nztimb
AH ambassador
A couple of ph calls with @Dr Ray has resulted in the sugestion that I start a thread on knife design, so in light of that, I thought to start by outlining where my knife preferences stemmed from.
I was handed an unsuitable knife t0 go kill a sheep for the dogs on the high country station I went to after leaving school, so my knife designs really all stem from that one incident and the result of over 50 years of use in the killing (with the knife), dressing and processing of domestic farm animals along with of course the dressing and processing of animals hunted and killed by rifle or shotgun.
Making knives for myself during those years refined what was helpfull and with many upgrades, it came to the time when my knives would simply, safely and efficiently, do what I wanted them to do withot having to compromise on any aspect of their use.
Since I started to make knives for sale I have been priveledged to have discussions both by written and spoken means with members here who have had design/knife needs that have fallen outside of my experience and it has been a very real pleasure to work through the stated criteria and make a knife to suit the particular chores or simply style choices they have outlined.
I think I enjoy the design process as much as I do the making process and the conversations that lead to a new knife or parts of a knife with the rear of the handle on the new PH EDC being influenced by @rookhawk or the thumbrest on the thumbrest skinner being the result of @ActionBob. Some knives are fully atributed to members, with the likes of the J T Ranger being directly atributable to @Red Leg or the Old Western to @Hank2211. It was the sugestion/encouragment of @Dr Ray that I started to use the stainless damascus that I can buy in small bars in various patterns and because they are commercially made with guaranteed hardness (Rockwell) numbers I am able to offer them with the same confidence that I do for the stainless and carbon steels I heat treat myself.
I do know from experience that having a knife that exactly fits what I intend to do with it, that there is a direct correlation to the safe use, satisfaction, and confidence to to be had from finding/building (or having built) that rifle you have always wanted because it fits you ergonomically, in style and more importantly will do the job the way you prefer to do it.
Having corresponded with may of you on your personal needs in some areas of knife needs, I fully recognise that while there are some designs that are universal in thier usability, there is also an indefinable personal element in a knife choice that goes beyond what handle material, bolster treatment and or blade steel that will go into a hard use knife or simply one to have as an expressive extension of who you are and what you like to have.
A recent example has been the PH EDC that was the result of an email exchange with Lon @Tokoloshe Safaris and as I wrote on my main knife thread ---------------
The new design I have been refining is called the PH EDC As an EDC for the professional hunter this knife must be able to do any of the chores a PH may need a knife for during the day. It has a skinning influence toward the front half of the blade with enough tip for penetration and enough length of straight blade for simple cutting needs and enough depth of blade to give good finger protecton during heavy work. Handle has been shaped so that there is depth for a slight slab sided feel which is an aid to prevent rolling in the hand increasing directability and safety which also eases cramp (caused by having to hold tight to prevent turning in the hand) during long cutting work with the rear of the handle having the recurve eased to ensure there is no friction (hot spot) against the heel of the hand Front of handle and in particular where the index finger rests is narrowed for specific transition curve to give support without inpinging on hold as this is another area where hot spots can occur. Blade will be from 5/32 1095 high carbon steel with a 4 3/4 in blade having a FF grind.
It will come set deeper into the sheath so that when doing any of the daily activities there is NEVER a chance of the knife being dislodged so will always be ready at hand when needed.
I would be pleased if there were follow up posts here where we may discuss aspects of knife design and possibly show some of what you may want if you were commissioning a knife to be made for yourself.
Are you looking at a knife set where you can have 2 or 3 (or more) knives to do everything from field work through to bench work to get it fridge or freezer ready or further into the knife needs of kitchen/chef work and on to table knives to finally eat what you have so dillegently hunted and bought to the table..
I was handed an unsuitable knife t0 go kill a sheep for the dogs on the high country station I went to after leaving school, so my knife designs really all stem from that one incident and the result of over 50 years of use in the killing (with the knife), dressing and processing of domestic farm animals along with of course the dressing and processing of animals hunted and killed by rifle or shotgun.
Making knives for myself during those years refined what was helpfull and with many upgrades, it came to the time when my knives would simply, safely and efficiently, do what I wanted them to do withot having to compromise on any aspect of their use.
Since I started to make knives for sale I have been priveledged to have discussions both by written and spoken means with members here who have had design/knife needs that have fallen outside of my experience and it has been a very real pleasure to work through the stated criteria and make a knife to suit the particular chores or simply style choices they have outlined.
I think I enjoy the design process as much as I do the making process and the conversations that lead to a new knife or parts of a knife with the rear of the handle on the new PH EDC being influenced by @rookhawk or the thumbrest on the thumbrest skinner being the result of @ActionBob. Some knives are fully atributed to members, with the likes of the J T Ranger being directly atributable to @Red Leg or the Old Western to @Hank2211. It was the sugestion/encouragment of @Dr Ray that I started to use the stainless damascus that I can buy in small bars in various patterns and because they are commercially made with guaranteed hardness (Rockwell) numbers I am able to offer them with the same confidence that I do for the stainless and carbon steels I heat treat myself.
I do know from experience that having a knife that exactly fits what I intend to do with it, that there is a direct correlation to the safe use, satisfaction, and confidence to to be had from finding/building (or having built) that rifle you have always wanted because it fits you ergonomically, in style and more importantly will do the job the way you prefer to do it.
Having corresponded with may of you on your personal needs in some areas of knife needs, I fully recognise that while there are some designs that are universal in thier usability, there is also an indefinable personal element in a knife choice that goes beyond what handle material, bolster treatment and or blade steel that will go into a hard use knife or simply one to have as an expressive extension of who you are and what you like to have.
A recent example has been the PH EDC that was the result of an email exchange with Lon @Tokoloshe Safaris and as I wrote on my main knife thread ---------------
The new design I have been refining is called the PH EDC As an EDC for the professional hunter this knife must be able to do any of the chores a PH may need a knife for during the day. It has a skinning influence toward the front half of the blade with enough tip for penetration and enough length of straight blade for simple cutting needs and enough depth of blade to give good finger protecton during heavy work. Handle has been shaped so that there is depth for a slight slab sided feel which is an aid to prevent rolling in the hand increasing directability and safety which also eases cramp (caused by having to hold tight to prevent turning in the hand) during long cutting work with the rear of the handle having the recurve eased to ensure there is no friction (hot spot) against the heel of the hand Front of handle and in particular where the index finger rests is narrowed for specific transition curve to give support without inpinging on hold as this is another area where hot spots can occur. Blade will be from 5/32 1095 high carbon steel with a 4 3/4 in blade having a FF grind.
It will come set deeper into the sheath so that when doing any of the daily activities there is NEVER a chance of the knife being dislodged so will always be ready at hand when needed.
I would be pleased if there were follow up posts here where we may discuss aspects of knife design and possibly show some of what you may want if you were commissioning a knife to be made for yourself.
Are you looking at a knife set where you can have 2 or 3 (or more) knives to do everything from field work through to bench work to get it fridge or freezer ready or further into the knife needs of kitchen/chef work and on to table knives to finally eat what you have so dillegently hunted and bought to the table..
