Serrated Spine On A Folder?

C

Cota332

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Jun 25, 2013
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Soon, I'll be making my first knife which will be a folder comprised of Damascus steel. My initial plans for the knife was to have a Bowie-style clip point, with a serrated edge right under the edge on the spine. The thought i had was to place magnets in the handle to keep the blade securely shut and, while the knife is folded, keep the serrated edge exposed while on the spine. This was an idea to cut fishing line without having to deploy your blade, and to perform whatever else a serrated edge might be used for(though, more minimal tasks obviously). Since, being a folder and all, my biggest concern is the blade snagging your pocket while having to retrieve it.
My questions mostly are: Has anyone really tried this idea yet?
And since I'm still very much a beginner, has anyone any insight on a way around this?

Very much thanks,
-CoTa
 
I think it defeats the purpose of a folder, which is to have a knife that you can keep in a pocket that won't cut you because the sharp edge is tucked inside it. You could, I suppose, have a small cutting hook as part of the blade, exposed when the blade is closed but not large enough to catch a finger or the inside of your pocket.
 
Yeah, your biggest concern should be slicing your fingers open on the back of the knife. Now, if the handle were wider than the knife bpade and you had some sort of lock over it...but then that would defeat the purpose. Why not just have a small, folder sized fixed blade with a serrated back on it?
 
If you intend to provide a sheath to carry it safely, it might work. If I understand your description, it sounds like you intend to leave an exposed, sharp, serrated cutting edge when the knife is closed. In my opinion, for pocket carry this qualifies as a Bad Idea.

About thirty years ago, Sal Glesser introduced the C01 Worker, which among other things had a sharpened swedge at the tip which was covered by the handle when the knife was closed, but could be used for small cuts without deploying the blade completely. You just had to pinch the blade and pull it up a bit to expose the sharp edge. They stopped sharpening the swedge very quickly, partly because it wasn't terribly safe and partly because in some jurisdictions they were considered "double edged" and therefor "daggers" and illegal to carry.
 
So that would be sorta like a gut hook, or even a seat-belt cutter on the spine of the folder right?
 
Magnets instead of a ball or spring? You might want to patent that. If you can patent a hole I'm sure you could patent a magnet :)
 
The magnet idea has been done. Look up the Spyderco T-Mag. Shortest production life of any collaboration they've done.
 
Cota332 said:
Soon, I'll be making my first knife which will be a folder comprised of Damascus steel. My initial plans for the knife was to have a Bowie-style clip point, with a serrated edge right under the edge on the spine. The thought i had was to place magnets in the handle to keep the blade securely shut and, while the knife is folded, keep the serrated edge exposed while on the spine. This was an idea to cut fishing line without having to deploy your blade, and to perform whatever else a serrated edge might be used for(though, more minimal tasks obviously). Since, being a folder and all, my biggest concern is the blade snagging your pocket while having to retrieve it.
My questions mostly are: Has anyone really tried this idea yet?
And since I'm still very much a beginner, has anyone any insight on a way around this?

Very much thanks,
-CoTa
Click to expand...

You may want to make at least one fixed blade first and use a mono steel.

It's heartbreaking to toss your mistakes when steel costs $15 an inch
 
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This seems like a very ambitious project for a first knife. I tend to agree with the count that you may be best to make a few fixed blades first from a mono steel. He is right, mistakes will happen and having to scrap a knife made from steel that costs 15 to 20 bucks an inch sucks. As far as the actual design of the knife, I don't think it seems very practical, comfortable, or safe really. An exposed edge anywhere is not good in your pocket. I'm not sure if you mean the blade edge will protrude through th back of the handle when closed or whether there will actually be a sharp spot on the handle. If there is a sharp spot on the handle how will you hold it. If the edge sticks through then that is quite unsafe too. IMHO the purpose of a folder is to be light compact and safe to carry in your pocket with no sheath.
 
12345678910 said:
You may want to make at least one fixed blade first and use a mono steel.

It's heartbreaking to toss your mistakes when steel costs $15 an inch
Click to expand...

Ah, I gotcha.. Well what type of steel would you recommend? I read up on 440C being a good beginner steel, and not too expensive, but is that really the best for a beginner to start out on?
 
Call Aldo at njsteelbaron. Order 1084. End of story. Easy to grind, easy to file. Inexpensive, but still makes a good knife. You're welcome. ;)
 
Yes, order some mono steel for your first knife (or knives). You can move on to the more expensive materials later.

Now, as for cutting a fishing line; Maybe 7-8 years ago, I read in Knifes Illustrated about a solution to this, invented by a special forces guy, who had accidentally punctured and deflated his rubber boat, whilst cutting parachute lines. The solution he came up with after this experience, was to cut out a groove in the kydex sheath, for his fixed blade. The groove was maybe 5 mm wide and maybe 15 mm deep and allowed the cutting of paracord without ever unsheathing the knife. Your fingers were still safe, cause the groove was not wide enough for your fingers to enter. The feature was patented and SOG produced a sheath knife and a folder with this groove.
https://www.google.se/search?q=groo...ives-TF-27-Straight%2Fdp%2FB004WN59ZM;584;400
I believe it was actually called "Groove" technology and while it is patented, I dont think anyone will bark if you just make one knife for yourself.

Good luck on your endeavor.

Brian
 
Gody said:
Yes, order some mono steel for your first knife (or knives). You can move on to the more expensive materials later.

Now, as for cutting a fishing line; Maybe 7-8 years ago, I read in Knifes Illustrated about a solution to this, invented by a special forces guy, who had accidentally punctured and deflated his rubber boat, whilst cutting parachute lines. The solution he came up with after this experience, was to cut out a groove in the kydex sheath, for his fixed blade. The groove was maybe 5 mm wide and maybe 15 mm deep and allowed the cutting of paracord without ever unsheathing the knife. Your fingers were still safe, cause the groove was not wide enough for your fingers to enter. The feature was patented and SOG produced a sheath knife and a folder with this groove.
https://www.google.se/search?q=groo...ives-TF-27-Straight%2Fdp%2FB004WN59ZM;584;400
I believe it was actually called "Groove" technology and while it is patented, I dont think anyone will bark if you just make one knife for yourself.

Good luck on your endeavor.

Brian
Click to expand...

Funny how you can patent really anything.
I was thinking the same when I first read this thread only to do it with a folder instead. A groove in the back of the handle which gives access to thin material like rope.
Then I decided it was a moronic idea because stuff (coins, lint) could also get in there and dull the edge.
Maybe I should patent it..:barf:
 
I have seen quite a few knives with the groove in the back of the handle to allow paracord and such to be cut while closed. Most often it seems to be on low budget "fire and rescue" knives of the gas station variety, labelled as a seatbelt cutter, but is also used on some better ones too.
 
Grayzer86 said:
I have seen quite a few knives with the groove in the back of the handle to allow paracord and such to be cut while closed. Most often it seems to be on low budget "fire and rescue" knives of the gas station variety, labelled as a seatbelt cutter, but is also used on some better ones too.
Click to expand...

Forgot about those. But they have a separate cutting piece of metal in the handle and don't use the knife edge for that don't they?
 
With what I've learned from all of the master makers while making one knife and various knife looking objects I think you might want to start with a fixed blade made of a basic carbon steel.
 
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