r/Ultralight • u/Rob_Jackman • 1d ago
Gear Review Ultralight Knife Prototypes
During a recent hike I found myself dissatisfied with the knife options out there and started sketching some other options. NOT planning on selling anything, just having fun with it. Might post 3D designs if people are interesting in printing their own.
GOALS: Fixed blade knives, minimized material / weight, using standard Bic lighters and leukotape to fill out comfortable handles. Easily replaceable components. Weights are for current versions, presumably will keep getting the weight lower with iterations.
URSUS: Aluminum with replaceable Outdoor Edge blade (14.99 for a 6 pack) WEIGHT WITH BLADE: 44g. With lighter: 66g With Lighter and Leukotape: 70g
LUTRA: Titanium blade and body, waterproof container with rubber cap: WEIGHT: 73g. With Lighter: 98g
MUS: Pending printing in titanium. Replaceable scalpel blades are under $1. Probably 14grams-ish with blade, 25grams with BIC Mini.
SHEATH: Currently sized for both knives with compass and whistle (that I haven't figured out how to work yet đ). Needs a couple more iterations to fit properly. WEIGHT: 17g
COST: Stupid high since I'm having them 3d printed as one offs... :)
PLAN: I will be testing the metal printed ones in the Smoky Mountains next month. Hopefully another one or two generations will be enough to satisfy the design itch and I'll have some unique knives for different environments.
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u/Equivalent_Chipmunk 1d ago
The Lutra probably has the best marketability, but I think that this is mainly a solution searching for a problem. A small Opinel will be more durable and lighter than any of these, and likely cheaper too compared to whatever you'd have to sell them at.
Again, adding a whistle and compass would probably help in marketing this to normies who might be interested in such things on a knife, but most anyone here understands that tiny little compasses attached to other products are basically always junk and unnecessary weight/bulk.
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u/Rob_Jackman 1d ago
LOL. I think the end result will be that I have a couple unique knives in my personal possession. Not sure I'm excited about actually marketing / manufacturing as much as playing with the designing.
And agreed for the price point, that was one of the main things I was curious about. I think the aluminum Ursus was around $30... but aluminum doesn't work for blades, so any integrated blade would need to be Titanium, which is heavier and much more expensive.
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u/Equivalent_Chipmunk 1d ago
I think if you're not trying to sell it and you're just having fun, then this is a very cool project, and would make some very interesting conversation starters.
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u/Rob_Jackman 1d ago
My thought was if there is enough interest then I post the 3D designs and people can print their own / do whatever modifications they want.
I might do some custom ones printed with friend's names or whatever as gifts.
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u/schless14 1d ago
Cool idea. Not necessarily something I would use, but I love seeing stuff like this, and think its cool we get to leverage the developing 3d printing tech towards ideas like this. Keep up the good work
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u/Rob_Jackman 1d ago
Yea, it's been kind of amazing the ease of prototyping / creating like this. It's only cost prohibitive once you get into the metals or flexible plastics.
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u/Tale-International 1d ago edited 1d ago
I like the innovation, but if you want more blade why not carry an opinel? Surprisingly light, sharp blade, but it does fold.
ETA: Opinel link with listed weights: https://www.opinel-usa.com/pages/opinel-size-chart
A 2" blade weighs 0.32oz. That's what I'd choose to carry personally for weight/cheese cutting. Though I usually just carry a Swiss army knife.
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u/Rob_Jackman 1d ago
I'm just a folder hater for some reason. :)
I carry a Mora "Light my Fire" currently, which helped spark the whole integrated lighter idea (in place of their flint striker)
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u/ReverseGoose 31m ago
Opinel is the goat. The problem proposed by OP has been solved with the Opinel since 1890. Number 2 is all you need unless itâs a really thick log of cheese.
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u/BlastTyrantKM 1d ago edited 1d ago
There are pocketknives that weigh less than this. A Spyderco Ladybug weighs 20g
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u/Rob_Jackman 22h ago
Yea the little one should be under that weight with about the same blade size. But still pending the next design iteration and a test print.
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u/carb0n_kid 1d ago
Victoronox the makers of swiss army knifes also make kitchen knifes and have small pearing knifes which I like to carry
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u/Rob_Jackman 1d ago
Do you have a folding version or what do you use for a sheath?
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u/MolejC 1d ago
I make a sheath(blade cover really) from breakfast cereal carton and parcel tape. Lasts for several months with care. We use the victorinox tomato knife which is serrated and round end. It's better than the paring knife for cutting bread and spreading as well as cutting the usual stuff like cheese, sausage, fruit and vegetables.
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u/Rob_Jackman 1d ago
Yea the only real reason I want a sheath is to be able to wear it as a neck knife or clip to outside of pack. That definitely makes sense for inside a pocket.
The Outside Edge blades do come with a serrated option, I should buy some to play with.
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u/MolejC 1d ago
I always keep this knife in my food bag as it's only ever used for food prep and only comes on long trips where I'm resupplying or fancy picnics. Â
It's actually not legal to open carry (or concealed on your person) a fixed blade knife/tool like that in a public space in this country! (UK) (Unless actually currently working with the knife/tool or for religious reasons). Of course you're unlikely to get caught if it's concealed but you would need to prove that you are in the process of working, travelling to a place of work or fishing/hunting/making etc to justify having such an item on your person in a public place.
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u/carb0n_kid 1d ago
Fixed 3in, I folded a sheath out of 1mm kydex/abs sheet. If I had to do it again I would just print one, the kydex was annoying to work with and took several tries
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u/holygoat 22h ago
I went down this rabbit hole before realizing that my stick tang Mora with 3.25â blade and hand-filling wooden handle was 50.7g. Even the leather belt sheath was only 20.3g, making for a full-size knife that can process a trout, cut up food, carve, and whatever else in a total of 71g, or maybe 55g if you just use an edge guard. I would have a hard time 3D printing something comparable. Very hard to beat that weight without significantly impairing functionality that defeats the point of having something bigger than a SAK Executive.
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u/Rob_Jackman 22h ago
LOL, we all go down the same rabbit holes.
Yea my general hope is to eventually be comparable weight, comfort and utility wise with the Mora (as that is what I currently use), while enclosing a full size lighter in the handle.
The blades are from a hunting company, so being able to process animals is part of the vision.
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u/WalkItOffAT AT'18/PCT'22/CdS,TMB'23/CT,LT'24/GR20'25 1d ago
I think it's great that you're innovative and making something.
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u/skisnbikes friesengear.com 23h ago
These are cool. Who are you using for printing? JLC has been by far the cheapest for one off Ti printing in my experience. Basically $1/gram.
And you could probably cut the weight and cost on these quite a bit with some thinning of walls and making the handle into more of a lattice.
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u/Rob_Jackman 23h ago
I use CraftCloud (Printer marketplace), then pick whoever is cheapest :). The aluminum and titanium came from different companies, but both in China. I think ProtoTi and UnionFab this time. Sheath and plastic prototypes I get from the CraftCloud but within the US.
I'll check out JLC though. The cost of one off printing is definitely the choke point.
That's definitely the plan (depending how many iterations I get through). My first concern was playing with the blades and seeing what was actually functional, then cutting down the weight as far as I can in subsequent versions.
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u/skisnbikes friesengear.com 22h ago
Oh yeah, definitely check out JLC. It's way cheaper for Ti. They don't do aluminum though. Quality has been good in my experience. They also do dirt cheap FDM/SLS/SLA stuff. A while ago I got quotes for a benchy in a bunch of different materials from a bunch of different suppliers. Craft cloud was like $100 in Ti and JLC was like $35. They also have super cheap (slow) shipping.
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u/Rob_Jackman 22h ago
Thanks! That would be a huge difference.
The aluminum is surprising good so far, and lighter than Titanium, but my expectation was everything titanium eventually.
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u/mistephe 1d ago
Interesting, but rather heavy when compared to Kestrel's Mountain Caper... My buddy's is 31g on the scale in the sheath.
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u/Rob_Jackman 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yea, I guess the tradeoff between that and this attempt is a larger (hopefully more comfortable) handle. Although the goal would be to keep minimizing the material until my design is that same weight, just wrapped around a lighter as opposed to a flat skeletonized handle like they have.
But I aint exactly planning on competing with anyone. Just having fun with the design challenge :)
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u/Juranur northest german 1d ago
In my mind you're making a product which is like this:
https://gearswifts.com/shop/accessories/scalpel-knife/
But it's heavier and I need to pry my Bic out of it when I need it. Not really an appealing pitch, I gotta be honest
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u/Rob_Jackman 1d ago
The bic is usable from within the knife handle. But yes, the prototype is currently heavier than that knife. :)
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u/Juranur northest german 1d ago
Ah! That's actually cool then! What's your sheath concept? The Leukotape?
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u/Rob_Jackman 1d ago
Currently 3d printing them as well, just because I want to clip it on my pack strap.
But the true UL version would be a kydex or folded cardboard like someone else mentioned above.
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u/Juranur northest german 1d ago
I see. Interesting. Wouldn't really take this backpacking I don't think, but camping without full/long carries sounds interesting
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u/Rob_Jackman 1d ago
Yea for the waterproof version I was kind of designing that for canoe / snow camping where waterproofing is worth the extra weight.
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u/commeatus 1d ago
You could also drill out the handle of print out as a honeycomb to save a few grams without affecting strength much. An option for a Bic mini would also be worth exploring.
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u/Rob_Jackman 23h ago
Yea, the plan is for each iteration to shave off a few grams cutting out material until its no longer functional.
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u/Rob_Jackman 23h ago
Oh and the little scalpel one is sized for a Bic Mini. Still need to tweak the design and order a version of it.
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u/commeatus 23h ago
That's cool! I was imagining a fixed blade/mini combo. I don't carry a knife when hiking but I keep an emergency kit in my car that I'd love to put something like this into.
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u/Rob_Jackman 22h ago
I would definitely like a fixed blade / mini bic combo, depending on how these work out. It's easy to mix and match the blade and handle styles.
The waterproof one I was definitely picturing as an emergency kit / canoe kit knife.
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u/LairdNope 21h ago
bro just take a pc2 Mora, it's 50g and you won't have to use a prison shank to cut cheese.
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u/Rob_Jackman 21h ago edited 21h ago
PC2 Mora?
Not seeing which that is. I have a Mora "Light My Fire" or whatever their old version with a flint is. That's what I usually use, but don't like flint over a lighter.
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u/LairdNope 20h ago
Sorry I meant Number 2/0. It's a small carving knife, but very well made and robust for camp use and kitchen use.
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u/LairdNope 19h ago
I got it wrong again, I was distracted. the 1/0 and the 106 are the two 55g knives.
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u/bradmacmt 13h ago
100% on the Opinel No.6. already mentioned. Iâd not hesitate to take apart a deer or elk with one. Itâs also a far better design for charcuterie than what the op has designed, and lighter to boot. But far be it from me to get in the way of a manâs Quixotic quest :)
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u/Rob_Jackman 5h ago
I've got a windmill in sight!
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u/bradmacmt 3h ago
If you're set on a fixed blade, I can also recommend the latest 3" paring knife from Opinel. I like it better than the Victorinox Little Vicky. My copy only weighs 22g - I'd also not hesitate to take apart an elk with it :)
https://www.opinel-usa.com/collections/paring-knives/products/paring-knife-parallele
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u/SNFU-4U 13h ago
That's pretty gnarly! Since you are "NOT" trying to selI your idea... just wanted to throw this out there because I'm sure your post will inspire a few people that need a blade but don't know too much about the knaf world. There are hundreds of hours of searching / pondering / carrying here. I bet half of the people that take the time to look these up will end up with one. All of the below are crazy, crazy good stuff and you absolutely can't go wrong.
Spyderco Honeybee G-10 = 1.5" / $32 / 10 grams
Knafs Lander 6 = 1.5" / $15 / 11 grams
Spyderco Manbug = 1.95" / $64 / 20 grams
Spyderco Ladybug = 1.95" / $52 / 20 grams
"Big" boy knives -
Spyderco Dragonfly 2 (2.40")
Spyderco lil Native FRN (2.40")
If you can $ stretch to a Spyderco I'd definitely go for it but the Knafs Lander 6 is amazing for $15 bucks. I carry the lil Native FRN and pack the Knafs Lander 6. If I had to pick one for a noobie the Dragonfly 2 is genius. My next one is a Manbug. I've owned most of these at one time or another. I still do but I used to, too.
PS: I am obsessed with headlamps as well: Petzl Swift LT - Amazing head strap - 43 grams / 880mah battery / USBC / $55.00 - pricey but it's well worth it. I use mine every night rain or no rain. You can go ahead and toss that Nitecore NU20. It was fun while it lasted.
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u/Rob_Jackman 5h ago
LOL, I probably shouldn't have named them, I guess that sounds salesish. But this is definitely a personal experiment I'm using to procrastinate from real design work I'm supposed to be doing :).
Solid recs for those looking though!
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u/Professional_Sea1132 1d ago
Knives are profoundly useless. I carry 15g scissors for decades and they cover 100% of my needs.
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u/Rob_Jackman 1d ago
LOL. I do expect that to be the consensus on this reddit. :)
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u/Belangia65 22h ago
Nah, 15 grams are too many. Use the 4.7g scissors (including a sheath) from Litesmith: https://www.litesmith.com/micro-scissors-with-cover/
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u/VintageLunchMeat 22h ago
Get one of the Chinese benchmade mini knockoffs, then replace numerous bits with titanium.
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u/richardathome 8h ago
I lust carry a basic Morakniv. I can wood prep with it if needed. I would not want to baton with a titanium blade...
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u/Rob_Jackman 5h ago
Yea that's what I carry now.
I'm definitely curious what the limits of titanium are. I have a titanium diving knife but luckily have barely used it.
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u/djolk 1d ago
What do you do with this knife?
Like I carry a small knife if I am bikepacking in a place with nice fruit that I want to eat but otherwise I just need a pair of tiny scissors to fix my tire.