Gabriel,

Personally, I much prefer a downward sloping handle, as in the top version. I feel that it offers better grip and use characteristics, better leverage, and I think it looks MUCH better than the symmetrical design below it.

One thing I notice about the first design is that the top "lug" (the upper extremity of the guard, above the handle) is that it seems to be quite short. It's hard to say what your scale is, but I'm guessing the finished knife isn't too much bigger than the design, maybe 1.5x, which would mean the upper lug is somewhere in the range of 1/4". When you consider the purpose of a guard, it is to protect the hand in one of two ways: 1) protect your hand from sliding forward onto the blade during a thrust, and to maintain positive control of the knife, and 2) to shield your hand from incoming damage, whether from another blade, or from incidental contact (e.g. while clearing brush, etc.). A short lug doesn't yield much protection in either case--wrap your hand around the handle of a knife and see how much lug you think will actually do the job for me.

Next, your clip is pretty long, extending nearly the full length of the blade. Some guys will tell you to follow the golden rule (2/3:1/3). Personally, I just go by eye and see whether it looks right. To my eye, I'd extend the spine a bit farther and shorten up that clip. Additionally, think about the purpose. A clip point is lighter and slimmer than the same point without the back edge, but you do sacrifice a bit of tip strength. So if you're going to be digging around with that point, you might consider beefing it up a bit.

All in all, I'd say both knives are well designed. I think your lines are clear and purposeful, and I really don't see anything objectively "wrong" with any of it.

Cheers,

Zack

Thanks for the feedback Zack. #1 is where I first started. #2 has the extended 1/8" thick guard and shortened clip. #3 has a shaped guard.

Very nice!

When you moved the clip, the geometry is wrong in the drawing. If you add a half inch to the handle length, you'll have a pretty and confortable knife. #3 with those changes. Very nice.

Gabe, I have to go with Lin. Number 3 looks good, but would be really nice with the half inch longer handle. The second knife in your post with the coffin? handle, would look really good with a spearpoint blade. Especially if the blade was an inch longer.

Good work and good looking knives.

Brion

Gabriel, what software are you using for designing the knives?

Thanks for the feedback. The top is the original design and the bottom the final version. I lengthened the spine to shorten the clip,used a symmetrical shaped guard,a narrower blade and lengthened the handle. I used Adobe Illustrator for the design.

Gabriel, that looks right on. That will make a really nice personal bowie or personal carry knife. Good work. Now we need to see the finished version.

Brion