A Day in the Life...

Lorien

Nose to the Grindstone
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Dec 5, 2005
Messages
28,402
...of a trail building knife!

The SaVaGe LaMeY ChOpPeR, strikes again.

It's been quite some time since I got this knife;

Lamey9.jpg

(these pics were taken several years ago)
Lameyknife6.jpg


in fact, I think it was the first forged knife I sought out and bought. I paid good money for it, about $600, but after I bought it and used it a bit, I found was not THE knife I really wanted.

**********************

Once I got er home and started using the SLC, I found that it was just TOO heavy for what I wanted this type of knife for. In fact, I've tried to sell this knife several times here in the classifieds over the past 4 or so years I've had it. Thankfully, no one seized the opportunity and as a result the SLC remains a part of my trail tool arsenal.

**********************

Fast forward to the present- I have since acquired some new knives. Knives more suited for my uses which is not simply chopping logs in half, but more for brushing and trail clearing. They are lighter and nimbler than the SLC, easier to swing and to carry. In fact the ole SLC has been collecting dust as of late.

However, during last Thursday night's mountain bike ride, I came across a very irritating obstacle to the flow of the trail. You can see this obstacle if you click the following link and watch the video. *please take note that there is a little foul language in the video so if you're sensitive to that kind of thing you might want to turn the volume down;


http://www.pinkbike.com/video/147819/

***************************

Today I had some free time to get out on foot, and it was my goal to get to this log and remove it.

The problem; what to use? I want to travel fast and light, therefore a chainsaw was not practical. A bow saw is too unwieldy as I spent a good portion of time off trail, an axe was also more than I wanted to carry, and I didn't think any of my knives were burly and heavy enough to take on this task...

Oh wait, I still have the SaVaGe LaMeY ChOpPeR!

This douglas fir is daunting- seasoned, big and not at all rotten. One of the toughest trees in the forest, it's hard if not impossible to even drive a nail into this wood.

Where will the story lead?

IMG_3939.jpg


Stay tuned...
 
as you might expect, my arm is getting a little tired. Time to stretch out and get the focus back;

IMG_3944.jpg


IMG_3943.jpg


click on the following pic for video. Sorry I filmed it sideways:o

 
Watched the mountain bike video. YOU ARE A FREAKIN MADMAN! Looks like a blast.

Did you get through the log in one day?
 
let's get this parting started
IMG_3940.jpg


to get to this point probably took half an hour. This is where I took a break for an arm stretch, knife throwing session
IMG_3941.jpg


IMG_3948.jpg


Doh! Forgot my undercut, (slaps self in forehead). Log collapses, still a tiny chunk of wood holding it together that I can't get at. Can't twist the log either, cuz it's still attached a bit at the one end, guess I better head on over there...
IMG_3949.jpg


gotta trim the end where the tree broke off. Verrrrry springy this stuff, tough to get at too.
IMG_3951.jpg


your ass is mine!
IMG_3952.jpg


trophy shot
IMG_3953.jpg


and would you look at that edge. Holy moly, what a great heat treatment. The knife sings, if you know what I mean.
IMG_3954.jpg


if it had antlers, they'd be attached to my pack. But I was able to manhandle this log off the trail and into a nice patch of sunlight, so at least I got a pretty picture, if no antlers.
IMG_3955.jpg


Blockage removed!
IMG_3956.jpg
 
See you on the trail!
:)

IMG_3957.jpg
 
Seeing the little sandpaper patch's on the handle brought this one back to memory.

Sweet Blade ! :thumbup:


Crazy video! I love that helmet-cam ! You are indeed nuts on that bike :eek: ..... a madman. In a good way ;) :D

I love my mtn. bike but would probably end up in traction riding with you :o



:cool:
 
I realize pragmatism is NOT your forte', but one of these would be done with that cutting task in a few minutes:
http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/page.aspx?p=44171&cat=2,42706,40721

Actually, you'd be surprised at how pragmatic I can be.

I do have one of those saws and have for years, however, I enjoy entertaining seasoned forumites and newbs to custom knives alike with this type of 'test' or review of a custom knife, and using one of those saws would mean that threads like this from me would not exist. Or that they'd be boring or that I'd have to post them on some 'saw enthusiast's' forum.

But I am no saw enthusiast.

To those of you that believe that there is a better tool for the job, just sit back and enjoy.
I know there is almost always a better tool, but let me leave you with this- nothing can do as many different types of jobs for what I do than a big knife. The point is, this is a knife which will go through a 12" diameter doug fir with zero damage to the tool. Now you know, and so do I.
 
Lorien That was Cool your biking and chopping skills are top notch. Did you stop for lunch in the middle of that job
 
thank you Dave:)
As for lunch, nope- I waited til I was done.

Oh, and I just have to add that I only have one blister on my hand and it's where my thumb was rubbing on the grip tape that I stuck on the handle.
Matt Lamey's handles are pretty freakin awesome, I have to say. That's a guy who obviously gets out there and uses his knives, you can tell by how well formed his handles are.
 
Lorien - If you do make it to Blade, you should check out the "Cutting Competition". The series of cutting tasks and the skill involved is pretty amazing! It is very interesting to see the knives used for that.

I first carried a folding pruning saw in my CamelBack for trail clearing while mountain biking, and it worked fairly well. The "buck" saw is FAR more capable than the folding saw for the thick stuff. Back in the 4-wheelin' days, weapon of choice was a machete and an ax.

As much as I love knives, they are totally ineffective for harvesting burls, which is what I mostly use a saw for these days.

As they say...."different strokes for different folks"!

Regards,
Peter
 
Lorien,
That is a great review on Matt's knife. This shows the value of a knife as a survival tool. Thanks for sharing that and congratulations to Matt! :thumbup: Lin
 
They ought to make THIS an event in the cutting comps. 2 by 4s are for sissies. :p

Roger
 
that would make for a LOOOOONG comp, my friend:D
 
Thanks for all the showing and telling :thumbup: Great performance of you and your Lamey knife :thumbup:

Mohd.
 
Lorien, You' a crazy man, on a bike and with a chopper. It was fun riding with you, geaze, my adrenaline is still pumping.
 
Lorien my friend you have some great choppers and this Lamey is awesome

love your stuff keep rolling and chopping buddy
 
Back
Top