Should I make more of these? Design opinions requested

[Drew Riley]

Which is exactly why I said that I'd go to Stan to get it made but Stan sure as hell won't know what features help a SS turn a double play better or a first baseman scoop one hoppers LOL.

I might have misread your second point about Stan

That said, I'd imagine few ball players have given much, if any input on the core designs of a bat, ball, or a glove. That's all been done by engineers before them, and they've just put in the work to get proficient with them. Heck, if ball players had much of a say, they'd all be batting with corks!

In all seriousness, I get your point. I do try to "collaborate" with my customers, so to speak, and ask them what they need, as well as trying to understand why the proven designs work, and apply those where appropriate. At the same time, I've also talked a couple "experienced knife users" out of some design ideas that they thought they wanted.

Have I ever used a knife with a 4" pommel spike? No, but I've a pretty good idea that it will get in the way when I want to cut something. Similarly, I have an idea why a double edged skinner might not be the best idea, even though two edges last twice as long.

 

[Drew Riley]

Maybe, but then again how many hunters who have never made a knife actually know what it takes to make a successful design?

HAH! Classic!

 

[John Cahoon]

First off, I'll celebrate my 100th post with a selfie:>)

My goal is to give a user as many comfortable and power enhancing grip options as possible, hence the thumb ramp and groove idea. They just have to be placed correctly, consistently. Here's some grip pics of a blade from the last batch. Handsome fellow!!



I had to really lean back with the camera to get these pics so the grips shown aren't really lifelike as they would be if I was in a relaxed position.

On the ramp pic I missed the back of the handle, but it rests in the heel of the palm giving the user a powerful push, and may help prevent slipping forward. On the groove pic you can see how reaching out over the spine provides extra power for a slice while the palm behind the thumb settles into the sway. At least that's my theory anyway. This one feels pretty good in these grips.

This is 5160 with the handle in Japanese Privet. If anyone's curious that's Kokopelli on the sheath, a trickster deity type from the southwest desert US native american cultures. Wikipedia's got more interesting info than I'll post here.

ETA I started some of the recommended revisions on the original knife photos and it is making a difference thank you very much.

 

[Drew Riley]

Thanks for the pics. For me, I think my opinion on thumb ramps and even finger grooves has changed over the years. I think that given a proper handle that fits the hand, ramps and grooves can actually be superfluous, if not even limiting. Not everybody’s hands and fingers are the same size and shape, but most can grip a simple egg shaped handle, and fingers and thumbs will naturally find their position.

 

[John Cahoon]

OK, OLC had asked to see progress pics so here are the revisions. Someone said a 1/8" revision can make a difference and seems to be correct. I've added Natleks redlined picture first for comparison but I'm satisfied with the blade shapes, all revisions are tang and spine. #1 I smoothed the ramp and fixed the finger choil. # 2 Improved the finger choil and took out some tang belly. #3 I lengthened and smoothed the thumb groove forward quite a bit. #4 smoothed out the top front of tang area. #5 is a twin of #2 but it had a pronounced thumb ramp that I removed entirely, and improved the finger choil. #6 is new, loosely based on a photo I downloaded from here. I'm going to smooth the top of the tang and redo the rear to be closer to #3 or 4.

On #6 I also forgot to follow A Vigil's good safety advice about drilling before beveling to prevent helicoptering. Won't happen again I promise.

 

[Jesse Latham]

I like number 5. It has nice flow but I might try it with the handle shape of number 2.

 

[lanternnate]

I think if you grafted the blade of 5 onto the handle of 3 you might have something there.

 

[dirtvictim]

My only suggestion is make finger grooves a little oversized so a gloved hand fits decent and shoot for average sized hand fitment. I prefer a little longer handle but that's just me. You can't please everyone so keep doing your thing.

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

I personally believe that those profiles would sell very well if marketed in the right places. Keep at it!

 

[John Cahoon]

Hi Jesse and Lanternate, thanks for the great idea grafting blade to a different handle. I drew it up last night and will refine it some when I get home, then give it a go. I really appreciate all the replies and good advice. BTW, drilled all pin, lanyard and lightening holes in these last night safely, but wore heavy gloves since AVigil skeered me. Next is grinding the tangs for epoxy reservoirs and I need to taper one or two of these. Need a refresher from the search engine before I start that.