- Joined
- Jun 15, 2003
- Messages
- 1,500
Or worth the trouble? What do you say when someone asks you to make them one?
Hello all,
I've gotten 3 requests to do a knife with sawteeth this past week alone. I've done them in the past (on my version of the jet pilots survival knfe), and they were a royal PITA to cut. I swore I'd never do them again like that. I copied the square-ish straight tooth design with no set. They cut about as good as the original- which is not good at all. Didn't get a chance to try them out on a downed aircraft, so I'm not sure if they'd of worked or not. I do know they're Not good for wood, and so-so on heavy plastic (scratch one rubbermade tote).
The guys who are asking are all hunters too. One wants it for wood and bone, and the others for bone only. Specifically, they want to cut the breast bone of a white tail deer during field dressing. Personally, I carry Spyderco Spydersaw, and it does a great job. I passed this on to them, but they want a saw backed knife that'll do the job. I said I'd try, but wouldn't make one unless it was economical to do, and it worked.
Has anybody here made, or has seen a knife which could do this effectively?
Here's what I know already:
A knife is thick in relation to a saw. Getting it to cut well-That's gonna be a challenge in itself.
The teeth must have a set so they can be self clearing, and clear a path for the rest of the blade.
Each tooth must have a back clearance ground onto it, so it doesn't drag.
The pitch (TPI) will have to be somewhat low so it doesn't gum up, particularly when cutting bone, but not so low that its constantly snagging. In addition, the entire saw edge is only going to be 3"-4" long.
The rest of the knife will have to be designed to be useable rightside up or upside down. A good grip with a widened pommel is a must.
I want the saw to cut when pulling, not pushing. Better to slip off it then onto it.
Helluva challenge. Any ideas?
Thank you,
Scott
Hello all,
I've gotten 3 requests to do a knife with sawteeth this past week alone. I've done them in the past (on my version of the jet pilots survival knfe), and they were a royal PITA to cut. I swore I'd never do them again like that. I copied the square-ish straight tooth design with no set. They cut about as good as the original- which is not good at all. Didn't get a chance to try them out on a downed aircraft, so I'm not sure if they'd of worked or not. I do know they're Not good for wood, and so-so on heavy plastic (scratch one rubbermade tote).
The guys who are asking are all hunters too. One wants it for wood and bone, and the others for bone only. Specifically, they want to cut the breast bone of a white tail deer during field dressing. Personally, I carry Spyderco Spydersaw, and it does a great job. I passed this on to them, but they want a saw backed knife that'll do the job. I said I'd try, but wouldn't make one unless it was economical to do, and it worked.
Has anybody here made, or has seen a knife which could do this effectively?
Here's what I know already:
A knife is thick in relation to a saw. Getting it to cut well-That's gonna be a challenge in itself.
The teeth must have a set so they can be self clearing, and clear a path for the rest of the blade.
Each tooth must have a back clearance ground onto it, so it doesn't drag.
The pitch (TPI) will have to be somewhat low so it doesn't gum up, particularly when cutting bone, but not so low that its constantly snagging. In addition, the entire saw edge is only going to be 3"-4" long.
The rest of the knife will have to be designed to be useable rightside up or upside down. A good grip with a widened pommel is a must.
I want the saw to cut when pulling, not pushing. Better to slip off it then onto it.
Helluva challenge. Any ideas?
Thank you,
Scott
and still call yourself a knife maker 