When are we going to do another Knife Challenge?

Somehow I missed that. Thanks for the link. I have some reading to do.
The way I look at it any challenge is good. Competition helps everyone up their skill.
 
Somehow I missed that. Thanks for the link. I have some reading to do.
The way I look at it any challenge is good. Competition helps everyone up their skill.
 
I'll read through that neck knife thread as well. I'd participate in the tin knife challenge, but I'd prefer to do a necker challenge. Maybe run them together? Two categories, one challenge?
 
stabman said:
Thinking the tin knife challenge might be the way to go.
Looks like the neck knife one was done already:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Knife-Challenge!!!?highlight=knife+challenge

Although I'd still be in for a neck knife sized one...gives more size allowance for a handle. :)
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I think a ' Last Ditch ' knife would throw up more ideas, some might consider it a Neck knife some a Tin knife and yet others might consider it a little Bush-craft or Bird & Trout type knife that would sit unnoticed on a belt.
 
pitdog said:
I think a ' Last Ditch ' knife would throw up more ideas, some might consider it a Neck knife some a Tin knife and yet others might consider it a little Bush-craft or Bird & Trout type knife that would sit unnoticed on a belt.
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True enough.
Leaves a bit more room for creativity and philosophy of knife design. :thumbup:
 
I'm in, schedule permitting. Small knives are awesome.
Was hoping someone with clout would bring this up again. :-)
 
If this happens I am going to call Bryan Breeden and hopefully get him to make a blade. Work has been keeping him out of his shop.
 
stabman said:
True enough.
Leaves a bit more room for creativity and philosophy of knife design. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

But does it leave too much room for interpretation? Tin knives will test a whole lot differently than a bird and trout.
 
I will commit to being in. But I do think it has to be decided either Tin Knife of Necker. Seeing as the necker has been done. I like the idea of a small Tin knife challenge. Cost is low, and they don't take too much time. I like the idea that the only parameter is that it fit in an Altoids tin.

Thoughts?

Thanks Pit, it was Bryan Andrews(did a fantastic job too)
 
CKE2 said:
Seeing as the necker has been done. I like the idea of a small Tin knife challenge. Cost is low, and they don't take too much time. I like the idea that the only parameter is that it fit in an Altoids tin.
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I'm in for sure, and as the tin knife challenge hasn't been done yet, I can certainly get on board with it.
Saves me from having to make a sheath, too. :D
 
since Tin knives could be more quickly made, why not do that first, then the other in another 6mo?
and as long as the bases are covered regularly, I don't see any reason not to repeat a good category over the long haul.
 
I hate altoids tins though. What about sizing it like bark river does, up to fitting in an Otterbox 2000?
 
Altoid tin=2$
Otterbox-12$-ish
Tin knife would be quicker/easier/cheaper for any maker kind enough to volunteer.
Adding more bells, whistles , rules will only make this take longer!
Lets walk before we run.
This is a "test" correct, not about any preferences.
I think a good test would be --Make a "one stick fire" with a "tin knife". I think that is a fair ,real world test.
Where is the gentleman who started this thread, would like to hear his input.
 
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I'd be interesting in joining if it is a neck knife challenge. I personally don't see the challenge in a tin knife as they will all be too short to properly test the craftsmanship and heat treat. Tin knives are meant to cut cloth, meat, string, etc. - all soft materials that will cut with any sharp object.

And the "one stick fire" suggestion above tests the user's skill rather than the knife being used.

As I said, I'd be in for another neck knife challenge but not a tin knife challenge.
 
jawilder said:
I personally don't see the challenge in a tin knife as they will all be too short to properly test the craftsmanship and heat treat.
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Actually, as I work up designs here, the tin knife is presenting more challenge in order to come up with a handle which will do what I want, without using up the space required to have enough blade to be useful.

Edge retention can easily enough be tested, by how much stuff does it cut before it doesn't do so very well anymore.
Ergonomics can certainly be weighed in on as well and, although that is always subjective, it would remain subjective even with a bigger knife.

Designing a good tin knife is an exercise in paring it down to bare essentials, as there's no room for anything extraneous.
 
To my thinking any challenge will be a good one. True more can be done with a neck knife & I would love to see it. However the Tin knife would be a good test of the makers skill in HT , geometry , ergonomic. Make them think out side the box. Or in the Tin in this case. I think with the right reviewer a tin knife could get a great work out.
One stick fire
Bow Drill.
shelter
Traps
game cleaning
Tool making
Or we could do neck knife with a max OAL of 5.5"
 
I agree with Jason, I'm not sure if I'm in if its a tin knife. I've thought about it and thought about it. Yes there is room for showing differences between ideas, but in the long run, they are basically all the same. They all are an exercise in making do, rather than fit, finish, ergos, etc. that on a larger knife shows the skill of the maker.


As for the suggestion for an OAL of 5.5", don't you know an Otterbox 2000 cost $12????

Cost is an invalid argument. A tin knife cost almost the exact same as a little bit bigger knife to make. Heat treat is still $10-25, wood can be found for almost free or free if you find a cabinet shop with scraps or just suck it up and go with hickory or oak from Home Depot, the steel cost for 3" vs 6" is completely negligible, files can make a 3" knife barely faster than a 6" knife and with a grinder it is a nonissue, finishing it out is almost the same amount of time, etc.
 
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