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various knife designs

17 Nov 2019
@ 05:51 pm (GMT)

Warrick Edmonds

Following on from a discussion in hunting stories, here's what I consider some design types. General information wise....

Firstly, Nathan's big hunter. He's covered this in good detail in various other threads, so nothing from me about it here.



Here's what I consider a 'commonly sized' (for want of a better word) hunter. It's got some features that I like such as a sharp point supported by a good triangle of metal, lots of skinning curve exaggerated slightly by a recurved belly. The handle is all rounded parts, nothing sharp or square to make a hot spot in hand. Also, there's a finger guard and a thumb rest. The blade is around 13cm, the handle is around 13cm.





This is what I call a utility. Note the difference is it has a straight cutting edge. But that being said, it still has enough skinning curve to get the job done.





Smaller and lighter is a rabbit and fox jobby. Blade is only around 9cm. Now I happen to know the owner also uses it on red deer but he's just ordered a larger hunter.



Here's another larger hunter. It was made specifically for a mate who targets scrub bulls and camels. He's got a lot of meat to reach through to part the joints so needed that long blade.





Fish filletter



A pair of pointy piggy stickers



A pair of capers plus a leather keeper wallet





And finally, a surprise packet. I originally made this design for my wife to keep in her handbag but it has proved very popular with hunters. One client had ten of them, which he used as capers on big game in Africa.



So, just like your car tool box,... different tools for different jobs.

cheers
Warrick

Replies

1
17 Nov 2019
@ 09:30 pm (GMT)

Mike Davis

Re: various knife designs
very tidy work there good sir,very tidy indeed.
over the years Ive owned and used many diferent knives and have now got far too many for my needs,recently gave away some near new victorinox as they just werent me.
looking at the Bossmans custom jobbie,it reminds me very much of the knife I used all through my teenage years before slicing my leg through insecure storage inside my pack which led me to go to folders for years.....you can still buy them I recently discovered but $80 a pop. green river bushmans friend.very similar shape just on a smaller scale.
Ive tried big curved cattlemans knives and they didnt do it for me at all.Ive cut up a big red hind with tiny svord phesant folder too...one of the few times I didnt have my sharpening rod. it worked but its big brother is much better/easier for the task.
hunting and fishing give pocket knives away with licence sales...a few years back it was a green plastic handled gerber gator take off by dakota cutlery...that is my goto knife for deer stalking....nearly as large as the old green river and has similar shaped blade so works ,the handle fits my hand too,something I believe is criticle for safety as well as comfort.
they say a knife is no good till its cut you....my left hand and arm must think I ve got good knives...last purchase was a mesh glove...piece of mind.
keep up the great work.
19 Nov 2019
@ 09:40 pm (GMT)

Magnus Vassbotn

Re: various knife designs
Very nice knives, very good work! A really high level of attention to detail.

I agree very much on your shape and size ideas. Very functional and universal. But I normally don't like finger guards, cause they tend to get caught up in stuff, and also they're troublesome when holding the knife half way onto the blade for finer work. But the way you make them, they really don't seem to be that much trouble. I will try out something like this next time I make a knife where it seems natural.

Keep up the good work!

M
22 Nov 2019
@ 11:14 am (GMT)

Warrick Edmonds

Re: various knife designs
Magnus

Thanks for the kind words. I try to make 'em look good as well as function as they should. (I might put that in the advertising on my website !)

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you about including finger guards, I wouldn't be without one of some sort. Gloved hands or wet conditions or animal fat or lack of light or cold stiff fingers, there's plenty of reasons I'd be wanting something between my fingers and what's doing the surgery up the front end of the knife.

Also, nine times out of ten it's the front half of the blade that's doing the work so there's not a lot of contact between the finger guard and the job.

I know there's the Scandi thing,... and thousands of people have been using that design for centuries,... but I'm having a finger guard anyways.

19 Mar 2020
@ 05:30 am (GMT)

bryan long

Re: various knife designs
Hey Warrick,

Stunning work!
I'm just starting out from the floor on knife making, recently got the book "step by step knifemaking" by David Boye

Any tips or directions you give a guy starting out on this road?
Thanks, Bryan
19 Mar 2020
@ 11:11 am (GMT)

Warrick Edmonds

Re: various knife designs
Bryan

If you go to my website and look at the page 'about buying a knife' drop-down and under that there's a page called 'Making Nathan Fosters Hunting Knife', that pretty well sums up how I do it, step by step.

Other than that I'd be looking at YouTube, it's an amazing resource on how to do the most specific things. Use really precise search phrases.

I find guys who have done a knife making weekend course with an established maker take years off their learning curve, so that's a good option. (I don't offer those unfortunately) So look in your local area for that.

When you get your first knife finished, email me a pic and I'll give you a bit of a guide on what's what.

good luck and remember there's no substitute for actually doing it.

cheers
Warrick
19 Mar 2020
@ 11:19 am (GMT)

Warrick Edmonds

Re: various knife designs
Bryan

What I should also have added is, if you intend making this a main source of income, think long and hard because you will literally earn more per hour flipping burgers. There are very few professional knife makers who aren't supported by a working partner or other income. Most knife makers are part timers like me. Knife making is not a pathway into the drivers seat of a Farrari.

That's my due diligence done.

The good bit is you'll end up making something with a genuine function, and man does that give you a sense of satisfaction when you're holding the finished thing in your hand.

W
19 Mar 2020
@ 11:10 pm (GMT)

Ben Law

Re: various knife designs
great looking knives wazza!!! they do look too nice to use for anything serious.

it would be very satisfying to make your own knives.
another time consuming hobby I simply cant afford. I do love taking a cheap knife and making it razor sharp on a lansky.
20 Mar 2020
@ 03:59 am (GMT)

bryan long

Re: various knife designs
Thanks Warrick,

There's a few course nearby and this virus looks like it's going to give me time on my hands.

Not looking at it for income, my father's family would have all been blacksmiths before him.
I'm looking to do a bit more to up my metalwork game and this looks a great route for me to do that. I can make useful tools for myself and pretend I'm making gifts for friends and family, when I'm actually just enjoying the time spent.

Thanks, Bryan
20 Mar 2020
@ 10:56 am (GMT)

Warrick Edmonds

Re: various knife designs
Bryan

Ah, well, in that case your have taken your first step young padawan !

You will make many friends handing out your knives. Keep us informed eh.
20 Mar 2020
@ 11:11 am (GMT)

Warrick Edmonds

Re: various knife designs
Quote:
great looking knives wazza!!! they do look too nice to use for anything serious.

it would be very satisfying to make your own knives.
another time consuming hobby I simply cant afford. I do love taking a cheap knife and making it razor sharp on a lansky.


Ben

I reckon over the years that around two thirds get proper use. Owners like to send me photos of them in the field (and I really like to see those photos) which is nice. I don't publish those photos because I feel it's a privacy thing. Also, a number become heirlooms, built specifically for handing down the generations. It's one of the first things I ask when discussing a build with the client and that gets reflected in the materials used.

I'm currently working on 3 heavy duty survivalist knives, which is a bit of tongue in cheek mucking around, me taking the mickey out of the current toilet paper battle. They'll come with a ferromag rod, a pure magnesium rod and a stick of fatwood I cut from windbreak trees around a local orchard. Anyway getting back to your point, I hope these guys are not really needed !
21 Mar 2020
@ 10:39 am (GMT)

bryan long

Re: various knife designs
Thanks for taking the time to make those videos Warrick, very informative and enjoyable to watch.
When you get that cinema release you mentioned organised i'll be there. B
23 Mar 2020
@ 10:42 am (GMT)

Warrick Edmonds

Re: various knife designs
Bryan

Ha ! Well, I don't think virus lock-downs and personal space orders would affect the size crowd that showing would attract.
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