- Joined
- Jun 29, 1999
- Messages
- 9,785
A few years ago, I was lucky enough to win one of Brazilian cutleiro Ivan Campos signature pocket swords, a chisel-ground tanto in D3 -- sort of like D2 on steroids. According to Ivan, D3 is very tough, highly rust resistant and when heat treated to a Rockwell hardness of around 60, will hold an edge like 440V. After chopping through a 2 x 4, slicing up some cardboard boxes and shearing some dirty old rope, the 35 degree chisel edge was hardly affected. Just the tool for prying up a manhole cover and then performing eye surgery. (OK, a very large eye.) Or for whacking chunks off, well, about anything you want to. Its the kind of blade you would want on your belt if you were heading off to unfriendly, sandy places.
Ive been coveting one of Ivans smaller high carbon steel blades in more conventional grind, so when Kris Klammer in Edmonton, Alberta, just up the road from Canmore, put up for sale a couple of Ivans Scandi-ground blades in 1070 which he had handled in some gorgeous, mouth-watering wood, I had to have one. A few days after I had sent off a MO, the ivory-ebony handled knife arrived in the mail. Kris generously tucked in some leather for a sheath, and a small chunk of the ivory ebony in case I want to make a matching fire steel. I made a simple utility sheath just to keep the blade safe, but am still pondering a secure pouch-style sheath.
1070 is a simple carbon steel, very tough; a lot of South American machetes are made in 1075. Ivan notes that 1070 is like 5160, a very versatile steel, just less springy. I was grateful that Kris had wrapped it carefully, since it was flat out the sharpest knife I have ever received. Ivans grind was impeccable, as close to a 0 edge as any blade Ive ever seen. It whisked off arm hairs above the skin, and probably shaved off some arm hair molecules, too. I played with it a few days, used it to cut leather, veggies, and did a bit of whittling on some chunks of walnut. The Scandi grind is awesome; it bites like my best Solingen wood carving chisels. When the edge had dulled a bit, I touched it up with the big Black Arkansas bench stone I reserve for high carbon blades. For whatever reason, this stone puts an unbelievable edge on carbon steel. A few strokes and a new burr appeared; a few licks on the strop, and the edge reached a level beyond scary, which I call Bloody Sharp; I didnt even know Id nicked my finger until I saw the blood dripping on the work bench.
Kriss handle job lives up to the blade. The hand-filling, perfectly smooth ivory ebony handle is precisely fitted and is beautifully contoured for an excellent grip. You could whittle with this knife all day without raising a blister. (Sorry, I dont have a pic: maybe Kris can put one up.)
This knife meets my highest standard: you could depend on it as your only blade on a trek to the Arctic or to Tierra del Fuego (with a stopover in Tatui to see Ivan). Sometimes, simple is best.
Ive been coveting one of Ivans smaller high carbon steel blades in more conventional grind, so when Kris Klammer in Edmonton, Alberta, just up the road from Canmore, put up for sale a couple of Ivans Scandi-ground blades in 1070 which he had handled in some gorgeous, mouth-watering wood, I had to have one. A few days after I had sent off a MO, the ivory-ebony handled knife arrived in the mail. Kris generously tucked in some leather for a sheath, and a small chunk of the ivory ebony in case I want to make a matching fire steel. I made a simple utility sheath just to keep the blade safe, but am still pondering a secure pouch-style sheath.
1070 is a simple carbon steel, very tough; a lot of South American machetes are made in 1075. Ivan notes that 1070 is like 5160, a very versatile steel, just less springy. I was grateful that Kris had wrapped it carefully, since it was flat out the sharpest knife I have ever received. Ivans grind was impeccable, as close to a 0 edge as any blade Ive ever seen. It whisked off arm hairs above the skin, and probably shaved off some arm hair molecules, too. I played with it a few days, used it to cut leather, veggies, and did a bit of whittling on some chunks of walnut. The Scandi grind is awesome; it bites like my best Solingen wood carving chisels. When the edge had dulled a bit, I touched it up with the big Black Arkansas bench stone I reserve for high carbon blades. For whatever reason, this stone puts an unbelievable edge on carbon steel. A few strokes and a new burr appeared; a few licks on the strop, and the edge reached a level beyond scary, which I call Bloody Sharp; I didnt even know Id nicked my finger until I saw the blood dripping on the work bench.
Kriss handle job lives up to the blade. The hand-filling, perfectly smooth ivory ebony handle is precisely fitted and is beautifully contoured for an excellent grip. You could whittle with this knife all day without raising a blister. (Sorry, I dont have a pic: maybe Kris can put one up.)
This knife meets my highest standard: you could depend on it as your only blade on a trek to the Arctic or to Tierra del Fuego (with a stopover in Tatui to see Ivan). Sometimes, simple is best.
