Buffalo Chopper

ScottRoush

ScottRoush

Joined
Jan 10, 2010
Messages
1,818
I've been seeing a lot of this style of chopper lately and wanted to try the profile out with a stock removal blade of 1/8" Admiral 1075/1080 to see if I wanted to forge one from my other stock for a heavier blade. I ended up forging this one a bit anyway.. to get some recurve in the blade and curvature in the handle... and the forge marks! But it is basically 1/8" for most of it's length. 9" blade, 2" wide at the waist of the recurve..... a bit wider towards the tip.

I had the knife 99% done before heat treat and clayed the blade with satanite. This was my first time using a thermocouple in my blown vertical forge and was able to nail the target 1500 ... which I'm thinking offered me up this complex hamon. It would have been nicer towards the ricasso but it looks like some heat got sucked out there. But I'm very pleased with this and am looking forward to doing more of this.... I like the idea of thin, light weight.. but wide choppers with cool hamons.

The handle material is domestic water buffalo from Thailand. I friend of mine sent me a whole box of it. I haven't seen many knives that utilize the outer bark of it... but it sure does provide nice hand-feel and grip.

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The blade isn't sharpened yet... so you can see how I'm leaving the edge a little thicker in the section of the blade that will receive the most attention when chopping.

buff_chopper5.jpg
 
Nice. Many choppers have the same thickness for the entire length of the edge. Your approach makes sense. Adds some weight towards the sweet spot as well.
So, that's the natural texture of the water buffalo horn? It looks like intentional grooves or file lines.
 
Thanks... No that is completely natural. I just sanded a bit with 1000, filed the edges down and buffed after some oil.

(your dashi is on the way!)
 
by the way... I will have this at the Badger knife show next week. I don't have a table.. but I will be walking around brandishing it.
 
This piece makes me want to go out and chop something.
I really like the buffalo horn.
Like your image and the color in your background as well.
 
Son, you nailed that one. Makes me want to try something similar.

That handle material looks like it would give a great grip.

Robert
 
:eek:That's Sweet!! that Water Buffalo looks great. Must be a light/fast Chopper:thumbup:
 
I love this kind of knife, man, well done! That certainly would see a lot of use if I lived where I am planning to in the future. Hopefully one day I can own as beautiful a knife as this. Good job!

Kaleb
 
thanks a lot folks....

Since I don't yet have a buyer and I only have one side of the blade finished, I'm taking this sucker to the woods today.
 
You know Scott, if you keep testing your new knives around your place you will soon live in a treeless wastland! Don't get carried away!!!

Enjoy, I like your style!!!

Steve
--------
Potomac Forge
 
I'm with the rest of the replys, I love the forge marks and blade shape, but the handles are what really make the whole knife come together.
Thanks for sharing.
 
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