeked versions of someone elses.
 
I wasn't saying your designs were copied. I was just speaking in a general sense based off your comment about the knife on Instagram that inspired you.
 
There is a fair chance (very fair) that the knife you were inspired by is derived from another one. People have been making sharp pointy things with handles for a long time - it's going to have to be pretty radical to really be new. That one on the top of the pile has been created so many times it should have a name. I've created it myself. :)

They look pretty good to me, you should pick one and make some sparks!
 
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