Bush swords inspired by Rick's FUG

[SBranson]

I saw Rick's "FUG" thread and really liked the idea of a bush sword and the idea of making something for myself.

Here's what I did. Both are of Aldo's W2 with blade lengths of 14" and 14 5/8". Both with 5" handles.

Oak scales wrapped with hemp and epoxy.

They were both water quenched but I didn't like the hamon on the smaller one so I redid it but fearing the extra amount of curve it would induce, I quenched it the second time in Parks 50. As you can see there's no lack of action using Parks 50 over water.

Both of these were sanded to a clean 800x before etching in ferric and cleaning them up.

Anyway, it was fun and thanks for the inspiration Rick.

 

[chainring]

Those look great. Nice work.

 

[BenR.T.]

Looking good Stuart!

 

[The_cutting_edge]

wow amazing hamons
dual wield?

 

[Brian Ayres]

Wow. Your work always impresses me. Just beautiful!

 

[SBranson]

Thanks!!

 

[mtnfolk mike]

wow.. that is a beauty.. nice work Stuart..:thumbup:

 

[nthe10ring]

Great looking knives and just gorgeous hamons. When you used the oil, was it an interrupted or just edge quench. Did you clay them?

Jerry

 

[SBranson]

Jerry.. They were both clay coated and fully quenched. In water, I do interrupt the quench as I'm too afraid to try not doing it though I'm almost sure it would work out... In Parks50 I do not interrupt the quench and plunge the whole blade in edge first. Because of the geometry and the mass at the spine, when I do the quench I check for non-magnetic up until I'm in the clayed area before quenching but the spine is still magnetic.

 

[tinkerer]

WANT

Larry
Tinkerer

 

[Burton Harruff]

Very cool!! Nice work.

 

[rpn]

great looking! how do they handle?

 

[SBranson]

That's the interesting thing about making 2 of something. It really is instructive in how seemingly little differences add up to give 2 quite different feels.

Both blades have a distal taper both ways, towards the tip and towards the butt. The longer knife is thinner and I think I must have made the handle a little narrower but for whatever the particular reasons, the feel is really quite fast and nimble, more so than I would have anticipated. The oak and soaked hemp add enough mass that the balance point is about 2 1/2"-3" up the blade from the handle. This one handles like a sword or maybe a machete.

The shorter knife is more robust, thicker over all. It feels more like a chopper as it has more seemingly "central" mass. It's not so much a difference in balance but an overall heft. The handle is a little thicker too and as such adds to this impression.

Not sure which I like more. I think I prefer the feel and balance of the longer blade but for the purpose I made them for, clearing around the property, the heftier blade seems more suited.

These are preliminary impressions as I have yet to get out and use one yet.

 

[Shawn fu]

Man those are cool!-Wicked hamon

 

[Rick Marchand]

I missed this thread.... VERY nice looking blades. Your hamons are incredible, brother! Thank you for mentioning me... I am truly flattered, sir.

Rick

 

[zeuqramjj2002]

WOW I want one like that!
how much would one go for?

 

[theflyingplatypus]

That is one sick hamon! Never seen anything quite like it.

Kaleb

 

[jonnymac44]

I missed this when it first hit also! Damn holidays

Beautiful lines, beautiful hamons, and a great nod to a beautiful man! That would be big Rick!

 

[SBranson]

Thanks!! I actually reworked the handle on one of them adding about 1" of length.

This was a pretty light swing.

 

[Battle Creek Knives]

Awesome pics and even better blades.... beauty's for sure !!!!

Sweet, flowing like honey..