Philosopher's Corner...knife design

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Guy Thomas

Joined
Feb 1, 2000
Messages
1,370
Though I haven't completed my first knife design yet I am very happy with the way it is shaping up as a utility/hunter.
As I work on it I am constantly thinking of ways to modify the design. One of these is an elongated version as a sub-hilt fighter. While I own swords and admire many knives whose purposes are very evident by their design (and they are most definitely not "tool" purpose knives), I am finding myself
uneasy with the idea of actually making these kinds of knives, However I don't think I'd have a problem with making swords.(Perhaps, like Bowies, because swords are anachronistic and not likely to be used for their intended purpose.)
I'd like to hear some others' thoughts on this matter. Do you make whatever design you dream up without thought about its express purpose, or do you consciously design "weapons" with this in mind? Or are there some of you who will only make knives with the primary purpose of being a tool? (Can the use of "tool" as a term be stretched to include an object designed for tactical or fighting use only?)
Thinking too much in Tallahassee...Guy T.
 
there are two schools of thought in my opinion.....ken onion lives near me and is my friend, but out designs are worlds apart. He is looking for the radical/futuristic look and i am super conservative...form follows function......there is nothing new in any shape of my blades or handles....one thing about making something...you can do whatever you want....and if it comes out good you can improve on it..if it doesnt you can trash it.

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http://www.mayoknives.com


 
Boy you got that right Tom. Your designs ARE worlds apart. His are good.
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OK, I'll behave...

We all have our individual philosophies I guess. Mine is more of a functional with a twist approach. For the most part knives and especially custom knives are an anachronism altogether. Just how many tactical knives actually get used? At least half the hunters ever made have never tasted venison. Art knives are shelf sitters for sure.

Certainly a good many knives do get used but these are mostly simple hunters and utilities with fairly pedestrian designs. I suppose some beautiful knives get used that never should be, while others that are ugly as mud sit on shelves or in cases as cherished heirlooms.

Personally, I make whatever I find appealing and challenging, within the confines of my skill set, hoping someone else will agree with me.

BTW, as you design that knife, you might give some thought to the tools you or someone else will use to make it. It's easier to draw it than make it, and it is quite possible to draw things that are unmakable without CAD/CAM/CNC/EDM etc.

Thinking far too much in Atlanta...

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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
 
Thanks for the reply Tom and Jerry. When I think about it you're right that most knives seldom get used for their intended purposes. In order to learn the most I can, I think I should try most designs at least once, and any knife despite it's intended purpose (as well as any other tool for that matter) could be used as a weapon. Perhaps knives, despite their design, are tools first and weapons only if used as such.-Guy Thomas
 
I tend to think of myself as an artist that works in steel. Maybe not a GOOD artist, but I'm working on it. When I pick up a piece of steel, I generally don't have any idea how it's going to come out. Unless I'm working on a custom order, my general way of making a blade is "Hit it until it looks like a knife.". There are exceptions, of course.
I have a fairly martial mindset, and can tell when I look at a blade if it was intended as a weapon or not, and judge by that standard. Most people don't think as I do, though. They look at it, and decide that if it could be a weapon, it is. Doesn't matter that it would only kill someone if they were asleep. I only consider it a weapon if I'd rather use it than my hands.
Are you concerned with feeling responsible if someone uses a blade you make to hurt someone? I wouldn't be. If someone wants to hurt someone, they'll do it with anything they can reach. Screwdrivers are used for more stabbings in the US than pocketknives, what's that tell you?
I'm babbling, sorry, I'll stop.

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Oz

"Over a long enough time frame, everyones life expectancy drops to zero."
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
 
Tom, I'd like to think of my designs as very practical and ergonomic with a hint of tomorrow. At least thats the intent.
I've come up with some of my best designs just grabbing a hunk of steel and teaching that grinder a lesson. Often I can turn a machete into a pen knife this way but I think it's a cool pen knife
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With reguard to that anachronistic question .. Isn't that a really big snake that lives in south america and eats ponies?
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ken, do you have a website, i'd like to see some of your knives. i've only seen the ones in knives illustrated so far.
 
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