Knife design advice?

[Gabriel B]

Im making my thrid knife, and this time im drafting my own template. What do you guys think of this design? Is there anything i forgot, or that you would change?

Im trying to make both a functional and decent looking knife. Im thinking about adding jimping for the thumb and extending the bevels slightly to improve cutting ability. Also maybe making the handle a bit bigger.
If you think its complete trash, feel free to tell me, but also tell me why.
Thanks

https://flic.kr/p/2mfXNYf

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Personally, I think it would look better without the raised harpoon edge. What function will it have, anyway.
Handle looks OK, but that sharp po9nt where the finger rests needs to be rounded back more smoothly.

 

[Forrest Taylor]

I think it looks good.
One thing you could do is cut it out of soft wood, shape it, and see how the handle feels in your hand.

 

[Gabriel B]

Personally, I think it would look better without the raised harpoon edge. What function will it have, anyway.
Handle looks OK, but that sharp po9nt where the finger rests needs to be rounded back more smoothly.

Hmm, yeah, it's a little excessive probably. Also it might make it harder to make a sheath for it. Smoothening that finger choil is probably a good idea too, thanks!

 

[Gabriel B]

I think it looks good.
One thing you could do is cut it out of soft wood, shape it, and see how the handle feels in your hand.

Yeah, it's probably a good idea as i have no idea if this handle shape is comfortable or not.

 

[Hubert S.]

It looks good. I would lose the harpoon edge and probably change the pin placement. The last pin in particular seems too far forward to me and too low. Of course, if you move that one, the center pin has to follow. Maybe the butt end could be a little taller.

 

[Gabriel B]

It looks good. I would lose the harpoon edge and probably change the pin placement. The last pin in particular seems too far forward to me and too low. Of course, if you move that one, the center pin has to follow. Maybe the butt end could be a little taller.

Thanks, yeah the harpoon edge will probably go. I didn't really put much effort into the pin placement on my sketch. Are there any idk general rules or tips for pin placement? How do you mean with a little taller?

 

[12345678910]

Same as Stacy, leaving off the harpoon tip will simplify.

You can't choke up on the sharpened false edge.

I'd leave out the middle pin.

 

[HSC ///]

Another couple of ways to check a design -

1) Look at the pattern upside down

2) Hold the knife pattern upside down to see how it feels in the hand

both of these tips came from Ian Hall and Kuzan Oda respectively

also most knives have too much belly...you might consider that

 

[Hubert S.]

Thanks, yeah the harpoon edge will probably go. I didn't really put much effort into the pin placement on my sketch. Are there any idk general rules or tips for pin placement? How do you mean with a little taller?

The handle looks like it tapers towards the back, i.e., it gets narrower/less tall. If you look at the knife Harbeer just posted, it has a little swell at the butt, i.e., the profile is a little taller.

How big is this knife?

 

[HSC ///]

If you want a cool looking tactical knife, then you are all set.
If you want a useful knife that becomes an extension of the hand, well that requires something different

this is my daily use shop knife in z wear

 

[Natlek]

Im making my thrid knife, and this time im drafting my own template. What do you guys think of this design? Is there anything i forgot, or that you would change?

Im trying to make both a functional and decent looking knife. Im thinking about adding jimping for the thumb and extending the bevels slightly to improve cutting ability. Also maybe making the handle a bit bigger.
If you think its complete trash, feel free to tell me, but also tell me why.
Thanks

https://flic.kr/p/2mfXNYf

First look this picture ....................it s my hand holding one knife .See how back of handle follow hand anatomy ? Part at rear of handle where is that red line is useless ,the palm would be uncomfortable in that part .Top side of handle should be always longer / 11-12 centimeters / then bottom side of handle / 9-10 centimeters/ ....for normal hand not like for one friend who has finger double thicker then mine and always say ...your handle are small ......
If plunge line follow front of scale it would look better.
I like that harpoon look so cool , I would leave it .
All right reserved ??????????? I took picture from screen so i can make this drawning

 

[eric brinkerhoff]

Another way to look at your design to see if you like it is to look down along it at a low angle giving a foreshortened view of the profile. Murray Carter talks about this in knife designs 101. What looks long and sleek often looks fat and crooked from this view!

 

[Lorien]

my 2 cents is to follow through with your design, make it and see how it works for you.

 

[daizee]

I'd say that as long as the handle is at least 4.5", it will probably be ok.
I've made almost exactly the knife that Natlek sketched out on the picture, and it's a cool blade.
Agree with raising the main bevels for efficiency. New makers often don't remove enough steel - I know, I've been there.
Harpoons LOOK cool, but don't offer much functionality - maybe some thumb index, but.... If you grind with a work table, don't grind in the 'poon until AFTER you've done your bevels. All that said, I enjoy the harpoon profiles despite the caveats and customers seem to as well. (but I think it's just flash)

(ETA: I would never *sharpen* a harpoon swedge tho, just to be clear)

 

[DukeHarley]

Im making my thrid knife, and this time im drafting my own template. What do you guys think of this design? Is there anything i forgot, or that you would change?

Im trying to make both a functional and decent looking knife. Im thinking about adding jimping for the thumb and extending the bevels slightly to improve cutting ability. Also maybe making the handle a bit bigger.
If you think its complete trash, feel free to tell me, but also tell me why.
Thanks

https://flic.kr/p/2mfXNYf

I’d probably loose the harpoon edge on top or if nothing soften and lessen it a bit. If you really wanted to do something in the top you could loose it altogether and then just grind a false edge without any issues and would look better as well. Make a hard prototype and see how it feels.

 

[Gabriel B]

Same as Stacy, leaving off the harpoon tip will simplify.

You can't choke up on the sharpened false edge.

I'd leave out the middle pin.

Okay, so maybe two larger pins or something like that.

 

[Gabriel B]

Another couple of ways to check a design -

1) Look at the pattern upside down

2) Hold the knife pattern upside down to see how it feels in the hand

both of these tips came from Ian Hall and Kuzan Oda respectively

also most knives have too much belly...you might consider that

Oh, neat tricks, i'll look into it tomorrow. THANKS!

 

[Nick-D]

I like the clip personally.
I would drop the heel of the handle slightly

Match the angle of the plunge to the front of the handle scale.

I would take the primary bevel further up will thin the knife out at the tip and make the lines flow better from the handle. I've made something very similar in the past and it's both comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.

 

[Gabriel B]

The handle looks like it tapers towards the back, i.e., it gets narrower/less tall. If you look at the knife Harbeer just posted, it has a little swell at the butt, i.e., the profile is a little taller.

How big is this knife?

The total length is just under 8", i have quite small hands but i will probably scale up the handle slightly. I have a kitchen knife that has a similar shape (narrower in the back) and i think its comfortable, thats why i did it. But i could try to make a cardboard version with a swell in the back and see how it feels. Thanks for the suggestions