Well let's start! Hand Tool Knife WIP Thingy

I think they're both close.

Have you tried mocking them up in cardboard to see how they'll feel in the hand?

On design #1 I'd bring the top of the butt up a little closer to the line created by the spine and the tip of the butt down to be in line with the bottom of the ricasso.

#2 I'd bring the top of the butt closer to the line of the spine, leave the tip of the butt where it's at but add some more "negative" curve to the pinky area. Basically what I would do is bring the top of the butt up and make a large sweep to a point about the apex of the finger groove arc or perhaps a little further back where it turns toward the butt.

2 things that I consider in most of my designs. Remember that when you grip something in your hand, the back of your palm extends out beyond the pinky. Make a fist and look at it. Handles that taper towards the butt (the butt being visually narrower than the ricasso) look "squirty" or out of balance to people no matter how good it performs.

I fiddle and fuss about handle designs because I feel it's the most important part of a knife. If it isn't comfortable or safe then someone won't use the knife.
 
I'm having a hard time visualizing exactly what you are talking about. Can you draw your thoughts?
 
Here's a bad attempt at paint :p

edc_rev3.jpg


You don't have to do this exactly as I say, I'm just making suggestions from the way I design. Look at similar designs from other makers.
 
I will work on a few drawings tomorrow evening and throw them up here by the weekend.

I do have a few ideas for smaller knives, I am really liking the wharncliffe design
 
Well I made a few more changes. I cut out both of the handles and they are both pretty comfortable in the hand. The first one is starting to look like a mini version of the hunter that I'm currently filing.

I also thought the belly was looking pretty big so I did additional sketches with different blades (1.1 and 2.1 in the photo). I'm liking 2.1 but I'll be interested to see what others think.

Thanks
 

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Nice! Version 1.1 kind of speaks to me, but I couldn't say why--I just like the slightly subdued swell in the handle and the slightly thinner blade.
 
g33kfu said:
Well I made a few more changes. I cut out both of the handles and they are both pretty comfortable in the hand. The first one is starting to look like a mini version of the hunter that I'm currently filing.

I also thought the belly was looking pretty big so I did additional sketches with different blades (1.1 and 2.1 in the photo). I'm liking 2.1 but I'll be interested to see what others think.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I like 2.1 the most.
Great job Will... :thumbup:
Emre
 
I like 1.1 the best of these designs. Try one thing, bring the top of the butt up a bit to the top line of the knife to reduce some of the roundness and to extend the top of the butt out beyond the pinky swell. Remember when you hold a knife the palm of your hand extends out beyond the pinky. If you've used a knife for extended periods you'll see that your hand hurts and will fatigue a bit quicker if that part of your palm isn't supported. (at least in my experience.)

Getting to look a lot more like a finished knives.... now what are the rest of you doing??? :confused: :)
 
Well, hopefully this will be the final revision (5). I pretty happy with both of these knives now. I extended the handles out a bit and made some minor blade changes. I'm still leaning towards #2 but wouldn't mind making either one.
 

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Look a lot better to me! Make either one or both :p

I'll work on getting the tooling together this weekend and hopefully ship stuff out next week.
 
Man, I am so not an artist! Here is another attempt:

Knife-v3_0.jpg


Thoughts?

I think it looks pretty good--the spine is supposed to be straight, so ignore the little "hump". I think I've decided to forego a bolster or guard for this first project.

What's the next step?
 
safta said:
I like the coffin handle knife. It doesn't have to have a guard, not all bowie knives do. I think it would look better, and feel better in your hand if your butt end angles weren't so steep, and maybe a slight radius on the straight. Something like this http://www.sanfranciscoknives.com/knives/3610LG.html
Click to expand...

Yes, I should have mentioned that as well--the coffin will be "dehorned" at least as much as shown in your link. I may play around with the angle of the clip as well. I like the long Bagwell-like clip but it does not seem to look as nice on a short blade. I hope eventually to acquire the skills to do a nice 12" bladed example.
 
Well here are a couple i drew up this morning!!

Let me know what you all think.
The bottom one I do want to actually build alot of and sell once I get things going, It would make a real good small game skinner.

001-6.jpg
 
What is the purpose of the first blade style? The second looks a lot like the old Schrade Sharp Finger. How about angeling the handle up a bit to facilitate skinning with the index finger running down the blade? Looking forward to seeing it take shape!
 
Mr. Bad Example said:
What is the purpose of the first blade style? The second looks a lot like the old Schrade Sharp Finger. How about angeling the handle up a bit to facilitate skinning with the index finger running down the blade? Looking forward to seeing it take shape!
Click to expand...

The top one is a wharncliffe style blade, I like them for everyday use.

I personally do not skin with my finger on the blade, I hold the knife between my fingers lightly.,
When people put a finger on the blade to skin that is too much pressure and way to easy to cut through the skin, ruining a perfectly good pelt!
 
bigern26 said:
The top one is a wharncliffe style blade, I like them for everyday use.

I personally do not skin with my finger on the blade, I hold the knife between my fingers lightly.,
When people put a finger on the blade to skin that is too much pressure and way to easy to cut through the skin, ruining a perfectly good pelt!
Click to expand...

Ah, I see--it is just that the blade almost "invites" one to do so--perhaps the straight handle will provide just the "uninvitation" needed to overcome the desire ;-)

Yes, I've seen the Warncliff--kind of Saexy--isn't there usually a bit more point (thinner, I guess I'm trying to say)?

I do have lots of trouble translating what looks good on paper into steel in my mind. Perhaps that will come with experience.
 
Okay.... great designs guys.... Ern, really like the wharnie, I used to make and sell a boatload of similar ones!

So next step, if you like your design, mock it up in cardboard or something similar and just pretend to cut stuff with it for a bit. Walk around and hold it in your hand, try diferent grips and see if there are things you'd like changed. Pencil lines and cardboard are a lot easier to change than steel! Trust me :p

Sooo no other makers would like to jump in? Please? Help? :p
 
Ern, if that's what you want as your final design I'll print it out and get it cut this week.

Dustin when you come up with your final design if you could post the drawing with a 1" scale so I can print it out and get it cut.

While I get stuff cut and the tooling put together here's what you'll need to gather if you don't have them already:

1 thick marble tile from Lowes, HD or whatever you have there

Sandpaper from 60-400x, you'll need more low grit sandpaper than fine sandpaper. Wally-world has a nice 3M assortment pack of 220-400 wet dry for like $3.50 probably need 2 pack

Spray adhesive or something that will allow you pull old sandpaper off and replace it with fresh

Sanding lube, I use baby oil

Copper or nickle silver is nice and cheap for pinning material. Copper is from large diameter solid wire and the nickle silver rods are brazing rods from welding suppliers, I think copper or brass can be found there too. Copper tubing is in the plumbing section as gas line.

Drill bit for drilling your chosen pin and tube size

A 4 in 1 rasp

A few C Clamps

A sharpie marker

Some rubbing alcohol

Paper towels

Tape, I use cheap HF tape and have found that to be better than anything for me, I prefer electrical tape over painter's tape because I have less rusting problems down here.


Devcon 2 ton epoxy, I know this isn't what I'd normally recommend but it's easily available and will work fine for you at the start.

Some wax, I use paste or clear shoe polish

1 bucket panther urine

2 buckets of sweat

2 buckets of blood

A patient spouse/loved one/family/friends

:D

Anyone have anything to add to this list?
 
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