Bushman Mod (yeah, another one!)

[GibsonFan]

I know, I should have added this to an existing thread, but the search function blows and I gave up looking for them.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I shot my mouth off about being able to reprofile a Bushman if someone needed the work done and didn't have the tools. I'm an aspiring/hopeful/wannabe knifemaker and figured the experience would do me good.

As luck would have it, someone contacted me about it, and within a week or two I had a brand-spankin-new full-size Bushman delivered to my home. In a couple more days a nice measured drawing arrived from the customer as well, so I got to work.

His main concern was the blade length; where he lives he can't carry anything greater than 4" of blade unless he's actually hunting or fishing. Weird. Well anyway, he drew up a plan that would make sure the blade was less than 4" even if measured around the belly, just to make sure he's legal.

So with a fresh belt on my cheapo grinder and a brand new Nicholson file and high-tension hacksaw I couldn't wait to try out, I got to work. I can say this for SURE, buy name-brand files and saws/blades! Both these Nicholsons perform way way better than "inexpensive" ones I've had in the past, and were roughly 20% more $ off the bat. I beleive they'lll more than pay for themselves in how long they last.

Anyway, here's the butchered I mean modified knife, the rough work is done.... http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t32/JTerrio/?action=view&current=bushmanmod01a.jpg

It's only at a rough 100-grit hand-rubbed finish; I just sent the pic to the owner/client and will wait to see if he wants it finished finer, the scratched-up black coating removed (my bad; I taped off the areas I wasn't grinding on but still scratched it ) or whatever.

In any case I was really impressed with the knife. Even when I was within 1/4" of cutting off the extra length, it was very difficult to flex the steel with my bare hands. Yet it doesnt chip or fold over on the brass rod test, so it's not too hard or too soft. I believe it will be a very useful and easy to maintain knife.

 

[RescueRiley]

nice work dude

 

[Fonly]

haha, too cool. Makes me want to buy one to fart around with

 

[1whitefoot]

A Stubby Bushman

 

[mtnfolk mike]

very cool.. :thumbup: great work...

i like your version much better.....

 

[GibsonFan]

haha, too cool. Makes me want to buy one to fart around with

Yup, it's a tough chunk of steel for cheap, and there's a lot you could do with it.

A Stubby Bushman

My only comment on the stubbiness is, it's the customer's design, not mine Hmmmm maybe I could steal this idea and market a StubMan knife, LOL. It's definitely a strange feeling to chop 3" off a perfectly good knife! As I said, his main concern is the legal restrictions in his state. If I were doing it for myself I would go a little narrower with a much more gradual belly and maybe a bit of a drop to the point; just my preference.

It is very handy as modded here. Much handier than I thought it would be with that wide short profile, honestly. The knife feels solid in hand and is easy to control for tasks like whittling, cutting food, etc. A bit wide for my tastes in this small of a knife. But although it balances pretty handle-heavy, it doesn't feel clunky or heavy at all when you use it. The lack of a guard allows you to choke up on it pretty much however you want, for fine work. I asked my woman to check it out for balance and "feel" as always, because her hands are much smaller than mine. She found it quite comfy and said it makes her want to dice veggies or whittle on something. She specifically mentioned that the round handle allowed her to hold it at any angle she wanted to, and this pleased her. After she said that that I tried holding it in a draw-knife type position with my thumb along the flat of the blade, and found it felt real good that way. When she and I both feel comfortable with a utility knife, I figure it will be good for most people..

I should mention, the Bushmaster came with a very shallow hollow grind on the main bevel, with a flat final grind that reaches about 1/8" up from the very edge. Not having a large-diameter contact wheel to match that hollow, I put a VERY mild convex, almost entirely flat grind on the bevel, and the thickness comes out about the same. The amount of blade width I sacrificed by doing this was less than I thought, barely even measurable. Frankly, I'm not sure why they make them with that slight hollow in the first place; it's not doing much to really make the knife sharper/slice better and seems to me it only adds a step in manufacturing.

I haven't yet heard back from the client as to how he wants it finished.... if it was mine, I think I'd sand off the rest of the black from the blade and leave it intact on the handle. Scuff up the handle just a bit and wrap it with hockey tape, leather or paracord... and put a nice deep patina on the blade with one of various methods we all know and love. Plus shallow thumb notches on the spine, I'm a big fan of those. The client specified the notch in the ricasso to clearly mark where the usable edge begins. I also like this type of notch because it's perfect for scraping magnesium or striking sparks form a ferro-rod without dulling your good edge. It also eliminates that pesky last bit of edge that is often so damn hard to sharpen, if the plunge wasn't ground perfect to begin with.

One thing I haven't seen addressed is, filling the blade-end of the handle if you want to use it for storage. It's formed just like a shovel, meaning it's wide open at that juncture. I'm thinking a small wood or plastic plug carved to fit tight down in there and JB-welded in place would work OK. Any ideas?


I do still have the 3" of tip I cut off... maybe I should make that into a small gaff or spear tip sort of like SkunkWerx and others have been experimenting with....

As always, thank you for your input, gentlemen!

 

[Liam Ryan]

Nice work. I wish there was a way you could add about 4 inches to one for me, what a machete that would be.

 

[Fiddleback]

Hey, that one might be legal to carry. Neato IMO! Why you say you butchered it?

 

[GibsonFan]

Hey, that one might be legal to carry. Neato IMO! Why you say you butchered it?

Yeah the legality was the client's biggest concern. I worked it down so it's just under 4", measured around the edge/belly. "Butchered" is in the eye of the beholder, I guess

 

[DaleW]

.....
One thing I haven't seen addressed is, filling the blade-end of the handle if you want to use it for storage. It's formed just like a shovel, meaning it's wide open at that juncture. I'm thinking a small wood or plastic plug carved to fit tight down in there and JB-welded in place would work OK. Any ideas?......

Somehow it reminds me of a Becker Necker with a whole lotta handle. It kind of comes out to a Scandi grind, doesn't it? Even after the circumcision, it will still make a good spear. I wonder if a little hook could be ground into the top edge-- almost like a gut hook, to help snag small game. [Dale goes frog hunting with camo BDU's and face paint--- RIBBIT!]

As to filling the handle, I've experimented with rubber plugs and sections of rubber plugs, but I worry about them popping loose. I've wondered if I could find some plastic bottle caps that might fit the top and and epoxy one in place as you mentioned. Another idea I've had is to package a small selection of surivival stuff in an Aloksak or other waterproof container and just stuff it in there. I've throught about sealing stuff in with wax in each end. Polyester resin would work, but it would be a semi-permanent install-- seal the stuff in there and forget about it until the SHTF. The quick and dirty solution is good ol' duct tape. As big as the sheath is, it is a good candidate for one of my sheath mounted PSK's.

 

[Fiddleback]

Still wouldn't make legal in Georgia. Though its hard to tell. The policeman would have to interpret the makers intent. If its a weapon, its not concealable.

 

[GibsonFan]

Somehow it reminds me of a Becker Necker with a whole lotta handle. It kind of comes out to a Scandi grind, doesn't it? Even after the circumcision, it will still make a good spear. I wonder if a little hook could be ground into the top edge-- almost like a gut hook, to help snag small game. [Dale goes frog hunting with camo BDU's and face paint--- RIBBIT!]

Yup, uh-huh, I reckon so, and probably If I get around to ordering one for myself I'll try to make a permanent plug for the handle at the blade end, and a removable one at the butt. Heck even a cork and duct tape would work I guess. Just hafta sit down and brainstorm a bit I suppose.

FiddleBack, this legal thing is such a pain. I would hate to get in trouble for sending someone a "deadly weapon" across state lines or something :jerkit: The client wanted to follow the LETTER of the law, which says 4" in his state. Plus he told me make sure it's no more than 4" around the edge to prove that he made a concerted effort to keep it legal. Hopefully any sane LEO or Ranger would agree he's being responsible and legit.

It's so dumb... especially considering most knife crimes are committed with dirt-cheap kitchen knives. If you magically removed all the guns and knives form the planet, the bad guys would just mug you with a screwdriver or bash your brains out with a hammer! Or a papier mache` crossbow like on "MythBusters" LOL.