Let's talk about designing a knife (how to draw a knife)

Thank you for watching.

[@fishdude666ify]

So I've been cooking professionally for about 10 years and practicing martial arts for over 20 years, so I decided instead of paying a ton of money for nice knives I'd learn to make them. Started with stock removal but moved to forging, so my work is super variable. Was thinking that moving back to stock removal would be better for mass production in a business sense. That log splitter vid is next up; had the idea for that a long time ago but beyond my little corner of knife making I know nothing about machine fabrication. I knew eventually someone else with more shop knowledge would have the same idea, so thank you! As a smith though, I gotta say one of the best affirmations is when I see a blade (or blade collection) that looks like one I've done that was 100% from my imagination. I feel like another factor in designing/finishing weather it's the shape, balance or the handle contouring is a working familiarity with the phi ratio. I haven't ever heard another knife maker talk about it, so take it with a grain of salt but the human body in general and the hands specifically are proportioned according to the phi ratio; so it occurred to me that anything designed for use by human hands would benefit from it also. Balance, blade geometry, and handle ergonomics all seem to improve when it's applied. Not to say it's an exact science or anything, more of a concept to have in mind if something isn't flowing the way it should.

[@reddogknives]

Good job on the designing side of making knives. Something that really meant a lot to me was, my granddaughter called me she wanted to make her spouse a knife, she's 27. Came down, I had her draw out the knife that she wanted, it was a mushroom hunting knife, so it was thin and on the small side, so she cut it out she ground her own bevel, and when she would mess up I would fix it and she continued until it was time to glue up the handle and pick handle material it came out beautiful it's a very nice unique knife that had a purpose the one thing I'm so proud of her for is designing her own knife and it means so much more to her for doing it. Thanks for the inspiration as always good job Jeremy, from a guy in Tucson

[@TobyFireandSteel]

OOo forging press awesome

[@Manu-mx9jd]

i acutally design knives using photoshop. I´ll make a rectangle of my bar stock with exact proportions and then use the Pen Tool to make the curves. what i really like about it, is that u can measure easily and move things or make something larger or smaller without having to erase it. Cheers

[@TobyFireandSteel]

Mate such a great video. Simple but brilliant. Cheers Toby

[@philiplong8433]

Super advice on this. I love sketching knives! Something I've found, is sometimes just jumping in with a rough profile in mind, and designing it on the fly. Not recommended if your working with expensive steel. I'm also not usually working with full-tangs, so it's way easier to do this with hidden.

[@dameongray6412]

I agree with you 💯 I have failed alot on with my own designs but I have a few I'm going to make

[@TheRealCardz]

First couple of knives I made at least one of them I copied a version of Jeremy’s knives. Just to get a feel for having proper orientation. Now I’ve moved on to designing my own knives. Jeremy’s been a huge inspiration all through lockdown. His vids changed my life in a positive way. Now I’m addicted to making knives. Jeremy I actually sent you pics of 2 of my knives I made. You’ll know it by the green handle and it looks like one of yours. lol. Imitation is the highest form of flattery.

[@oldguy3525]

more on designing knives, please

[@bradysorenson5234]

Good stuff Jeremy. After just under a year of making knives, I can relate (to some degree) with everything you said. At this point I have made about 30 knives but I have hundreds of drawings. I wish I were more organized but these sketches are everywhere. I started pasting the paper cutouts from knives I've made to one of my cabinets but so far only 11 have made the door. I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for your channel. You (and several others really shortened the learning curve for me. I've been working on a few build videos too. So far the photography is hideous, but I want to be able to provide some kind of build document for the persons who end up owning the knives. Anyhow, thank you.

[@anthonyclem107]

One day in woodshop class, we had free reign to make whatever we wanted... I just started messing around with a small piece of 1x2.... that piece of 1x2 has turned into a curve template ... It’s about 8 inches long. Has a slight double bubble... one longer than the other. The other side is my straight edge... that template has helped me fill about 50 pages of paper with designs

[@Butterflyknifes1]

Hello Jeremy. Im actually a knife designer. I lost my way of knife designing. I have roughly 300 knife designs & the inspiration is there in my head but my mind is blank nothing wants to come out. It's like if you're really excited to do something new & you don't know how to express it.... if you read this. it's okay if you don't want to answer you don't have to... Maybe in the future I will become a knife maker. It was always my passion to become one

[@hematophria3295]

There are plenty of ways you can get started. You can always send a design to a knife maker and start there.

[@garetkonigsfeld2]

I fell like for every knife design that gets made into a knife I draw a 100 designs. I also just wanted to say thanks and nice job. I received my sanding block from you last week. Really nice job on it it going to get a lot of use. Thank you.

[@gerryballuta]

Great video. Thank you. I really enjoy talking a pencil and a peace of paper and drawing knives. Probably one of my favorite things to do when I make knives. Drawing and making adjustments as I go is very exciting. I'll have and idea in my head at work or anytime of the day and will often draw it with my fingers in the air while visualizing what's in my head. Sounds weird but I can see it . Then I can't wait to find something to write with and start drawing a rough draft. Drawing knives and correcting the mistakes on paper is much more easy then correcting a mistakes on actually making a knives.

[@pvpv6969]

Great video. Ty

[@samhenderson2947]

Love that you do it analog.

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

Flexible rubber and wire drawing aids are great tools to clean up rough sketches .Kohinor makes some . Great video Jeremy.

[@SwitchbackXThunter]

I love your next video project!! Hopefully it’s very detailed in instruction! ☺️

[@nriyo3]

Jeremy this is a nice insight into design. I keep a small moleskin on my desk for when I want to draw something out. Cheers

[@petersommoura5119]

good explanation, I'm starting in the art of cutlery and for me it was a class worth hugs

[@Luiz_Alberto.P.K]

Really good vídeo.

[@Stefanhallusa]

@2:02 that’s my knife!! Use it daily🤘

[@PsychoticLucidity]

Great video man, such useful information and as you know it's very helpful when starting out, as for me I am very doubtful of stuff I draw. Thank you!

[@marciosantinelli]

Best Regards From Brazil !!!

[@pauldevey8628]

Great advise.

[@utubethebruce]

Great video! I agree with you. Your designs represent you, so make them original, even if you find out later it's already been done by someone on KZbin. 😆 Thanks for your share!

[@SKPhoto816]

Great video, for me drawing knives is very therapeutic. Loved the soundtrack on this and would like to know the artists

[@masoodamg6633]

Hello hope you're well. excellent . Your precision is very high. I also try to be exact like you.

[@Simplelittlelife]

Thank you so much! I hope you are well also.

[@usnclark]

I'm a new knife maker, about a dozen completed so far. I am all about taking inspiration from other makers, but my sketchbook is all just me, a pencil and maybe a ruler. Those are the only templates I put to steel and what make me feel good about saying I make knives. (edit after watching, I'm glad you make liberal use of the eraser as I do ;)

[@hootenknives153]

definitely somthing I struggle with. I'm not much of an artist for one and being in the knife community for a while it's hard not to be influenced. I actually find it easier to but by self in a box then design somthing inside of thqt

[@trainwon5699]

Well said thanks

[@nocturnes1386]

I’m here mostly to learn how to design knives and about knives, rather than doing so to make them, but as a writer, it’s also very useful in situations where you want to visualise the knife, personally if I saw a design and knew the basics of the materials and colour I’d be able to visualise it and also feel it in my hand even if I didn’t actually have it.

[@Digital_Guttersnipe]

Great vid! Started getting into designing my own knives, hoping to start making them soon. Kinda looking for some advice on the areas of pushing your abilities to get better while also staying within a zone where you're able to actually finish the project. How do you judge your equipment level and skill when you don't really have a baseline yet?

[@rokogrgurevic9220]

Great video I have been watching you for a year and what to thenk you for all the tips and tricks 😊

[@Simplelittlelife]

Thank you so much!

[@richardbranton190]

I had a master smith tell me once that if you could find it on a French curve it doesn't belong on a knife. I can't remember his name but he made some absolutely beautiful blades

[@THEAngryProjects]

You reminded me of the time when I was in college sitting in lectures and all I'm doing is drawing knifes and handguns in my sketchbook lol

[@1travis2]

Hey Jeremy! Just wanted to say I love the street scalpel design. It's my favorite fixed blade I own to date! Your build quality is great! Anyway I was wondering if you thought about touching on folding knives. I know its not your forte and you're still undecided on the Damascus folder but I'd like to hear your thoughts/ opinions on folders. ...... maybe a concept build vid ;) lol anyway thanks again for the video! Keep up the great content!!

[@EthanAdey]

I’m going to make a Bushcraft Balisong, full Steel SV35N

[@clapforboobies5892]

Very inspirational! Not drawing related but do you suggest a flexible machine light for the grinder? If so which one? Thanks!

[@dankissinger1969]

Thank you

[@omarsedano4301]

I super agree with you

[@sudo_nym]

I get the laudable sentiment, Jeremy, but a guy wanting to make his first knife wants to do the best he can, and often that starts with a knife he's seen 'in person' before. One that he has a notion of what it should look like. I can only speak for myself, but my first knife was a design I downloaded from Dave Comeau's blog. It turned out okay. I think if I had to design the thing as well, I might not have had the confidence in the design to actually start making sparks. Not a criticism, dude. Just my opinion. Others will have theirs. 🙏🏻

[@Simplelittlelife]

Yeah I hear you. I totally get that side for sure. Especially if they don’t have any real skill for drawing in general. I like the way you worded it to, wanting to do the best job they can. Well said, I agree 👍

[@sudo_nym]

@@Simplelittlelife Cheers buddy 🙏🏻

[@JohnFleshman]

After over a year and a half of no creating I am getting a list of materials together to make more knives. Ive made I think ten knives now and the itch is finally back.

[@krissteel4074]

Oh there's plenty of not easy things about log-splitter presses :) Mostly the sheer bulk of steel and the contact plate shapes seem to turn them into one of those things people tinker on for ages until it gets just right for them. Just make sure you anchor it down during the build as they can fall over and utterly destroy whatever or whoever is underneath them

[@LarsKiel]

🙏👍

[@derekmbrown85]

Just stumbled on this video. Have you ever done wooden versions of knives to create an exact dimensions, potentially even the same tools, with a cheaper medium?

[@misterdeluxia5948]

how long ago was the small neck knife with the finger cutout instead of a handle? must be a couple years now

[@josephdawson4517]

How do you draw a handle to fit your hand and be proportioned and comfortable in your hand? It's hard to tell what is comfortable on paper

[@Jimmy-iz2rx]

I am a graphic artist by trade so I tend to use software like InDesign to design blades. I then print them out and glue them to chipboard and cut them out so that I can get an idea of feel. That way I can save it and go back and tweak it if necessary. I can even save various iterations. As you talk about experience, one thing that comes to mind is that I designed and built my first knife and it works really well but when I went to put the first edge on it, I realized it doesn't fit my sharpener (blade is too small and narrow such that the stones hit the blade clamp before even reaching the edge). That's just I guess an experience thing that you learn by doing.

[@samhenderson2947]

You can do the same thing with a photocopier I guess

[@benraya9405]

So Jer, you entirely iterate different knives from knives you saw. And you dont get to recreate the original or get so influenced by the knife in question. Thanks for the bast concept on knife designing.

[@Simplelittlelife]

Thank you! I was hoping it kind of made sense👍

[@benraya9405]

@@Simplelittlelife probably I get it because I do it opposite as you. 🤔🤓 but if I may, I could send you some designs and tricks on the drawing

[@kennycampbelljr5896]

That Persian fighter looks like a Jason Knight knife.

[@Simplelittlelife]

Or like a Hoffman. It’s a very classic and (used to be) common design.

[@stanjepson2054]

how far should the pin hole be away from each other

[@toddfuss]

Hmmm🤔. See what you did? Seeing you leaf through your designs has my “addiction” starting again. 😂

[@Simplelittlelife]

Hahahaha!

[@raymosher2601]

1st

[@Simplelittlelife]

Woohoo!! 😆👍

[@sarapelletier7497]

Do you sell knives

[@steve.b.23]

Went a bit Columbo at the end. : )

[@Wul3X]

when i stated to design my own blades, at first they were awful, but after a few i understood what you are talking about givig your own knife designs... u apriciate a knife that u designed your self a lot more than the one u got of the internet... thank you for not giving us you designs it was the best thing u didnt do... if that makes any sence..

[@lazie7786]

really useful even im not a designer, lots of good information，thx∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿

[@Mrbigntall]

Your last ditch what....

[@Bruce-do7gg]

The background music. shut it off. it annoying.

[@Simplelittlelife]

The only thing annoying here is is your comment. Piss off and don’t come back.