$50 chopper/camp knife

i would up the anti a bit to around 100 dollars and look around at companies like rat and ontario. Some great 12 inch knives out there specificly for your task.
 
cylvertip said:
GEDC0364.jpg
Click to expand...

Hey! Really great job on that! I like the wrap. I need to build up the end of the handle on mine like you did, it needs a bit of a knob or such for a more secure feel.

Talk to me about that mud flap. Where did you get that, and is it like kydex? Looks like you were able to mold it like kydex.

Great job! It's uniquely yours, it will do an awesome job as a camp knife/chopper, and it didn't cost much. :thumbup:

:)

Andy
 
I'll throw my 2 cents in for a short machete. A machete in the 10-15" range makes for one heck of a camp knife.

The suggestions about the Ka-Bar cutlass machete are on point as well. Those things are real workhorses. I'd take one of those over an Outcast any day of the week. D2 has no business in a chopper, IMO.
 
I'm just going to throw this out there; THIS (11-18-2008, 05:35 PM) was the last post until this morning, I think he's already got what he was looking for. If not, I suggest a KaBar USMC. :p
 
moonwilson said:
I'll throw my 2 cents in for a short machete. A machete in the 10-15" range makes for one heck of a camp knife.

The suggestions about the Ka-Bar cutlass machete are on point as well. Those things are real workhorses. I'd take one of those over an Outcast any day of the week. D2 has no business in a chopper, IMO.
Click to expand...

I've never heard of an Outcast chipping or breaking. :rolleyes: And I don't think machetes are good choppers, they too light and thin for that... They are excellent trail-clearing tools, though. :thumbup:
 
For a camp chopper my first choice would be a Himalayan Kukri (Ang Khola 15" or 18"). But at a cheaper price and with less weight I currently use a KA-BAR Kukri Machete. It has an 11.5" blade, but it is not really all that big (smaller than a lot of Machetes) and it does chop and baton pretty well.

IMG_8360s.jpg


IMG_8363s.jpg


IMG_8364s.jpg


IMG_8377s.jpg


This one cost me $46 and if I had this plus a $12 Mora and no other knives - I would consider myself fairly well equipped for whatever cutting/chopping I needed to do.
 
cylvertip said:
I took Andrew's idea and went a little different dirrection with it. I wanted a tip that I could potentially skin with, and left the longer handle for more power. I made a sheath from a thin mud guard I had on hand....
Click to expand...

i don't like modding any knife, BUT, i do like that mod...and i like that rustic-looking homemade sheath you made for it too (out of a mud flap; very resourceful idea)...might have to do one:thumbup:...
 
Andrew Colglazier said:
Hey! Really great job on that! I like the wrap. I need to build up the end of the handle on mine like you did, it needs a bit of a knob or such for a more secure feel.

Talk to me about that mud flap. Where did you get that, and is it like kydex? Looks like you were able to mold it like kydex.

Great job! It's uniquely yours, it will do an awesome job as a camp knife/chopper, and it didn't cost much. :thumbup:

:)

Andy
Click to expand...


I bought the set of mudflaps in 2001 for my truck, I think I paid $10 for the set. They are Groboski Long Life Duraflex Splash Guards. I did a little searching today and I see folks talking about Pep Boys having them for $8 a set.

I've never worked with kydex, but have messed with "flame molding" various plastics in the past forming sheaths and covers for various projects. I did look at some different kydex techniques on this site and others before doing this one. As you stated, seems to work up the same. I used a butane torch and it took the flame real well and didn't bubble or crack. Just used some quick clamps and 1x4 pine boards to help flatten it where I wanted. It molded around the handle very well and holds the chopper in place ( note, the end of the handle at the transition to the blade is symmetrical enough, and the sheath is wide enough, that the chopper goes in as shown in the pics or with the blade edge towards the rivets.) It does hold much firmer as shown.

I figure with $5 for one mudflap, $26 for the Brush cutter (with shipping) from Sears, and the other odds and ends, I've got less than $35 into it. It took me a total of about 3 1/2 hours into the entire project.

I used it for about an hour on Sunday chopping everything from basic brush to 6" diameter alder and 4" vine maple. It never lost it's edge and there was no visible change to the blade other than some missing camo ( the factory finish was unaffected). I had worked the modded edge (the cut was made with a dremel cut off wheel) with a couple of different files, then a diamond "stone" before finishing it with a Gatco ceramic. I have the edge skinning sharp and it seemed to stay that way through that hour of hard use.


Thanks again Andrew :thumbup:
 
bobby.t said:
I dunno, I might get flamed with a thousand examples to the contrary by guys with more big chopper experience than me, but I'd say on the balance you'd be better with a nicer knife and a cruder chopper.

Meaning at your budget, spend $43 on a decent folder (nice enough not to fall apart, but not some pricey $150+ knife you'll resist putting through hard use), and $7 for a Wal-Mart machete.
Click to expand...

I actually just got one of those Wally World machetes and there is literally no edge on it...have to hit it with the belt sander first.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top