MacLaren wrote:Very nice blades. I like them a lot.
Especially #2 going left to R.
Thank you! I'm curious what appeals to you with that one if you don't mind telling me..is it the blade grind or the handle material?
Surfingringo wrote:... I am assuming we are seeing some of the evolution of the design in that last pic?
Somewhat of an evolution. 1-3 left to right were drawn at the same time and I was making small changes to the handle shape as well as the grind. Since they were only .105" thick they are extremely "slicey" The first was nearly full flat and the best slicer I've ever used but, I was worried it wouldn't be strong enough. The next was a high flat grind that provided a little more meat to the spine. The third was a test to see if I could make it a saber grind with a big swedge and still maintain the easy slicing. The 4th was a new direction for more information. Thicker steel, but skeletonized with a full flat grind and a swedge to keep blade weight down. It has a smaller (3") blade and a slightly taller handle with slightly more contouring.
Surfingringo wrote:.. I'm curious, which of the handle shapes do you find most comfortable?
None of them are uncomfortable but from most comfortable to least 4,2,3,1 at the moment. However, 3 will be more comfortable than 2 after I go back and add more contouring along the entire bottom edge of the handle.
Surfingringo wrote:...I also have a question about the knife with the CF handle in the first pic. Would you call that a saber grind?
Yes it's a saber grind. With that low grind on 20CV I was able to take the shoulder behind the edge down to .008" and it's still tough enough, and slices like a razor. It outperformed all the others by far in cardboard and rope cut testing. If I was going to continue to make this model in .105" thick steel I would stick with that saber grind for sure. However, It's looking most likely that my final design will use .140" thick M390 and/or 4V in which case my grind will likely be closer to the one with the stabilized wood & resin handle (#2 L-R).
After 100 6" box cuts and 100 rope cuts through a dirty 3/4" nylon rope it still sliced paper (although not super cleanly). After 10 passes on each side with 600 grit stones it was back to hair shaving again.
Surfingringo wrote:...Is there a slight curve to the sheath? If not, could one be made that way to sit flush against the body?
There is not a curve in that sheath although the sides can be curved away. I must say though..molding a sheath to the knife and then doing all of the other bends and folds without affecting the "knife pocket" has been a royal P.I.T.A. The curve you are thinking of would be easier than some of the bends that make the "clip".
Surfingringo wrote:Beautiful knives, all! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much for the kind words!
CK
Spyderco fan and collector since 1991. 
