What kind of Knife should I make next? Suggestions?

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Eric Draven

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Hey Guys. I am just curious what kind of knife you guys think I should make next? Fixed or Folder, Balisong or Straight Razor, Tanto or Bowie, Sword or Machete, Filipino or Japanese, Orrrrrr.....

I'm thinking I wanna do a nice folder, something simple but nice and affordable for most of the lower end custom knife buyers.

I'm open to ideas, thoughts, and designs at all times. :)
 
A nice kukri with your skulls somewhere on the handle, maybe lining the handle as finger grooves?

It must be full tang, and nothing to ornate, lest it not get used and abused.
 
Like where your fingers curve around the handle, putting maybe 4 or 5 spaced out to make finger grooves.

Hey, since I'm the only one who responded, you have to make this now. :D
 
With a skull carved around the knife opening, so the opened blade juts forward out of the skull's mouth.
 
I could do a friction folder, even with a skull so the blade comes out of it mouth....its not impossible. I'll do some research on them and see what theyre like.

I still Like Yo Mamas idea of the KuKri with the finger grooved handle and such. Maybe a full tang one...
 
Sorry Eric, you now have 2 ideas and 2 projects. :D

Let's hope no one else chimes in.....for your sake.
 
Hey Guys. I am just curious what kind of knife you guys think I should make next? Fixed or Folder, Balisong or Straight Razor, Tanto or Bowie, Sword or Machete, Filipino or Japanese, Orrrrrr.....

I'm thinking I wanna do a nice folder, something simple but nice and affordable for most of the lower end custom knife buyers.

I'm open to ideas, thoughts, and designs at all times. :)
Make some nice Barlows!
 
Eric,

As someone who has followed your work and site as you periodically surface on THR, I think you should work on ethnic blades that are tightly constrained in form and highly functional. Having never handled your blades I can nevertheless infer they are functional, but what would attract me as a buyer would be some modern takes on ethnic blades a la Schempp and friends.

I know you like letting your imagination run wild and I see many people like that. I think your knives are cool but I want to see what you can do with a certain amount of self-restraint placed on how far you can go from the original. A "conservative interpretation" of the kukri, in a smaller form, perhaps designed for IWB sheath carry (~13" OAL) and a bit less curve than your typical models, would be good. Make the tip pointier with less belly, but keep some belly in the upper 25% - just allow the tip to be pointier than most kuks. Keep the lines clean and use a tool steel. Differential hardening and a novel handle material (micarta or G10). Put your own touch on it but see how closely you can tread the line between "Totally Draven" and "Totally traditional." Make it an exercise in restraint, like I said...I like simplicity.

Also I think your site needs to be updated. Every time I click it I see under construction on some stuff that looks very interesting. Let me see the goods :)
 
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This Chitlangi is 23", but I think it conveys what I am talking about...less belly toward the very tip, pointier, narrower profile front to back, and less overall curve than most kuks.

Oh yeah...how about a skull pommel or skull cho? :D

1.jpg
 
Great ideas guys!!

VERY VERY good ideas guys. I like them ALL and I am always open to others. There are some out there who only will make their own ideas and thats fine, but I prefer to ask people what THEY want. :D

OK so what about a Nice small 13" OAL Kukri like conwict suggested and maybe instead of the 2 little traditional knives that come with the Kuk, make a lil badass friction folder that comes with it. :)

Come to think of it, I have done one Traditional design that was Ethnic...I did a Filipino Barong that was 14" OAL made of 1/4" CPMD2. In case some of you hadn't seen it, I attached pics so you can get a gander.

yep...I REALLY need help with my website. Its LITERALLY 3 years old. I don't recall how to switch things sand I have never known how to update it. :(
 

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Dude, that's a sick blade. I really like it. Nice detail on the handle, full tang, nice steel, just nice everything. Logo came out good in the steel, and just has the look man.
 
It's a beautiful knife. The problem is, that pronounced swell before the finger groove/choil looks like it's going to be hell on skin (the 2nd finger) after swinging it a few minutes. A big chopper like this, you want to be able to swing for a couple of hours without wearing off skin or raising hot spots or blisters.

That's my problem with most finger grooves. They may help "lock in" a knife for a few minutes, but for long use, they're almost never ideally placed.

If you wanted to do a kukri/kukuri/khukuri interpretation, I suggest not making the Eye of Shiva so pronounced as that Chitlangi's. You don't want to build-in likely failure spots, and while there's still plenty of steel there, there's just no point risking it. An abbreviated Draven Industries fang set would be neat, and would continue the cho tradition that some believe separates kukuris from Kukuri Like Objects (KLOs) but wouldn't remove much steel.

J
 
Eric, sign me up, seriously. If costs can stay within the lines and we don't add a bunch of details that would drive up your man hours I would love one. The barong looks cool...

If you want to get more input from me my email can be accessed from my username dropdown menu, we could have a phone chat. I'm ok to go with the flow if you're making various iterations and I'm not a control freak...but this idea is very appealing and I say let's do this.
 
Interesting.....Ya me and Jon talked last night about the Fangs of my Skull logo for the Cho.

Well I think we go with something like 3 blades, in 5160 or similar Carbon Steel, ethnic designs/filipino to be exact, we'll do a kukri, a golok, and a lower cost barong maybe, I'll make them so they stay under like $300. and they will have Cera Koted Blades (Black, Tan, or Foliage green and maybe OD Green), Kydex sheathing, and either G10 or Canvas Micarta handles. I'm thinking 17"-18" OAL.

Do you guys think this would appeal to others as a group buy situation? Cause if I can get enough orders, they will get less and less expensive. If I can get at least 2 or 3 orders I can make a small run and let people buy them once they see the badass finished product.

If anyone wonders what I charge for my 14"OAL 'HAVOC' CPMD2 Barongs, I usually ask $550 with G10 scales, or $600 with Carbon Fiber scales. Just as a comparison to what we may do here.
 
I would definitely be interested, like I said. All materials sound cool to me. Golok does not appeal but the barong or kukri do for sure. 300 w/ a kydex sheath included would be absolutely amazing.

Seriously though a carryable 13" OAL iteration is really what I'd prefer...17-18" I have already in other forms and I want something that can be carried IWB. I am about 6'1 210lb and with the right pants it's very doable. Mostly would come down to the sheath. Plus I guess the handle shape and angle would be very crucial.

Yeah barong or kukri..either sounds great :D. I'm not a control freak by any means, I just would prefer a simpler handle shape than say is found on your HAVOC barong. The reason I mention this is because I can "go with the flow" in a group buy situation that keeps the costs down, but I suppose others who might be interested should voice their opinions. Hell I don't know. Just email me if you want more input, else I'll keep an eye on this.
 
So the next step is the design process of each of the blades...I think we have decided on which ones we all agree would be cool. I think everyone will like at least one of them. We all like the Barong and the Kukri idea...but the last knife I'm not so sure about. I was thinking these options...

A Barong
A Kukri
A Golok, Ginunting, or Parang?

All are Filipino, so I will go ahead and start the designs. I will see about making a Prototype of each one, and then showing them so you guys can get a good idea of what theyre going to look like.

If anyone has any drawings of what they might want these to look like or any ideas that they would like me to incorporate, Let me know and I will.
 
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Hahaha. Thats a GOOD thing bro.

Also, if anyone else has any designs they draw up for these 3 knives I am happy to look at them and see if they would work. Open submissions.
 
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