Bushcraft Knife Challenge

R

rpn

Joined
Mar 17, 2008
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Hows about a thread here to see how design/build comes along? :thumbup:
 
We already agreed on this. He is just sending in a blade bolted onto a wooden plank. :p
 
I'm definitely planning to. but I have to make my decision on the starting point first.

Right now I'm floating between a few ideas. I'm considering a 'stick tang'- if you've seen the WIP shots of those, you know I'm talking about a 1.25 inch broad blade with about 7/8 of "stick".

I'm also thinking about a semi-mortise tang.

I am messing around with another new design that's related, as well. There's no "medium sized western koyote" out there.
 
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This is a WIP of the western medium koyote. This particular one is a bit oversized in the blade for the contest. The hand feel is really sweet and it's light as a feather in the forward grip. Pulled to a 4 to 4.5 inch blade, this may be the direction I go in.

It's still a very usable and straight spine, and you can see the alaskan (camp knife challenge blade) in the blade.

I might go for a partial forward guard (this one will have a tiny safety notch put in) and I may mess with the level of drop, but I think a dropped edge has a lot fo advantages in a bushcraft blade.

This particular one if being made for light fishing/hunting trips, rather than dedicated bushcrafting.

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okay, so - this western ranch/utility/fishing/hunting, whatever knife:

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The reason I'm looking at the design for the contest has a lot to do with handfeel, this thing is exceptional (even among my handles) for variable grip comfort.

If I go with this basis, I'll bring it down to 4.5 inches of blade, maybe even a shy hair less. I might go with the smallest possible guard bit, but when you go that thin on an integral scale guard you end up almost having to do micarta (which isn't really a problem).

Again, some form of a straight spine is necessary, and the long clip works pretty well.

I'm really debating the amount of blade drop, too.

and the possible overly fine point on this version as opposed to a bushcrafting made one.
 
That has an old-school look to it. Obviously modern design with the thumb ramp, but it looks old school. I like it.

And some of those old-timers knew what they were doing.

I like your idea about the drop edge. A drop edge increases the versatility of a knife, especially when using a cutting board (or stump or log).

You could strengthen the point a tad by shortening the clip a bit and/or increasing the belly a smite. Bit more belly could be useful for skinning/dressing tasks.

Don't know. It's a cool design as is regardless, but you'll need to shorten it up a bit for the contest. I suppose you could just scale the whole thing down to fit contest rules.
 
I think just shortening things up will increase the belly a bit.

I am not feeling like I've shocked the system with a radical new design, but it's very comfortable and I think it will do fine in the tests. The only thing I can really think of trying to shake things up is a full convex in 5160 or 8670m. That will make it a lot heavier, even with the shortening
 
Comfort is huge. After working a nice knife for 20 minutes and your hand starts to hurt or tire...no thanks. Good steel and a good edge will only get you so far w/out good ergos!

That's one of the reasons I rave about the convex edc....you can just use it and use it comfortably and with no hand fatigue.
 
Looking very good! I like that design. The stick tang is an interesting and unique route to go. Handle looks quite comfy, too. The size is a neat in-between.
 
I'm passing on the stick tang until I get a bit more dialed in- I've got an order for a loooong snow leuku and companion blade that I'm (still!) working on and I'm getting the mill tweaked to pull off press fit guard fronts on those.

The... I dunno, "Great Divide" up there in the photos is a teensy bit big for the bushie itself, the bushcrafting design ... I really need to see how I go on the grinder (I design on the grinder, even forged bladed go back and forth a lot), but I might leave the tip pretty pointy. With the full thickness 15N20 all the way up, and just the convex grind coming down, even narrow tips are pretty strong.
 
steel is in, haven't gotten the grinding done yet today. prepping for the birthday. Astrid turns 4 tomorrow and this is the first birthday where she has time binding skills. Lot more work when they know what's going on!
 
the big one is done, smaller (challenge entry) one is annealed and gettin ground up

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That is sweet!

I think b/c I had the fantasitic idea of starting this thread- the knife should come to me following the challenge! ;) :)

Looks awesome...
 
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That's not the actual challenge blade, though :D That's the prototype - one of the WSS regulars seems to order the prototype of a challenge knife all unawares each time.

I am making something between 4 and 6 of the challenge entry at once, though. Just cause.
 
koyote said:
That's not the actual challenge blade, though :D That's the prototype - one of the WSS regulars seems to order the prototype of a challenge knife all unawares each time.

I am making something between 4 and 6 of the challenge entry at once, though. Just cause.
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Doh!

:grumpy:;):D:thumbup:
 
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