2021 KITH Ideas

[Alex Middleton]

I saw KITH mentioned on a different thread, and realized that nobody had started a thread for discussing this year's theme.  I'm still bummed that I wasn't able to participate last year, and I'm really looking forward to this year.   @Alan Longmire, we may need a new forum.

 

I'll kick it off with two suggestions:

 

1. Shop tools.  This has come up the last couple of years, and I really think it could be fun.  Could be woodworking, leatherworking, forging, or some other sort of custom made tool.  Doesn't necessarily have to be a knife per se, but something that takes some of the same skills to produce and would be beneficial for the knifemaking process.

 

2. Design by committee.  Build a knife to a specific set of parameters, predetermined by the board members, with your own special flair of course.  (Not a three hour challenge! )

[Alan Longmire]

I'll set it up!  The KITH 2021 subforum, not the actual KITH. 

[Cory LA]

I'm fairly new to the addiction and not any where as skilled as many on the forum. That said, I'd like to join the KITH if it ends up being something I think I have a chance at accomplishing. Design by committee sounds like an interesting option.

[Conner Michaux]

Shop tools sound like a great idea ! 

 

[Alex Middleton]

Don't be shy Cory.  The whole point of these KITHs is to force yourself outside of your comfort zone and try something you've never done before.  It's not necessarily about the blade itself, but more about the journey behind it.  My work doesn't hold a candle to some of these guys either, but nobody's ever complained......

[Joshua States]

Either one sounds good to me. If the "design by committee"  gets selected, I would venture a suggestion for forming the committee, rather than ask the BOD to set specs.

Start a thread with a sign up sheet and have Dr, King draw 4 names out of the sorting hat. That's the committee to draft the specs.

[Bob Ouellette]

What about have a specified starting dimensions? Everyone starts with the same size material and does the best they can in whatever style they choose.

[Adam Weller]

I like the specific starting dimensions idea... Reminds me of the 150mm challenge that has run through the blacksmithing world. (Basically you start with a 150x20x20mm piece of metal and make whatever you can. #150mmchallenge on IG)

[billyO]

4 hours ago, Adam Weller said:

Reminds me of the 150mm challenge that has run through the blacksmithing world.

My thought exactly....

[Joshua States]

I have entered a 1 cubic inch blade smith's challenge, after discussing it with a notable smith (MP) who posted it on the ABS forum.

Make a blade from 1 cubic inch of steel. Design the knife to fit. The starting piece of steel can be any dimensions as long as the total volume is 1 cubic inch.

Edited January 16, 2021 by Joshua States

[Geoff Keyes]

I do the 1 cubic inch thing as a demo.  It's a lot of fun.

Geoff

 

[Bob Ouellette]

1 cubic inch sounds pretty small. Maybe 2 cubic inches sounds good though.

[steven smith]

what about a miniature knife? they can be pretty simple but get very tricky with a bit of detail. 

 

you could do a miniature set if one knife isnt enough, ive done a mini knife with a mini belt and sheath that could have been worn as a bracelet if the belt wasnt sized for a 12" G.I.JOE. and ive been wanting to do a kitchen knife with a cutting board in 1/4 scale. ive made a miniature multibar seax by forgewelding little tiny PW bars together, its hard to see what the patterns are because the twist bars got stretched but it works. 

 

its hard to get the proportions right on a miniature, if you get them wrong it will look like a goofy toy.

[Bruno]

Bummed about being out last year myself.   I like the shop tool idea.  A tool, or small tool set would be cool.   Like a set of wood or steel chisels, or a nice pair of tongs, hammer or something.  Sounds cool.

 

The knife by steel dimension is also a cool idea.   If I may offer some ideas:

 

1) I've never done a folder.  Something like a lock back would be cool.  I like butterfly's too.

2) What if you take the 1x1" challenge and turn it into something like ,  everyone make a piece of 1x1 or 2x2 or whatever damascus, then send to the other guy to make a knife from for themselves?

3) A Spear.  Popular lately.

4) Pick 1 style of knife.    Have everyone make the same thing.  See how close everyone gets to the looks and dimensions.  Make a knife, and get the same knife in return.

5) Still leaning toward the tool idea.  Everyone can make their own favorite knife related making tool.

6)  Something weird.   Something different like a chakram or them strangely shaped Chinese martial arts blades. 

 

Just some ideas.

 

 

 

Edited January 16, 2021 by Bruno

[Jaron Martindale]

I'm excited to hopefully participate in this year's KITH!  I watched in awe and anticipation this last year as everyone's projects came together.

I really like both ideas, but I think I lean towards same starting stock for a knife, personally.  I'm not much for tool making,but maybe that means I should be stretched into building tools?   I'm just excited to participate either way!

[Pieter-Paul Derks]

I'd love to participate in a KITH again, I hope this year I will have a bit more time to work on these kind of fun projects.

I like the 1'' starting stock idea the most, I think giving everyone freedom over their designs makes for the most fun and diverse entries.

 

 

[Gary LT]

I like KITH, always participating when I could. We always allow enough time to get it done and if life gets in the way, anyone can withdraw early enough.

I can always use tools we can craft with.

However, what I need or want may not be the same as whoever draws my name and vice versa. That being said, I know if we chose tools, I’d look back and say, dang I should have made this/these for myself! 

I do like the 1” cubic idea thanks @Geoff Keyesand @Joshua States. Especially if all dimensions add up to 1 cube but I can start with a simple 1” cube if I can find or make the material.......either way. I am sure this is enough material to build a workable knife. I just made two using only .50 cubic inches each.

 

Gary LT

[Geoff Keyes]

I'm not saying that this is what we should do, but I'm in love with this stuff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Brian Dougherty]

The fixed volume idea is intriguing to me.

 

This probably wouldn't be practical, but I think it would be fun if everyone started out with  a 1.5" ball bearing (the ball, not a race).  To see the diversity that would come out of the exact same starting stock would be pretty neat.

[Bob Ouellette]

4 hours ago, Brian Dougherty said:

The fixed volume idea is intriguing to me.

 

This probably wouldn't be practical, but I think it would be fun if everyone started out with  a 1.5" ball bearing (the ball, not a race).  To see the diversity that would come out of the exact same starting stock would be pretty neat.

 

I think that would be difficult for anyone without a power hammer 

[Brian Dougherty]

11 minutes ago, Bob Ouellette said:

 

I think that would be difficult for anyone without a power hammer 

Ahh, that is a fair point...

[Joshua States]

On 1/16/2021 at 7:33 AM, Bob Ouellette said:

1 cubic inch sounds pretty small. Maybe 2 cubic inches sounds good though.

One of the challenges with KITH is the international perspective, as well as the multi-state domestic law problems with fixed blades above a certain size.

Just as an example of what 1 cubic inch can become. Starting piece of scrap 1095 was about 3" long, 1.125" wide and 3/8" thick at one end, 1/4" thick at the other.

This is a full tang design, so there is a lot of mass used for the handle area that could have been pushed into a much larger blade with a stub tang.

 

[Bob Ouellette]

38 minutes ago, Joshua States said:

One of the challenges with KITH is the international perspective, as well as the multi-state domestic law problems with fixed blades above a certain size.

Just as an example of what 1 cubic inch can become. Starting piece of scrap 1095 was about 3" long, 1.125" wide and 3/8" thick at one end, 1/4" thick at the other.

This is a full tang design, so there is a lot of mass used for the handle area that could have been pushed into a much larger blade with a stub tang.

 

I've been out of the knife world for a while. I never considered international trading issues.

[Robert D.]

I like the " Design by committee " option. The idea of using specific mass of steel to make the blade is a good one as well.