What should I name these designs?

marcinek said:
Yep. Its a Strider handle. Saying "The knives I use have nothing to do with my designs." seems a bit disingenuous.
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As far as their functionality no they do not. You asked what I used my knives for and how that influenced them. The way I use my knives did not influence the designs. The designs of some of them yes have influenced the designs.
 
KCDesigns said:
I have only had a few 3D printed, but they were old designs I no longer use anymore. It helped me get a better idea of sizing, thickness, and the pivot point as well. Look by no means did I want to come off as rude, I am just simply backing my design and my feelings towards something I've worked hard on and spent hours on creating in Fusion360. I get what you're saying of course however I am not to that stage yet. Baby steps. I simply was curious as to what I could name the designs while I continue to work on more designs. I understand you don't like or prefer my designs, but that doesn't mean you have to bash them because they aren't your style.
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You are missing my point entirely. You, and so many other new designers, want to take, as you say, baby steps, with your designs, but you have no foundation in creating a functional knife, whether fabricated by you or not.

We all here have seen it countless times.

Instead of taking baby steps by leaning how to design a functional knife, and then incorporating your sensibilities into it, and, so many other we have seen merely cherry pick other makers design elements and cobble them together using CAD.

None of the makers you admire started out doing the designs they do at present. They learned how to design a functional knife, and then incorporated their sensibilities into it.

(And then they actually made them.)
 
marcinek said:
You are missing my point entirely. You, and so many other new designers, want to take, as you say, baby steps, with your designs, but you have no foundation in creating a functional knife, whether fabricated by you or not.

We all here have seen it countless times.

Instead of taking baby steps by leaning how to design a functional knife, and then incorporating your sensibilities into it, and, so many other we have seen merely cherry pick other makers design elements and cobble them together using CAD.

None of the makers you admire started out doing the designs they do at present. They learned how to design a functional knife, and then incorporated their sensibilities into it.

(And then they actually made them.)
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Thats okay.
 
KCDesigns said:
As far as their functionality no they do not. You asked what I used my knives for and how that influenced them. The way I use my knives did not influence the designs. The designs of some of them yes have influenced the designs.
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:confused: You really should try using some knives and seeing how and why they work. I think that would be an excellent use of time for you. Better than thinking about names or trying to master your design software.

It all goes back to my earlier Julia Child comment. Trained chefs will judge other chefs on based stuff like their hard boiled eggs or roast chicken, knowing that if they have not mastered the basics, their more complicated dishes aren't going to be designed or executed well either without even having to try them.

Again, best of luck to you

They will, actually, probably sell like donuts at a fat guy convention.
 
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KCDesigns said:
John, No sorry that was not aimed towards you my friend. It was towards the troll Larcivs. My apologies.
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Ok, no problem.

Your designs are certainly visually appealing in some ways so you have the "cool factor" going for you. Some of the other commenters are more aimed at trying to help you think about functionality as well (handle comfort, blade thickness, etc) so it's not so much that people are trying to troll you. More that they are trying to help.

Though your post clearly isn't asking for design help, just help with names. A name is both a marketing tool, as well as a way to capture the essence of an item in a single, memorable term or phrase. So if you ask someone "what should I name this" it is reasonable for the helper to ask more about the item and how it is intended to be used or the intended market.

So if I see something that looks to be designed with a handle that will hurt to use it, and I am trying to name it, "painful handle" sticks in my mind. So something like "Cuts Both Ways" or "Hurts Me More Than You" are ideas that arise.

Now if you designed the knife to only be used with heavy leather gloves then a handle design might make perfect sense that would hurt when used barehanded.

There are lots of knives (and other products) that are designed and sell well that aren't really intended for use but are for display or to impress others or ourselves. Nothing wrong with that. People can spend their money on what they want, and if there is a demand, you can make money filling it.

So if these are going to be some kind of fantasy / collect only / display or play knife, then the names might be something to evoke that, hence the early reference to computer games. If they are intended to be real, useful products, then the names should ideally evoke the idea or image that it would be useful in that role.

So "Brushbuster" makes you think of one thing, and "Doomslayer" makes you think of something else.

You could also borrow words from another language (such as CRK does) to make them sound interesting.

Eventually you will need to decide (or hire a marketing professional).

Otherwise it's just three random words from a bunch of random forum posters.
 
jc57 said:
Ok, no problem.

Your designs are certainly visually appealing in some ways so you have the "cool factor" going for you. Some of the other commenters are more aimed at trying to help you think about functionality as well (handle comfort, blade thickness, etc) so it's not so much that people are trying to troll you. More that they are trying to help.

Though your post clearly isn't asking for design help, just help with names. A name is both a marketing tool, as well as a way to capture the essence of an item in a single, memorable term or phrase. So if you ask someone "what should I name this" it is reasonable for the helper to ask more about the item and how it is intended to be used or the intended market.

So if I see something that looks to be designed with a handle that will hurt to use it, and I am trying to name it, "painful handle" sticks in my mind. So something like "Cuts Both Ways" or "Hurts Me More Than You" are ideas that arise.

Now if you designed the knife to only be used with heavy leather gloves then a handle design might make perfect sense that would hurt when used barehanded.

There are lots of knives (and other products) that are designed and sell well that aren't really intended for use but are for display or to impress others or ourselves. Nothing wrong with that. People can spend their money on what they want, and if there is a demand, you can make money filling it.

So if these are going to be some kind of fantasy / collect only / display or play knife, then the names might be something to evoke that, hence the early reference to computer games. If they are intended to be real, useful products, then the names should ideally evoke the idea or image that it would be useful in that role.

So "Brushbuster" makes you think of one thing, and "Doomslayer" makes you think of something else.

You could also borrow words from another language (such as CRK does) to make them sound interesting.

Eventually you will need to decide (or hire a marketing professional).

Otherwise it's just three random words from a bunch of random forum posters.
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Probably the most professional and worthwhile thing I've read on here today. Thank you JC I get what you are saying. Ill keep that in mind. Being that I'm only 19 and was interested in knives and knife making I figured posting on here would be a good start and that Id see more motivational post rather than bashful and hateful comments. Clearly this isnt the forum for me.
 
actually, Marcinek's posts seem to be the most worthwhile and thoughtful posts here. That they kick you in the teeth is no reason to discount them.
Wrt professionalism, you should be able to take all this in stride. The only person's professionalism you should be worrying about here is your own.
 
1: "Medford & Strider had a love child"
2: "No Clue"
3: "Speedy Tortoise"

I hope the spine of #3 actually has tritium vials embedded. ;)
 
I'd like to say, KC, that I will look for your designs in the future. High-tech looking knives have always been interesting to me. Also, I hope you will keep using this forum despite the difficulty in communication that always happens when simply using typed words. Thanks for keeping your cool, too.
 
While some of the comments are a tad harsher than I think necessary, there is value to them. Think function over form and not the other way around. The function has to be perfected before the form. The form being the icing on the cake as it were. Anyway, for what its worth, I think you have talent and are a good designer. Keep at it, and when deciding what to include in a design, you can always ask yourself whether that feature will make the knife more comfortable to use or cut better. If the answer to either of those questions is no, then I would seriously consider discarding that design element or altering so that it does cut well and can be used comfortably.
 
KCDesigns said:
Probably the most professional and worthwhile thing I've read on here today. Thank you JC I get what you are saying. Ill keep that in mind. Being that I'm only 19 and was interested in knives and knife making I figured posting on here would be a good start and that Id see more motivational post rather than bashful and hateful comments. Clearly this isnt the forum for me.
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Way of the world. There's always gonna be folks around who thrive on negativity and drama. Try not to ignore the constructive bits though, even if from the same people. Your designs aren't my style, but then neither are a lot of knives that others love. I recall another fella getting similar reactions and he's making a pretty penny these days on his designs (which I still wouldn't carry myself).

Anyways, there's a lot of knowledge to be gained here, you just have to accept that there will be some things you don't like as well. That's gonna be the case most anywhere, and you can't let it detour you if you're really set on this path. Good luck and welcome to BladeForums.
 
Just to touch on a couple points that I haven't seen yet: Reese Weiland makes some seriously thick blades that people love. Also, Pohan Leu does the scandi on his Bluefin that could work for KC's designs.
 
The Japanese call the Scandi the kata-kiri-ba. And yes, Pohan does it right.
What a thread.
rolf
 
KCDesigns said:
Probably the most professional and worthwhile thing I've read on here today. Thank you JC I get what you are saying. Ill keep that in mind. Being that I'm only 19 and was interested in knives and knife making I figured posting on here would be a good start and that Id see more motivational post rather than bashful and hateful comments. Clearly this isnt the forum for me.
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Don't let the smack talking chase you off. This is a great forum and has helped many knife makers get started. In the future, post your knife making questions in the knife makers thread "shop talk" I think you will get a better response. Good luck and
never forget that harsh criticism can be the best criticism.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/741-Shop-Talk-BladeSmith-Questions-and-Answers
 
Hey, cheers to you for starting this thread about your work and taking commentary in stride!
 
There seem to be some key design elements missing. A lot of geometry to be sorted out.

Stop Pins
Locking Mechanism
Detent Location
Tang geometry (how it marries with both the lock surface and the top of the handle)

As others have mentioned, the blade geometry needs work on all of them if you want them to be a serious cutting tools.

If you can get that all sorted out though, I'm sure they'll sell well. I don't think the names matter much. Perhaps you could name them after filters on instagram? That's where knives for your target demo seem to live.

I think they're kind of silly, but then, so are Keychain knucks, lanyard beads and EDC tops which have made a fortune. I'd certainly rather sell a fortune's worth of silly than nothing at all.

Best of luck.
 
Naming your designs is almost the last step. First you need to prototype them to see how they work and what needs to be improved. You will most likely go through a number of revisions until you are happy with the product. Then you will need to test everything out under a myriad of working conditions. Then name it once you think you have a design that works, is marketable, and will be made.

And listen to the people on here. Marcinek might be a tad brusque but brings up many important points. If you really want to be a knife maker, you will need to learn how to deal with criticism, whether it is warranted or not.

I think it's great you are starting out, but your designs need a lot of refinements and improvements before you do anything else. Good luck!

Sent from my D6708 using Tapatalk
 
unwisefool said:
.... Marcinek might be a tad brusque ....

I think it's great you are starting out, but your designs need a lot of refinements and improvements before you do anything else. Good luck!

Sent from my D6708 using Tapatalk
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Hey, that's about the nicest thing anybody has said about me here! :)

I happen to not like the look of those knives. And there are knives by the most respected knifemakers on the planet that I don't like the look of either. We all feel that way about certain respected makers. That's all besides the point.

The point I was trying to make is that, to be good at anything, you have to master the fundamentals. You cant be Eddie Van Halen without having mastered scales and all the chords, or...I dont know...pick anybody really good at anything.
 
I feel like he understood a couple pages ago that he needed improvements, which is why he isn't commenting anymore.
 
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