Brut-de-Forge Chopper

Status
Not open for further replies.
After reading this little book by a Stanford Professor in Business and Engineering my perspective on many of my interactions with others changed. Maybe you should give it a read. Link

Kohai999 said:
You ever hunt? If you did, that movie didn't make as much of an impression as you think, huh?

I tend to get my lessons from people that know something about something, not cartoon rabbits created and drawn to elicit lasting impressions on small children.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...
 
PG5768 said:
After reading this little book by a Stanford Professor in Business and Engineering my perspective on many of my interactions with others changed. Maybe you should give it a read.
Click to expand...

I'm in sales and marketing....have been for 14 years....It's probably too late..but maybe I'll give it a read.....thanks for the tip.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
The title alone caught my attention. ;)

Yeah, I've been a Supervisor and Manager for almost 20 years and it changed my perspective a little bit. Not sure if it was beneficial to my career or not, though. Bought copies for all my subordinate Supervisors and my bosses. Most of them liked it, but I think my current boss was really offended. BTW: I'll be retiring in a couple weeks. :D

Kohai999 said:
I'm in sales and marketing....have been for 14 years....It's probably too late..but maybe I'll give it a read.....thanks for the tip.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Don't like it, the handle looks like an afterthought to me. I'm sure the HT and edge geometry are solid, but I didn't order it, so it doesn't have to please me.


-X
 
Good looking piece. Probably would have went with canvas micarta myself. But really dig the look of the blade.
 
Mink said:
Good looking piece. Probably would have went with canvas micarta myself. But really dig the look of the blade.
Click to expand...

burlap composite would look pretty sweet too.
 
I think just about anyone would have a smile on their face using it to clear brush. The scale left towards the edge would drive me crazy though. I guess there comes a time you have to decided to either leave it or grind through it and change your geometry.

I really appreciate knives that are actually meant to be used as the tools they are. Many of us have enough knives sitting in cases and drawers it is always nice to see one that will live its life actually cutting something.

Thanks for showing it :)
 
I opened this thread briefly yesterday - saw the knife - it didn't really float my boat (though Allen's work generally does) moved on to other things - came back this morning.... what the... ???

Thoughts on the knife:

Cleavers aren't really my general fave design, though Burt Foster has done a couple that I find appealing, they are by far the exception to the rule for me. This is no more than my personal preference, not a critique of the knife itself. As a pure chopper, they certainly work very well when done right.

Similarly, the handle material doesn't do it for me - but I understand that it was the customer's choice, and that is rather the point of a custom knife. Synthetics certainly make sense on a full tang working knife, but I would personally choose something not.... orange.

The one critique I would offer is that on a brut-de-forge piece, I think it preferable to a) have consistency in the forge texture from one side to the other (can't tell here), and b) to have that rough texture confined to the top third (spine side of the blade width) and not stray near the cutting edge as it does here.
 
Last edited:
Karda said:
Obviously there is a market, or Mr. Newberry wouldnt be making them.
H.I.'s similar design is so popular that we cannot keep enough in stock.
Click to expand...



I know it well.

Making a brut de forge knife with Joe Keeslar is one of my fondest 'coming of age' memories.

Owning that particular rough-finished Khukuri has been a joy. Sharpening the indispensable and aesthetically reprehensible 10.5" blade had me feeling like the 14yo me, back in the master's shop.

(wide, cheesy grin)

Hey, we are men, as such we should know that we would be lost without someone to truly love us when we are rough around the edges.


This looks like a sweet tool to me, Allen. Proud of what you're doing out there.
 
handle contours look very comfortable.
the abbreviated forged bolster is subtle, and I like it.
overall proportions and shape look purpose driven and efficient.
nice job!
 
It seems to have cooled off a bit in here. In light of that I would like to say thanks for the comments and constructive criticism. This is only my second Brut-de-Forge piece and it was actually the first one that I forged. And not unlike New Taft I had the chance to watch Joe Keeslar do his thing and have fond memories of it. Turns out a lot of folks get a little Brut-de-Forge inspiration from that. Plus, while many people aren't into the style I have enjoyed the two that I have made in the style and enjoyment is still one of the things that keeps me forging and grinding.
 
Well done Allen, in more ways than the knife. Personally, it is not to my taste, but it is what your customer wanted and I am sure they will be pleased. I agree with Roger about the forged texture, that one spot does stick out. You enjoyed making it, the customer will enjoy it, it shows you can make a range of things. Good job on an interesting piece.
Brion
 
Good stuff Allen

And please believe me when I say your knife was certainly not the problem here :)
 
I've made choppers with the same kind of profile, and will make more. I like that blade profile. :)

As someone who does pretty much only forge finishes, I'll point out that you want to be particularly careful with your hammer blows. You may want to dress your hammer face a bit, or watch how much angle you have while swinging it. There are a number of deeper marks from the edge of your hammer face near the lanyard hole. Forge finishes show the skill of the smith with a hammer. :)

I think my second forge-finished knife had more hammer marks than yours, though. :D
 
Storm Crow said:
As someone who does pretty much only forge finishes, I'll point out that you want to be particularly careful with your hammer blows. You may want to dress your hammer face a bit, or watch how much angle you have while swinging it. There are a number of deeper marks from the edge of your hammer face near the lanyard hole. Forge finishes show the skill of the smith with a hammer. :)
Click to expand...

That was actually done on purpose. I gave the rough area some texturing with a little hammer with sharp corners since I was using a normal bar of steel instead of farriers rasp and I don't have any texturing dies yet.
 
Allen Newberry said:
I just finished this one up and decided to snap a few photos before sending it off. It is about 15'' overall with a 10'' blade. The steel is 5160 and the handle material is orange/black G-10.

Click to expand...

As I obviously have an affinity for this style of blade;
(practically identical in size, length and construction)
DSC00358.jpg

(Trackers Forge Hudson Bay by Bob Alderman)

Aesthetics being a highly subjective matter, and irrelevant to a technical critique of a makers work, the choice of Orange/Black G10 for the scales is purely a customer driven requisite.

The scale attachment, contouring and fit/finish exhibit a fine attention to detail, the maker should be justifiably proud of his accomplishment in his first endeavor with this material.

I agree the forge scale at the edge does detract slightly, but this is not a major issue, and I'm certain does not affect performance, with the exception of a possible edge geometry change once sharpening has reached this area. (Most likely not for quite some time.) Alderman is an extremely accomplished smith, the forged(vs. ground)edge geometry exhibited on all his work I have attests to this. Experience is the key, and comes slowly.

The only criticism I would have would be the placement of what I assume to be a "forward lanyard hole" in front of the scales at the smallest crossection of the blade, creating a potential weak spot. I suspect this was also a customer request and will only state that I would prefer it were not there, if the knife were mine. And if it were to come up for sale, it would be a factor in my purchase decision.

Overall, I think it's a fine, purpose driven example of balancing sound knife construction techniques with customer considerations.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top