A2 and Koa Chopper

i4Marc

i4Marc

Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
5,030
This was another one plucked by a great client from my Instagram feed as I was building it. The spacers and handle were chosen to match another of my knives the client already has (link below). I finished this one last week but wanted to wait until Coop had his way with it. Comments welcomed.

Blade Steel: A2 Tool Steel, finished to 1200X
Blade Length: 10 & 1/2" to the guard, 10" edge
Guard: 416SS with black G10 and copper spacers
Handle: Stabilized Koa with Copper pin
OAL: 15 & 7/8"
Sheath: Hand stitched leather with pig skin lining and custom belt stud

Made to match this one:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/5160-hunter.1447230/

Quick video here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ffrRuDQnf/

Coop's Shots
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Additional details
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I think that's a beautiful piece. Shock cord strap is a great idea, also. It's easy to critique somebody else's work and come in with fresh eyes.

Absolutely nothing wrong with it at all, but one very minor detail I think I would add (were it my project, again personal preference and you asked :)), I would put a small piece of leather around the shock cord near the stud. Just a small piece to keep the cord together and give it a tiny bit of refinement. I can't think of anything else. Nice work.

Sam :thumbsup:
 
Thank you very much, gentlemen.

Sam, The client decided against a strap to keep things simple. But there was an inquiry about whether the knife would be secure in the sheath without a strap. I assured him it would be, and in fact it is. You can shake the sheath upside down and the knife will not fall out. The fit is exact. However just for visual interest and a little insurance I chose to add this particular solution for a strap. The reasons were as follows. It is removable if the client doesn't want it. It's easily replaceable if it becomes damaged. Unlike a leather strap that always wants to hang in the path of the blade this will swivel and hang out of the way without tendency to get in the way. It uses the stud as the closure which keeps it very simple. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
 
Absolutely gorgeous knife, your leather work is fantastic.
 
Yes of course, I agree with all of that. I have been using shock cord for that purpose (the purpose being that the keeper straps fly out of the way when the strap is deployed) for years, and it is very effective. What I meant was a small piece of leather wrapped around the shock cord right above the stud, to keep the two pieces together neat and tidy, and for 'visual interest,' as you put it.

Regardless, just a small thought I had when looking at it. It certainly lacks nothing. Very well done.

Sam :thumbsup:



i4Marc said:
Thank you very much, gentlemen.

Sam, The client decided against a strap to keep things simple. But there was an inquiry about whether the knife would be secure in the sheath without a strap. I assured him it would be, and in fact it is. You can shake the sheath upside down and the knife will not fall out. The fit is exact. However just for visual interest and a little insurance I chose to add this particular solution for a strap. The reasons were as follows. It is removable if the client doesn't want it. It's easily replaceable if it becomes damaged. Unlike a leather strap that always wants to hang in the path of the blade this will swivel and hang out of the way without tendency to get in the way. It uses the stud as the closure which keeps it very simple. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Click to expand...
 
i4Marc said:
Thank you very much, gentlemen.

Sam, The client decided against a strap to keep things simple. But there was an inquiry about whether the knife would be secure in the sheath without a strap. I assured him it would be, and in fact it is. You can shake the sheath upside down and the knife will not fall out. The fit is exact. However just for visual interest and a little insurance I chose to add this particular solution for a strap. The reasons were as follows. It is removable if the client doesn't want it. It's easily replaceable if it becomes damaged. Unlike a leather strap that always wants to hang in the path of the blade this will swivel and hang out of the way without tendency to get in the way. It uses the stud as the closure which keeps it very simple. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Click to expand...

About as clean a knife/sheath/case package as one could expect to come across. Fit/finish seems impeccable.

As far as a tie-downs go; I never ever really understood the need for one for a quality custom sheath/knife, other than aesthetics. I've owned hundreds over the years and can't ever remember one that I couldn't turn upside down where there would be the slightest risk of the knife falling out of the sheath. Now I've had a few so tight where one would risk getting a hernia trying to remove the knife from the sheath, but they typically loosened a "little" over time/use.
 
I LOVED this project. Absolutely pristine work by Marc. Every attention to detail was intentional and accomplished.

He made ME work hard to keep up. Damn him! ;)

I look forward to your posts even more now! :thumbsup:
 
Thanks Coop. You're too kind but I know you didn't even break a sweat. :p Thank you for making my little duckling look like a swan. :thumbsup:
 
I watched this being made on IG. Meticulous work as always. The handle looks super comfortable and ergonomic not to mention beautiful. Everything goes together perfectly. Really a fantastic package.
 
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