real simple EDC idea?

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
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I posted this in the custom section too.

I've been in the shop as much as I can be lately, and needed to do something simple to help get the blood flowing and get my eyes/hands back in coordination.

I've got several sheets of O1 that I'd like to get some blanks water-jet cut from at some point, and think this knife would work well as an EDC. It would be sort of in line with Burt Foster's Blue Collar hunters.... I don't mean a copy, I mean as a machine finished, affordable, carry grade knife.

I've made a lot of blanks like this that I sold just as blades, but I'm thinking of the whole knife... like a ~$200-ish package.

What do you guys think?

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David- Good thing, cuz you'll be cutting them :D

I looked at the pics once I posted this... and the handle looks a little fat in proportion to the blade... but it really doesn't look or feel like that in hand. Or so me thinks.
 
Cool! I like them even better now;) I like the tang like it is. Looks comfy.
 
Nick, I noticed that proportion too, but I don't think it's a big deal if you want a slim blade. My Mora is kind of like that but it feels great in hand. An EDC is meant to be used a lot in a variety of ways, so utility and comfort, followed by ease of carry are most important (according to big-shot me :jerkit: lol) I think your design is very suitable :thumbup:

Too much ricasso for my taste, but that's just a personal thing. How does it balance? The first thing I always want to do is drill a bunch of holes in the tang but it might not need much.
 
I agree that without a handle the ricasso looks too long. The catch on a design like this, is that you can't grind it any further back...unless it was a tighter radius in front of the little "guard" hump.

I've got some in the shop that have handles on them and it really changes the appearance of the ricasso.

The pics really didn't capture what I wanted, because it looks like a slim blade, fat handle knife, when in hand it just looks like a simple, proportionate (IMHO) blade. Heck, maybe it's not! lol ;) :D

Please don't hesitate to comment. I've literally got dozens of blades in various designs sitting in my shop drawers. I'm trying to come up with an all around, handy-dandy, user friendly piece.

Thanks for the replies guys! :) :cool:
 
Great idea! I would like to see more makers doing this sort of stuff.

That said, I am a fan of a drop at the choil--mostly because I like the way it looks, but also for sharpening ease and safety.

John
 
I should keep my yap shut because that last post I made looked defensive, and I genuinely want to hear all of your thoughts on it... good OR BAD :D

John, you mean like the ones on the left in this shot? More dropped at the edge though??? Thanks! :)
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Umm what's the point of you doing this since you won't actually FINISH the knife. :confused: :p


My favorite is the 7th from the left. Looks like it has a great curve on the belly and a drop in the point for control and I like the handle shape.
 
Here's one that's just ever so slightly different, with a roughed in handle. Can't remember the last time I did a full tang that wasn't tapered.... but in trying to keep costs down.

There is a shot that shows how I can make the radius at the choil slightly tighter so that the edge could be brought down further.

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James, in this last pic you can see that if I ground that radius just a touch tighter, I could get 3/8" more edge on here. :)

Note the custom name mark I had made for me by Sharpie ;) :D
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NOTE: That red line by my name is where I mean I could grind it down in order to accommodate a longer cutting edge :)
 
NickWheeler said:
I looked at the pics once I posted this... and the handle looks a little fat in proportion to the blade... but it really doesn't look or feel like that in hand. Or so me thinks.
Click to expand...

I really like it. I prefer small blades but that usually comes with small handles. I think they will be great with a full handle.:thumbup:
 
I figured out the problem... I cut that radius in tighter and pulled the plunge cut back 3/8"

That makes it a 4-1/8" blade and 4-5/8 to 4-3/4" handle. It looks much more balanced now and less blade light/handle heavy.

I'll post a pic when I get something a little different put together.

Thanks folks! :) :thumbup:
 
Nick, those look nice. Very similar to your OSF knives, which I also liked (although I'm not a big fan of the Scandi grind).

I did have one thought that might be worth considering. In my state (Connecticut), you can legally carry a blade with a cutting edge that's under four inches in length. (If you are hunting or fishing and have a permit, the length doesn't matter.) I really have no idea how prevalent the four inch rule is, but if that's common in other states too, cutting off just over the extra 1/8" might make it possible for more people to carry and use them legally. Making them to a length that most people could legally carry might boost your sales. Of course, if there is no uniformity in knife laws, then screw it, people will buy your knives anyway. :D
 
Wow, I didn't know that Chris! Thanks for the heads up! We had a mill-wide rule at work that we couldn't have anything longer than a 2-3/4" blade... which is hilarious because they had Hyde utility knives in our free-stock that were 5" blades!!!

But that's in the local port... so we had pretty strict rules. I hadn't thought about something like a state imposed regulation on blade length. I appreciate the input! :) :thumbup:

Oh, and good eye!... this was more of MY personal taste on a blade that was along the same lines as the OSF that those fellas designed. :)
 
My idea of an EDC is much smaller and will carry in a hard leather sheath in your front pants pocket. That means it has to be slim and trim which may delete scales. Made from 3/8" stock and the blade hollow ground to lose weight with milled grooves for grip.
It will stick out of the pocket about the same as a folder with a clip. About the same length as an ink pen. Back pocket sheaths are cool too.
Of course if it was a sharp stick and says WHEELER on it people will buy it. You Suck! :p
 
It seems like the thickness of an EDC knife has everything to do with the overall package, especially the sheath. If the knife is thicker, but in a sheath that rides comfortably, it can be fine. If the knife has a thinner handle, but a heavier sheath, it could make it too large for comfortable carry. The reason I mention it is because you could design a reallly nice knife that isn't so nice when put into the sheath.
 
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