The DAMAUKPK Project: Damasteel UK Penknife UKPK

[SpyderNut]

Something akin to this would be my preference still, in contoured CF (the SS bolsters while lovely could probably be ditched for a UKPK version). I would be game for it to be a forum knife here or with one of our friends overseas (just as long as we can get some!). :)

Also, polished G10 does NOT take RIT dye well at all FYI.

That is a beauty. How how about ivory or butterscotch Westinghouse Micarta instead of G-10? :)

[Woodpuppy]

Something akin to this would be my preference still, in contoured CF (the SS bolsters while lovely could probably be ditched for a UKPK version). I would be game for it to be a forum knife here or with one of our friends overseas (just as long as we can get some!). :)

Also, polished G10 does NOT take RIT dye well at all FYI.

That is a beauty. How how about ivory or butterscotch Westinghouse Micarta instead of G-10? :)

Ivory micarta with CF bolsters?

[ChrisinHove]

From EM...

[ChrisinHove]

From EM...

DA64660B-AA78-4F11-BB92-01FFF552903D.jpeg

Sal mentioned filework could cause issues with spring tension, at very least incurring costly r&d, I guess.

Can Damasteel be used for springs, does anyone know?

Hah! Quoted rather than edited my post. Fool of a Took!

[Liquid Cobra]

Damasteel blade with ivory frn or g10 would keep the costs down and look amazing. The HH UKPK is very simple yet refined and classy with the red g10.

This gets my vote (G10, not FRN). I and some others mentioned it on the Edge Matters forum as well.

Also gives people the option to rit dye it whatever color they choose

I’d vote for this variation too (ivory G-10 with Damasteel). Heck, why not make this the 2020 or 2021 Forum Knife?

If it were a forum knife less people would be aware of it so they would likely make less of them, which limits everyone’s chance of getting one.

Plus, if it’s a forum knife then the blade would have markings all over it. Most people seem to not be a fan of writing all over their blade, even more so when the blade is Damascus.

I’m really hoping it’s a sprint of at least 1200 pieces. Considering the popularity of slip joints these days it should probably be more.

[Woodpuppy]

Fool of a Took!

[samdasnake]

Damasteel blade with ivory frn or g10 would keep the costs down and look amazing. The HH UKPK is very simple yet refined and classy with the red g10.

This gets my vote (G10, not FRN). I and some others mentioned it on the Edge Matters forum as well.

I love the ivory FRN on the stretch straight spine, and think ivory FRN would be an excellent choice for the Damasteel model. It would also help keep costs down as they already have the tooling for FRN UKPK scales made.

[Doc Dan]

Smooth antique ivory G10 would be nice.

[Sumdumguy]

From EM...

DA64660B-AA78-4F11-BB92-01FFF552903D.jpeg

That's a very fair substitute for bolsters, I could get behind something like that.

Damasteel liners and lockbar would be asking too much, right?

[Woodpuppy]

From EM...

DA64660B-AA78-4F11-BB92-01FFF552903D.jpeg

That's a very fair substitute for bolsters, I could get behind something like that.

Damasteel liners and lockbar would be asking too much, right?

I specifically dislike metallic bolsters, but here’s to variety!

[Superfool]

Something akin to this would be my preference still, in contoured CF (the SS bolsters while lovely could probably be ditched for a UKPK version). I would be game for it to be a forum knife here or with one of our friends overseas (just as long as we can get some!). :)

Also, polished G10 does NOT take RIT dye well at all FYI.

That is a great a picture. I would love one like this.

[Superfool]

From EM...

DA64660B-AA78-4F11-BB92-01FFF552903D.jpeg

That is also really nice.
Very different to what i had in mind though.

[Sumdumguy]

I'm partial to the bolsters, but I wouldn't say no to the other one.

[sal]

Bolsters and liners would add $100 to the retail price would be my guess. Damasteel lock bat would add about a year in testing.

I've been in communication with Paul on the Edge mattets forum and we think that a more sensible soltion might increase the possibility of actually doing the project.

sal

[The Meat man]

Yes, if we get too carried away the project becomes impracticable as well as prohibitively expensive.

Forget bolsters and Damasteel backspacer, is my advice.

My vote for handle material would be smooth carbon fiber (preferably marbled or shred), or, if that adds too much cost, a nicely colored (dark tones) smooth G-10.

Contouring would be icing on the cake.

[pdixon]

That’s beautiful ^

[fixall]

Yes, if we get too carried away the project becomes impracticable as well as prohibitively expensive.

Forget bolsters and Damasteel backspacer, is my advice.

My vote for handle material would be smooth carbon fiber (preferably marbled or shred), or, if that adds too much cost, a nicely colored (dark tones) smooth G-10.

Contouring would be icing on the cake.

I agree with this 100%. I think we’re letting this thread get away from us a bit. Let’s try to keep the knife in the realm of feasible.

I really think Damasteel and shred (or marbles) carbon fiber would be really hard to beat when it comes to good looks, performance, and affordability for this build.

[ChrisinHove]

Who am I kidding. I will buy whatever version of this is chosen - if I can get my hand on one.

[archangel]

Bolsters and liners would add $100 to the retail price would be my guess. Damasteel lock bat would add about a year in testing.

I've been in communication with Paul on the Edge mattets forum and we think that a more sensible soltion might increase the possibility of actually doing the project.

sal

So that's a NO for bolsters, unnecessary liners, and Damasteel lock bar. From my perspective.

I stand firm with nice color G10 scales. Any Damasteel pattern blade would do, I haven't yet seen any that wasn't insanely beautiful.

[Superfool]

Hi everyone.

I feel that this thread is derailing a little and getting off track.

Before I kick off, I just want to say that this is a fine forum, and I am genuinely amazed that I can go to a forum on the internet with a half-arse of an idea, and have so much genuine support and enthusiasm. You all rock for that. I started this thread with a fairly simple plan in mind, and I was hoping that other people would also be interested. I have only just joined this group, and my intention is not to insult anyone, or put anyone's nose out of joint.

To the average person, I know loads about knives, but to someone on a specialist forum like this, I am a tourist. I understand the basics of some manufacturing processes, and I grasp that factors include man power, tooling costs, raw material scarcity, and product design testing etc., but not enough to be able to quantify a projected costing to attribute to each aspect.

I was hoping to start up enough interest to convince the powers that be (Sal), to do a Damascus patterned blade. I also was hoping for a fluted carbon handle like my 40th ed Native. I have since learned from the forum that I meant damasteel, and the fluting on the handle is going to cost more than it is worth. This is something that I had not really thought about, so I have lots to learn here.

With this all in mind, I think I need to suggest some guidance and direction for this thread.

1. I am not looking to redesign the UKPK. Sal has explained in several posts that if we start adding stuff to this knife, the costs are going to sky rocket. Adding bolsters, liners, lock bars is changing the build of the knife. Changing the metal used for the mechanism (damasteel backspacer) means product testing time, again, costing. If you want this stuff, then it sounds like you want a different knife. Maybe start an individual thread about it? If it goes anywhere, I would be interested too. If it doesn't, maybe look into getting a custom made.

2. I am not looking for a Platinum Class knife This is a UKPK; a "modern folding knife: a pocket clip for convenient carry and our Trademark Round Hole for easy, ambidextrous one-hand opening" https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/detail ... k-Leaf/819. If we start adding unobtanium back spacers, vibranium scales, and each blade ground by the Queen of England is going to make this unaffordable for all but 3 of you, and do you really need another knife to just sit in the drawer? If people want to buy another $1000 knife to take instagram pictures of, or pretend they carry around to flex on other reddit users on /r/EDC, then there are other manufacturers for that. Again, maybe start a new thread, and see if Sal would do it?

3. If we make this a pain in Sal's backside it won't happen at all. The UKPK is a blade, and handle and a locking bar mechanism. The blade has been decided as damasteel, The locking bar mecanism is already in place (although I would like a full length one as per the HH models), so really it is just the handle we need to work out, as Sal said at the beginning.

Sal clearly listens to his customers, as is clearly evidenced by his participation in the forum. Realistically, this is not going to happen unless we can try to get the knife handle options sensible, and narrowed down. I am not really sure how to go about doing this, so guidance would be appreciated here.

Again, this post is not meant to put anyone's nose out of joint, or belittle your opinions. If you feel like this, then I apologise. The purpose of this post is to get the project back on track, to get to a realistic goal here. I would very much like your feedback, and as previously, the photoshop mock-ups are fantastic.

Thank you everyone for your input and the positive attitudes, and thank you for reading this long post.