What other Knives AREN'T available -or- What kind of knives should the Kamis make?

Blackdog

Blackdog

Joined
Apr 27, 1999
Messages
620
This is a continuation of the previous thread with the same title. Craig started it off with the following post:
Tallwingedgoat inspired me to ask this question - what cutting impliments are people interested in that ARE NOT reliably available in this country? The reason I ask is that we are always looking for additional lines of knives to import (cheap tourist BS need not apply, as I am sure it does not with you all either). I'm already working on another import project for a friend that I think will be exciting, but I wanted to get your opinions.

OR, what kind of knives would you like to see the Kamis make? Lalit has expressed his desire to start branching out and getting the kamis to use their skills to make other knives.

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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor
Click to expand...

Craig will be going to Nepal early next year and will be taking our ideas along for Lalit to look at. So, feel free to submit your own ideas for new models and prototypes. This is your chance to see that "Dream Blade" perhaps become a reality.

Below are the sketches and drawings that have been submitted so far.

East meets West Khukuri
View


Bowie/Fighter based on the Mini-Jungle
View


Small Utility belt knife
View


Wild things from Coyote
View


Let the games begin.........

Blackdog


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Visit the GH Photo Gallerys at:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=104694

[This message has been edited by Blackdog (edited 07 December 1999).]
 
Craig you and I spoke today on the phone about the knife designs. With the short swords the idea is to have a reinforced point without doing the tanto thing. If the Kamis cannot hollow grind a deep flat grind would do as well I think. The main idea is to make the belly and shaft of the blade thinner than the tip to improve insertions and to aid with slicing but the tip is not fragile and the spine is strong. I will see if I can come up with some others if you would like.
 
Coyote and I did in fact speak for a while, and I got the chance to put a "voice" to the handle (instead of a face). Pretty cool.

Anyway, he's got some great ideas. And Blackdog: thanks so much for consolodating the proposed designs. It'll make things a lot easier when it comes time for me to print stuff out for the journey.

I'll also be taking that mystery wooden khukuri that somebody sent me to have made. I'll ask the kamis to make a couple, and hopefully the guy will call. After all, he put so much work into the model - painting it and everything.

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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor
 
Blackdog looks like you like Bowies. These definately have alot in common with the sword. I think that you have the grind idea down. I wonder if the blade width is a bit much for a fighter which is more of what I see this grind as used for although I would like to play with it on a big knife. I am afraid that the width would sacrifice some the ability to penetrate which is one of the big advantages of a long blade and with the grind. I like that handles alot. Most of my ideas are based on the knives I have to use and play with and what floats around in my head. I do worry that the stock thickness on my designs is excessive but having a live blade to test and play with will help alot. I will look more at your blades tommorrow and think about them and get back more of my thoughts then. Thanks for asking me to look at them.
 
Black Dog,

Those short swords .... I'm in love!!!!
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What dimensions did you have in mind?

If those get produced, I'm going to have to sell a few things and save up to come up with the cash for a PAIR!! Of course, my wife will probably want to use them ... on me!
wink.gif


I'm picturing doing the thrusting and cutting sub-systems from my arnis style and thinking ... OOOOH BABY!
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Thanks for the great start to my morning!

Dave
 
Blackdog,

The two bolo pictures you posted look good.
On the top bolo I suggest you drop the handle 5 degr. and add a little belly to the edge. Also the balance should be close to the guard. The knife should be blade neutral.
The handle will probably need to be a little longer. I reccommend a blade length of 15-21 inches. There are some good thoughts Here. I wish I had time to draw the Randall Md.1 in the short sword format I would like to see.

Cheers,

ts



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Guns are for show. Knifes are for Pros.
 
Hmmm ... BMWGS80 makes some good points.

You might want to add just a little more belly, but not too much or you'll begin to loose tip speed. Putting the blade at a slight downward angle in relation to the handle will help increase shearing affect of the blade. Also, add just a little bit of curve to the spine (following the line of the cutting edge) for a stronger blade (structurally).

Blade, no shorter than 15" and no longer than 18" ... 17" would be ideal IMHO. Handle should be no less than 6" with more of a swell at the butt (kinda like a chainpuri khukuri) to prevent slippage during forceful cuts.

Minor changes really that will make what is already a nice design overall even better.

IMHO of course.

Dave.

 
Blackdog I am confused some can you clarify. I look at these as bowies is that correct? What goals do you have for these? The top one looks more like a utility wilderness knife to me and I like the handle and overall blade design for that. I might not grind the second grind so deep near the tip on a utility type blade to increase the durability. But again that is only in theory. I would like to try it to know. To me the one on the bottom is designed primarily as a fighter. I like the handle more for that design. The guard on the first may have more place here. I like the long belly and the blade shape. This one would really be fun to try to my way of thinking.
 
Also I would put laynard holes on them. And I might do the tang extended and exposed if you do one as a survival utility blade kind of along the lines of the original WWIII plans.
 
Wow guys, thanks for the comments, compliments and suggestions. I'm going to take the original drawings and try to put your ideas into them. Although I can "see" the variations in my mind, I have no idea what the end product will really look like. We can keep tweaking the designs until we come up with a winner or two.

Coyote, I do love bowies but these are bigger than a typical bowie size. To me, the max length of a bowie blade is around 12"-13". Anything longer than that is more of a short sword or bolo. The knives above would have blades between 15" and 20" long with handles in the 6"-7" range.

Back to the drawing board. All suggestions are welcome.

Blackdog

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Visit the GH Photo Gallerys at:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=104694
 
Please see the new thread on Scottish dirks.



[This message has been edited by tallwingedgoat (edited 11 December 1999).]
 
Hello Craig, maybe while in Nepal you could find posters of katas for khukuri techniques. Maybe with the help of some Gorkas you could even make one. I'd love to have one on the wall of my office.
 
Another prototype drawing to throw into the mix. I think it would cut and penetrate effectively. The spine and tip would remain full thickness (1/4") for strength.

View


Unlike the other blade design ideas I've puttered around with, I'm gonna give this one a name. "The Dog Soldier". Don't ask me why, It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Blackdog


------------------
Visit the GH Photo Gallerys at:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=104694

[This message has been edited by Blackdog (edited 13 December 1999).]
 
Coyote,

Just checked the website where the photos are stored. A message comes up saying that they are offline until 1:00 this afternoon for a system upgrade.

They have a tremendous amount of traffic and probably want to get everything ready for the holidays.

Blackdog


------------------
Visit the GH Photo Gallerys at:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=104694
 
Blackdog I very much like the dog soldier. I would vote for the dog soldier, scottish dirk, and east/west kukhri as my favorites (it isn't fair to vote on my own designs). I am very anxious to see these built.
 
The "Dog Soldier" is a winner! The only change I'd make is to make it from 3/8" stock and taper it out to 1/4" at the tip.

Again, a winner!

Dave.
 
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