Thinking of making a batch of mid tech slip joints, thoughts and ideas???

coop7

coop7

Joined
Apr 9, 2012
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318
So I've been running this idea in my head for about 2 years now, after doing a lot of designs and making a couple knives. Basically I want to make a slip joint with premium steel in a solid design. I'm thinking about maybe a lannys clip, eo, or a barlow. Probably linerless, with screw construction, and g10 and or carbon fiber scales, and a 440 backspring. My question for the good folks on this forum is what patterns you'd like to see, and size. Blade steel (I'm leaning toward CPM-M4 right now). And if you think there would be a market for something like this at all. Thanks for your thoughts on this everybody.
 
There's really not any *functional* benefit to a peened pin construction instead of screws. But I'm not sure that I would want to omit the scales ("liners"). Usually these types of projects end up being single bladed. Most aspiring knife makers start with single blades since they are simplest. I'd like to see 2 or more blades.... maybe double-end... using a catch bit and offset blades. Full flat grinds and swedges. 3.75-4" closed.
 
I'd love to see a screw together slippie, something like the rough rider dog bone jack in size and pattern (maybe a half stockman). Blue black g10 or lava flow kirinite maybe. Linerless if carbon fiber would be awesome too. Steel in something that patinas would be awesome (and I think m4 does a little.)
Might be a cool idea for the 2016 forum knife?

I am sure I couldn't afford it tho.
 
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WuGod said:
I am sure I couldn't afford it tho.
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Nor could I. I look at some like Davison's beautiful customs and I say to myself......"never gonna happen."

I have no real recommendation to the OP except maybe a Barlow.
 
One of the main benefits of M4 is its toughness. You may see better keen edge taking from 52100.

That being said, I Love M4. It is one of my favorite steels, next to O1 and 52100. Screw construction would be a blessing on a carbon blade that is designed to be used for a lifetime. If I could have a screw held sodbuster, I would in a heartbeat.

In regards to patterns, I am a huge fan of the dog leg/half whittler and sowbelly. Both of those complicate things for you, so possibly a trapper. But I feel that the dog leg and sow belly are Natural users with their ergonomic shapes.

Size, I tend to like mine around 3.5-3.75" closed with a 3.25" main and 2.75-3" secondary.

Blade Shapes,
main would be a big clip like the gec 48 single or 57 whittler.
Secondary would be a sheep's foot or wharncliffe
If a third was included, that would have to be a cap lifter.

Scales, natural canvas micarta, shade tree customs tequila sunrise, ruby or oreo (depending on how demure you want to keep it).

I will be following this thread.
 
Everyone has different tastes in what they like to see in a knife, that is a good thing. To me, screws in a slipjoint are a complete turn off. I would never own one. I know that it is much easier to make a knife using screw construction, but part of the charm in a slipjoint are the nicely finished pins. Same goes for cover materials, for me the classic look and feel is spoiled by high tech materials. But to each his own.

Wolfe
 
Mm this has been done before but in small batches like Evan/Esynx 's collaboration 'the JBF barlow'

There may be a market for this but it would have to be competitively priced.
For the price of a mid-tech..at times you can find a full custom from a established veteran maker for the same price.
Most established makers who do a midtech also end up realising how much work actually still goes into it/the time line and end up raising their prices afterwards.

I like the idea of M4. I'm hoping to have it used on my next custom build.

I agree with Bill on the size. Most people prefer a carry between 3.5-3.75" It's the general size that everyone enjoys carrying.
 
NJBillK said:
One of the main benefits of M4 is its toughness. You may see better keen edge taking from 52100.

That being said, I Love M4. It is one of my favorite steels, next to O1 and 52100. Screw construction would be a blessing on a carbon blade that is designed to be used for a lifetime. If I could have a screw held sodbuster, I would in a heartbeat.

In regards to patterns, I am a huge fan of the dog leg/half whittler and sowbelly. Both of those complicate things for you, so possibly a trapper. But I feel that the dog leg and sow belly are Natural users with their ergonomic shapes.

Size, I tend to like mine around 3.5-3.75" closed with a 3.25" main and 2.75-3" secondary.

Blade Shapes,
main would be a big clip like the gec 48 single or 57 whittler.
Secondary would be a sheep's foot or wharncliffe
If a third was included, that would have to be a cap lifter.

Scales, natural canvas micarta, shade tree customs tequila sunrise, ruby or oreo (depending on how demure you want to keep it).

I will be following this thread.
Click to expand...

I do like the dogleg pattern and agree with the 3.5-3.75" size. A prototype is still a couple months away at this point. I'll try and post some of my designs within the next couple days.
 
Ryouchijtx said:
Mm this has been done before but in small batches like Evan/Esynx 's collaboration 'the JBF barlow'

There may be a market for this but it would have to be competitively priced.
For the price of a mid-tech..at times you can find a full custom from a established veteran maker for the same price.
Most established makers who do a midtech also end up realising how much work actually still goes into it/the time line and end up raising their prices afterwards.

I like the idea of M4. I'm hoping to have it used on my next custom build.

I agree with Bill on the size. Most people prefer a carry between 3.5-3.75" It's the general size that everyone enjoys carrying.
Click to expand...

I'm not an established maker by any means, but my goal is to keep it under $200. It may be a hard one to keep but that is the goal.
 
If you can manage that, I think you would have your 2016 calendar booked full upon first announcement.
 
I love this idea, M4 sounds cool. I will put in my humble request for sunk joints. Can't wait to see what you come up with.
 
I think it's a great idea. To meld the ideas I'm going to have someone rehandle my mini wharniffe trapper with shadetree micarta and I just picked up a sheep's foot barlow just because it had CPM 154 steel. M4, s35v, Elmax all work great! I find wharnie and clip blades really useful myself.

Pricing could be a problem though, I wouldn't blink if it was in the mid 100's but anything more I would price shop. If it was at $200 it doesn't take much to add another $100 or $200 on top which puts the price square into custom range.
 
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Zulu is a versatile blade shape.

Quality for this consumer is a given. After that, it's all about the money.
 
I like the idea of 3.75" knife with a set of stout clip and a wharnie blades (one on each end), and preferably separated by a thin liner. The screw/post construction appeals to me, as it will allow for adjustment and service if you use the knife hard.
 
If you're talking about a screw together pattern, to me it needs a few key attributes to make it something "I" would consider:

- Simple design
- Durable materials
- Ease of user maintenance

For me, that means a titanium handle & premium blade steel (like S35VN or N690).

I think the biggest problem would be ease of maintenance. While the idea of taking a slip-joint apart is appealing (to me), I can see massive problems with someone trying to compress the spring to put it back together. Unless you want to make a hidden tension adjustment mechanism to overcome this (while very achievable, likely cost prohibitive), I think you'll have loads of headaches dealing with the people who took their knife apart & can't get it back together.

But, since you asked, this is what I would like to see :D:

23801389462_69de4d63f4_b.jpg
 
Enrique Pēna makes a takedown, putting it back together requires some real skill. They are meant to be taken down only occasionally for cleaning. The tolerances have to be extremely precise with a price ($950+) corresponding to the craftsmanship involved. It would probably require a bushing and milled relieved liners (or covers) to keep it from freezing up.
 
wolfeknives said:
Everyone has different tastes in what they like to see in a knife, that is a good thing. To me, screws in a slipjoint are a complete turn off. I would never own one. I know that it is much easier to make a knife using screw construction, but part of the charm in a slipjoint are the nicely finished pins. Same goes for cover materials, for me the classic look and feel is spoiled by high tech materials. But to each his own.

Wolfe
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I agree with this. Most of us here don't really go for screw construction or linerless in particular.

However, I'm certain there is a market for your proposals, you may have difficulty in controlling your costs at first. Something along the lines of a Sodbuster type knife would be a useful start and with that, you could use all the materials you have in mind.

Good luck to you, everybody should test their creativity.

Thanks, Will
 
A bushing is something I will definitely include, and mill relieved liners aren't out of the question for me. Onespdfrk- if the handles were titanium I would have to include washers as well because titanium doesn't play well rubbing against other metals. Also with the expense of titanium I'd rather use those resources to use a better blade steel. M4 and S35vn are at the top of my list right now. I do like the sod buster type patterns, there's just so many good patterns it's hard to chose! I'm going to have to do some serious drafting these couple night before Christmas and the weeks after. As for a 2 blade I think I could get away from having to use liners if the blades were on opposite ends, but I'm not sure if a 2 blade is what I want to tackle for my first attempt at a semi production model.

Lannys clip
Sod buster
Dogleg
Trapper

Those are my top 4 right now, unless someone can sway me otherwise.
 
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coop7 said:
Onespdfrk- if the handles were titanium I would have to include washers as well because titanium doesn't play well rubbing against other metals. Also with the expense of titanium I'd rather use those resources to use a better blade steel.
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The surface finish on titanium parts has more to do with a tendency to gall than just material, especially when you're putting a hardened metal (blade) against it. Regardless, the design of the pivot will require some diligent engineering. If you really want something there, how about IKBS?

Also, check out the Boker Cox; it's a production screw together slip-joint. I have one, and thoroughly enjoy it, although mine is the smooth handled "slim" version. I did take it apart once, bit of a pain to put back together!


110618.jpg
 
wolfeknives said:
Everyone has different tastes in what they like to see in a knife, that is a good thing. To me, screws in a slipjoint are a complete turn off. I would never own one. I know that it is much easier to make a knife using screw construction, but part of the charm in a slipjoint are the nicely finished pins. Same goes for cover materials, for me the classic look and feel is spoiled by high tech materials. But to each his own.

Wolfe
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I very much agree ! :thumbup::)
 
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