- Joined
- Mar 28, 2001
- Messages
- 4,627
I've been looking for a good chopper lately for pruning back some trees on the back 20. I have a machete, hatchets, axes, chainsaws etc, but just wanted a piece I'd be willing to carry even at times I was not planning on chopping. I also wanted it to be a decent campsite chopper.
A couple of weekends ago my wife and I were at our favorite garage sale/antique store and I stubled on an old Universal LF&C fixed blade. At first I thought it was a big butchers knife that was broken at the tip but on closer inspection I think it was designed from the ground up as a field/chopping blade.
It was in pretty used condition (what can you expect for a 50+ year old knife), and for the modest $5 asking price I wasn't complaining.
Once I got the knife home I took it out and tested it, dull edge and all... it was a heck of a chopper!
Next was to do some refurbishing, problem was I was jonesing for a project but I only had one hand as my left was in the cast from carpal tunnel surgery... so no Micarta or any real in depth projects.
I decided to try out a combination of dense neoprene and cord wrap.
The knife was cleaned up on a scotch-brite belt, the neoprene was superglued on and then a double layer of paracord wrap was applied. Sealed everything up with several coats of epoxy.
So, it's no longer a classic, or even traditional but I figured I'd share it with you guys anyway...
Spec's:
3/16" thick blade is about 10" long, just over 15" OAL
Unknown carbon steel blade is differentially treated, dead soft at the spine
Oxpho-Blue finish
Tapered tang
Hand sharpened edge, semi convex, then polished
This things chops like nothing I've ever had before and absorbs shock like a champ. Once my hand gets better I'll be working on a sheath for it.
Well, enough jabbering here's the pics... (along with a gem from from Hoss aka Darrin Thomas)
Before:
After:
A couple of weekends ago my wife and I were at our favorite garage sale/antique store and I stubled on an old Universal LF&C fixed blade. At first I thought it was a big butchers knife that was broken at the tip but on closer inspection I think it was designed from the ground up as a field/chopping blade.
It was in pretty used condition (what can you expect for a 50+ year old knife), and for the modest $5 asking price I wasn't complaining.
Once I got the knife home I took it out and tested it, dull edge and all... it was a heck of a chopper!
Next was to do some refurbishing, problem was I was jonesing for a project but I only had one hand as my left was in the cast from carpal tunnel surgery... so no Micarta or any real in depth projects.
I decided to try out a combination of dense neoprene and cord wrap.
The knife was cleaned up on a scotch-brite belt, the neoprene was superglued on and then a double layer of paracord wrap was applied. Sealed everything up with several coats of epoxy.
So, it's no longer a classic, or even traditional but I figured I'd share it with you guys anyway...
Spec's:
3/16" thick blade is about 10" long, just over 15" OAL
Unknown carbon steel blade is differentially treated, dead soft at the spine
Oxpho-Blue finish
Tapered tang
Hand sharpened edge, semi convex, then polished
This things chops like nothing I've ever had before and absorbs shock like a champ. Once my hand gets better I'll be working on a sheath for it.
Well, enough jabbering here's the pics... (along with a gem from from Hoss aka Darrin Thomas)
Before:
After:
).