some designs that I drew up.

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bronyblacksmith

Joined
Nov 6, 2012
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here are some designs that I drew up. can you guys look at them and critique them and give general advice? thanks.
also let me know if i posted the links right.

http://bronyblacksmith.deviantart.com/art/design-4-354954254
camp knife 4.25 inch handle 5 - 6.5 inch blade.
3/16 distal taper 1084.
full flat grind.

http://bronyblacksmith.deviantart.com/art/design-2-354953087
A skinner type knife.
1/8 1084
full flat grind
full tang

http://bronyblacksmith.deviantart.com/art/designs-3-354953773

1 small backpacking knife.
1/8 1084.
full flat grind.
stick tang.

2 fighting bowie
3/16 distal taper.
partial flat grind, sharpened clip.
full tang.

3 slicer
1/8 1084.
full flat grind.
stick tang.

http://bronyblacksmith.deviantart.com/art/design-1-354951586
A design for a small utility neck knife to piggy back with larger knives.
specs.
1/8 inch thick 1084.
full flat grind.
cord wrap handle.
 
I'd recommend you start by cleaning up your lines in the drawings. It's hard to evaluate your designs with rough sketches like that.
That said, I respectfully suggest that your designs suffer from a lack of research. This is to say that they look a lot like the knives I drew when I started designing knives. This will change with time, but you'll need to put in some work. I don't know anything about your experience with or knowledge about knives (you can start by filling out your profile), but the advise I'll below is good practice even for experienced knifemakers.
1) Go to stores that sell knives and handle every knife in the house. Make a note of the thickness, profile, weight, etc. of everything you like and don't like.
2) Look at pictures of lots and lots of knives. Look through the archives of the galleries on this site and on manufacturers site. Look at the features you like and don't like and the lines you like and don't like and the transitions etc...
3) Trace knives that you like and start modifying them with features and lines that you like until the design becomes your own. (opinions differ on this, but I think it's fine to copy someone else's design as long as it's for personal use. If it's handmade knife, it's polite to ask permission first.).
4) When you have designs you like, make cardboard or wood models of them and see how you like the feel.
My advise is to do this research, draw a couple hundred knives, and then check back with us.
Good luck,
Chris
 
+1 to what hesparas said. I will add that I think you should pick ONE and make it. I would suggest the skinner since it seems the most viable of the designs.

Here is the problem, We don't know if you are like me and can't draw very well, but will be able to refine the blade to look right as it is made, or if you plan on making them exactly as they are drawn. Especially the first one, as a basic idea it would work, as an exact traced pattern it needs help.

Myself, I start with an idea in mind, I sit down with steel and a sharpie and rough it out. Often I am looking at multiple pictures of knives that have features I like. My rough drawing on the steel is similar to what your drawings look like, but It is only the rough guide to start removing material. The design is in my head, most times I can make it look like what is in my head, sometimes it doesn't work. But it's how I like to work. On a few knives I have cut out a pattern so I can duplicate what I have done should the need arise, but that is only after the original has been at least profiled and ground so I can see if I like it.
 
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The only really useful drawing is #2. The blade is a bit fat, but the knife will be usable.
#1 would be OK if you took the dip out of the spine and made it a smooth curve from butt to tip. The blade edge needs to be straight if that curve in the edge is intentional.
#3 are fantasy blades, and #4 is not all that useful.

Work on #1 and #2 and post some better drawings.
 
I would also recommend getting a set of drafting curves (french curves) from Staples, Wallie World, Office Max. I know this helped me define certain shapes (cause I suck at freehand) until I switch over to AutoCad.
 
+1 on what the others said. Try to streamline your knives a bit (a bunch). Look at Ray Laconico's fixed blades for inspiration. #1 is the best, but the handle is a bit short.
 
You've got the makings of something there with #2. Just not quite there yet, because like previously mentioned, the blade shape is a little off. Once that is taken care of, it looks like it could easily turn into a usable knife.
 
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