Innovation into knife desgin

[mtgmichael]

Why I Think Bushcraft Knives Are Often Under-Engineered

I’ve spent a fair bit of time with bushcraft knives, and while I love the simple, no-nonsense designs, I can’t help but feel that many are a bit under-engineered for how they’re actually used in the field.

For example, a lot of knives lack jimping on the spine—those little notches that give your thumb some grip during controlled tasks. When you’re doing fine work or carving for a long time, that extra traction really helps. Without it, your thumb just slides around, especially in wet conditions.

Another thing I’ve noticed is the handle design around the tang. Some knives completely cover the tang, even the pommel, which kind of defeats the purpose if you want to use the back end for light hammering or batoning. I’d argue that the handle should leave the pommel exposed, so you can use it without damaging or splitting the handle material. It’s a small tweak that makes a big difference.

Also, it surprises me how many knives don’t have even a small finger guard. I get that bushcraft tools are meant to be streamlined, but a little protection where the handle meets the blade could prevent a nasty slip, especially when you're tired or working in the cold.

I’d love to see more thought put into things like grippier handles, multi-carry sheaths, or even built-in survival features—nothing flashy, just smart design choices that make life easier in the woods.

That’s just my take though—what do you think? Are there features you wish more bushcraft knives had, or do you prefer them as stripped-down as possible?

 

[C_Claycomb]

So, have you started making your own knives yet? If not, it sounds like you are dangerously close!

I have a lot to say in reply, but no time right now.

Thank you for posting!! Stuff like this is good for conversation, even if some old farts find it funny for various reasons.

Chris

 

[Stew]

Everyone is different. You can get what you want!

Draw your design out and post it up….

 

[Pattree]

@mtgmichael

I don’t own a ”bushcraft knife”.

I am a huge fan of the Opinel folding knife for the very limited range of tasks for which I need a knife.

Like you, I can see personal modifications to Opinels that would suit me including a finger guard - not for safety but because I have a damaged hand and the guard assists some cutting jobs.

There is nothing wrong with the Opinel Viroblock lock but having worked on the knives for a long time I can see how I might make my own.

The result is that I am very slowly making my own swivel lock folding knife.

But -
1. I shall not suggest that it is an Opinel.
2. I recognise that millions of people are completely satisfied using the unmodified Opinel knife.
3. I wouldn’t suggest that my modified knife is any better than the original for the vast majority of users.

Ideas are easy and indeed fun. The modifications that you suggest wouldn’t be difficult on an existing full tang bushcraft knife. May I suggest that you personalised your own knife. You might find it educational as well as rewarding.

Playing with my design I have discovered all sorts of things about the Opinel and why things are as they are. Things that the average user wouldn’t notice and would have no need to.

 

[John Fenna]

Personally I do not like thumb jimping - it would be just where I want a 90 degree angle for ferro rod or other scraping use - or exposed tangs at the butt end - I have a hammer poll on my hatchet for pounding use, whilst "Survival" type add ons and features just seem to get in my way and put all your eggs in one basket (lose your knife and all your "survival bits" go missing too...
As to sheathes - I like 'em plain and simple! A good, strong welted design, deep holding, dangler has proven, over the years, to be my favourite style sheath.
For looks combined with function and comfort I find natural materials suit me better than modern high tech spec items ... and I still like old fashioned steels - high carbon steel or first generation stainless.
I guess that all puts me in the "old fuddy duddy" conservative bracket of knife user/maker - and I do like a small finger guard designed into the grip, most of the time, though they can get in the way with certain grips/ usages....
A couple of knives that I have made

 

[Glow_worm]

The internet is getting a bit worrying- I genuinely can't work out if the original post is human or AI generated. My apologies if it's the former.

 

[C_Claycomb]

The internet is getting a bit worrying- I genuinely can't work out if the original post is human or AI generated. My apologies if it's the former.

Hmmm. The AI detectors are split, some are 100% certain it’s all AI generated. Some that it’s only partially AI generated, and some are confident it’s 100% human. I friend of mine used to do work with AI systems from the writing and logic standpoint and said she often had things she wrote reported as AI because the grammar and construction was “too good to be human” . I didn’t read it as AI, but I guess it could be, but other flags that have accompanied previous accounts posting AI content were not present.

 

[Pattree]

Whether organic or digital in origin the proposition is attempting to solve problems that knife users don’t experience.

 

[Glow_worm]

I didn’t read it as AI, but I guess it could be, but other flags that have accompanied previous accounts posting AI content were not present.

It must be learning! Eeek!

Seriously though sorry, it's not really my place, but some things just don't feel right. Possibly giving an explanatory title, the structure, the phrasing, the mix of carefully packaged facts with explainations and questions.

Anyway I hope to be proved wrong, and sincere apologies if I have been very rude to somebody making their first post!

Wherever organic or digital in origin the proposition is attempting to solve problems that knife users don’t experience.

I'll agree with the contents of both your posts, but from my point of view swap 'Opinel' with 'Victorinox'

 

[mtgmichael]

So, have you started making your own knives yet? If not, it sounds like you are dangerously close!

I have a lot to say in reply, but no time right now.

Thank you for posting!! Stuff like this is good for conversation, even if some old farts find it funny for various reasons.

Chris

Looking forward to your thoughts

 

[mtgmichael]

The internet is getting a bit worrying- I genuinely can't work out if the original post is human or AI generated. My apologies if it's the former.

No it's real. It's me as a human. I do use AI to spell and Grammer due to my dyslexia but otherwise I belive I'm human

Key AI checks I find involved ,and OR the use of -

 

[mtgmichael]

Wherever organic or digital in origin the proposition is attempting to solve problems that knife users don’t experience.

I'm intrested in more of this!? So am I going down the wrong road in trying to "over engineer" or improve the basic elements of the BCKnife

 

[mtgmichael]

It must be learning! Eeek!

Seriously though sorry, it's not really my place, but some things just don't feel right. Possibly giving an explanatory title, the structure, the phrasing, the mix of carefully packaged facts with explainations and questions.

Anyway I hope to be proved wrong, and sincere apologies if I have been very rude to somebody making their first post!



I'll agree with the contents of both your posts, but from my point of view swap 'Opinel' with 'Victorinox'

No offense taken but I would like to move away from is this AI and back onto my topic please

 

[Glow_worm]

Aha! A human using AI to make a legitimate post! Half a mark to me Apologies and welcome.


I'll admit I'm not the best person to ask about fixed blade knives, I've played and worked (conservation/farming/various traditional crafts) outdoors all my life and never felt the need for anything other than my non-locking Swiss Army knife. Not an isolated case, I have met plenty of other outdoor workers (farmers, thatchers, hurdlemaker, woodland workers) who carry the same, or at most a locking folder (Opinels).

My Victorinox prepares food, carves wood, will butcher a deer at a push although admittedly a locker or fixed blade would certainly be easier, but that's not something I do very often. Being legal to carry everywhere, it is on my person at all times, so I'm never going to find myself without it. It also has other built in features, which might not be 'survival features', but are genuinely practically useful on a regular basis (scissors, screwdriver, tweezers particularly).

If I'm going somewhere where I need to chop or spilt wood, I'll take a billhook/axe/saw. If I want to do fine carving, proper carving knives are better. Very seldom is one tool perfect for all tasks, tuning in one direction tends to loose qualities in another.

There is also the reality that many 'bushcrafters' in the UK do not have access to land where they can legally cut wood, make fires etc, or actually get out and 'bushcraft' so seldomly, that having the ultimate knife all gets a bit armchair. I'd suggest that it's irrelevant whether 95% of 'bushcraft' knives sold are underengineered for use in the field, simply because they are never used in 'the field', or are used a couple of times then put in a drawer with the rest.

If you do get out in the field or woods on a regular basis, most forms of cutting tool will get jobs done, simplicity and reliability trumps everything for me, given the amount of time I spend using a knife is tiny.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Ed Fowler once wrote about thinking that a checkered handle would be great. When he made one it chewed his hand up. I want to like the Benchmade Puukko, but gripping it hard leaves a waffle pattern on my hand that I don’t like so much. Had an CS SRK like that too.

For jimping to feel grippy it needs edges at or approaching 90degrees with the spine, it’s hard for this not to be a stress concentration and weaken the blade. I have never had a problem with my thumb slipping on the spine, I have rounded the spine on some of my knives, but never felt the need for jimping.

I do like a bit of swell or flare of the handle at the front to discourage my hand from sliding forward, but not so much full guards on 4” knives, unless they are meant more for game prep.

Use technique and features work off each other. If lots of knives lack a guard, and have done for a long time, and popular demand hasn’t added one, but you feel you need one, look at how you are using that knife and how other folk are using the knife. They might be mitigating the risk in other ways.

Sheaths are a PITA. Everyone wants something different! The more effort you put into a multi function sheath, the more people there will be that hate it! Just search for comments on the sheath for the Spyderco Bushcraft! That thing took a lot of thought and was designed for multi carry, left or right handed. One critique was that it was horrible and looked designed by committee. There are SO many ways people can carry a knife that there is a limit to what you can do. Four inch knives are possibly the hardest to design for, especially with thicker handles. Sheaths mounted multi clips don’t balance well. Many want a clean easy pack sheath and more options means bulk.

Chris

 

[C_Claycomb]

Reasons I got a chuckle from the original post.

• Not being able to find the features you want is the classic way we all get sucked into making stuff!
• Some one today being able to still complain (gently) that there aren’t enough knives out there with the features they want. In the last 16 years there has been a huge increase in the number of companies offering bushcraft knives, or bushcraft suitable knives. There are now a load more steels, both carbon and stainless that are suitable than even 12 years ago.
• The idea that enough thought isn’t put into designs because one can’t find the combination of features one wants (thinks one needs).
• not mentioning that there are pros and cons with hidden tangs vs full, vs exposed, but phrasing it that it’s all one way.
• The title, when so many other discussions have happened bemoaning that there is now too much engineering in knives, or that most are over built.
• Recognising a younger version on myself!

 

[C_Claycomb]

I'm intrested in more of this!? So am I going down the wrong road in trying to "over engineer" or improve the basic elements of the BCKnife

No, loads of people are driven by this, to try to improve the design. So it’s not “wrong”. What you are looking for might have been done already.
If the feature isn’t common, it could be that it’s hard to pull off, or that in practice it doesn’t work so well.

 

[C_Claycomb]

What knives have you used or handled so far, to build your ideas on design?

What do you think of the Lion Steels and Fallknivens?

 

[mtgmichael]

So regarding the
"sheath for the Spyderco Bushcraft"

I've seen and made such multi function leather hulk. And fabulous to look at. But thick and clunky. Sods law you put all eggs into one basket and put it down out of sight.

I find simplicity in sheaths is often best. But most do lack one function I find very important and that is the ability to detach it from you without having to take off your belt.
I also find from that while "ugly" kydax offers more benefits vs traditional leather (though this is more common in the US).

____________

Regarding
Lion Steels and Fallknivens
Fallknivens
In general do not have a scandi grind (arguably the grind of choice)
 the one that does lacks some of the features I see being small design improvements to capture those extra needs without compromising on the overall build.
like exposed tang at back for hammer needs.
Jimaging for thump grip
choil grip at index finger to support grip.
and one element I'm not seeing in any that I find extremely beneficial on a knife I made. Is a slightly larger rounded back end of the knife to allow for easyier grip at the back end of the knife. For when using as a axe or pulling out of sheath (for a few examples)
Lion Steels
much of the same but in general I pefere the handel in parts like: supporting the defence from hand to blade slip.
exposure of back end of the tag for needing to hammer down and not damage the handle.

but still lacks some points above.

 

[mtgmichael]

Reasons I got a chuckle from the original post.

• Not being able to find the features you want is the classic way we all get sucked into making stuff!
• Some one today being able to still complain (gently) that there aren’t enough knives out there with the features they want. In the last 16 years there has been a huge increase in the number of companies offering bushcraft knives, or bushcraft suitable knives. There are now a load more steels, both carbon and stainless that are suitable than even 12 years ago.
• The idea that enough thought isn’t put into designs because one can’t find the combination of features one wants (thinks one needs).
• not mentioning that there are pros and cons with hidden tangs vs full, vs exposed, but phrasing it that it’s all one way.
• The title, when so many other discussions have happened bemoaning that there is now too much engineering in knives, or that most are over built.
• Recognising a younger version on myself!

Probably worth mentioning that my post purpose is to prompt communication on if the simplest BC knife desgin is actually sufficient or if smaller engine changes are even needed or wanted.

Like many before me I want to make a knife desgin that will capture that catch 22 of smaller features all in one desgin.

Even a simple element like bright highlights in the grip spacers to help finding it if dropped. Little elements like that.