Chopper Design Contest... This will be fun

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Hankins

Hankins

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Chopper Design Contest... This will be fun:thumbup:
Over the years I have designed literally hundreds of different blade styles.
How about a design from one of you.

Here are the Basics:
Steel being used will be 3/16" 1095 that is 12" long and 3" wide, it can be smaller just not bigger. Needs to fit in a 3" x 12" space.
Grind can be Flat, Convex or a Hollow grind
Prefer a full tang design to keep a better balance in the handling.
Handle material??? Have some G10 on hand but could do Stabilized Wood.
Someone will need to Pony Up for wood scales
Bolsters can be done as well
Done in Stock Removal method

Submit a pic of your design and there will be a Vote to determine which design is the winner.
I will build the blade and do a Picture history of the build.
Will also do some testing for cutting ability Etc.
A full scale drawing will be needed to get it right.
Winner will get Design credit for every knife made and maybe a nice surprise at the end of it all;)

All designs must be submitted by Midnight 03/14/2010
 
Excellent! I like this!

Question:
Heat treat.... Hamon? how will this be done?
 
How many submitions can be have?
1 inch = 2.5 small squares.
Chopperdesign3.jpg

Chopperdesign1.jpg

ChopperDesign2.jpg


PS. I've got some walnut you can use for handle material.
 
I would say as more ideas the better...
Hamon Certainly can do Clay or just an edge quench
 
This is fun and I like it, but let me say it's hard to design a real chopper within those size limitations. :rolleyes: Don't expect too much chopping power, unless you sacrifice the handle which imho is not an option. Better yet, given those size limits I'd focus on the handle rather than blade length, as that makes the difference in choppers this size. That together with balance. But then again, I could just come out with more of a camp-like thing, with a wide blade of course, which can chop but ain't a pure chopper by any mean (because of limited length).
I like challenges, and this is a fun one, but would a camp knife fit the contest criteria?
 
chenko said:
This is fun and I like it, but let me say it's hard to design a real chopper within those size limitations. :rolleyes: Don't expect too much chopping power, unless you sacrifice the handle which imho is not an option. Better yet, given those size limits I'd focus on the handle rather than blade length, as that makes the difference in choppers this size. That together with balance. But then again, I could just come out with more of a camp-like thing, with a wide blade of course, which can chop but ain't a pure chopper by any mean (because of limited length).
I like challenges, and this is a fun one, but would a camp knife fit the contest criteria?
Click to expand...

Its not that hard. I've got a chopper thats just a little over 9 inches long, with a 4 inch handle that works just fine. Its all in the balance. You need the center of mass to be about 10%-15% of the total length above the handle. In this case, 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches above the handle. At least, thats been my experience. I'm sure others will tell you different.
 
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Well, to be honest I disagree with the 3'' handle thing, but I can understand everyone has a different opinion, so it's ok! :)

Ok, I'm going to post something now, it isn't going to be pretty but it should work -for the size- as a decent chopper. It's a game, right? Let's play. ;)
smallest_chopper_02.jpg


I'm still not 100% sure about the handle, but I have no time today to make a wooden prototype. I'm curious to see what others post! :)
 
12"? that's not a chopper, that's a boy scout knife. who ever heard of a chopper under 12 inches?

here's possibly my first entry, a 12.5" overall length chopper that fit's on a 12" by 3" piece of steel. Take that Pythagoras.

I mat refine this later if I can find the time. I'm not really happy with the blade shape. Maybe I'll try a drop point or tanto.

without further ado, here you go:
Chopper.png


and a mockup in 3D:
Chopper1.jpg


closeup:
pending
 
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Chopperdesigns2.jpg

A few more ideas. The last one I'm pretty sure I saw from somewhere before, so if I have borrowed (stolen) the design, let me know.
 
Ok Fine Kapeeeech

We can do a Hidden tang with a 4.5" Tang and I will do a guard and handle using stacked Rubber.
OR
Wood of the suppliers choice....
That leaves an 8" blade... Tip to front of guard.
That is the most I can stuff into my HT Oven
 
so my friend came in yesterday with a bloody finger after using his chopper. he overshot the log and his knuckles took the full force of the blow.

here's a couple of choppers with guards based off of his experience/ both are at 100dpi and at scale.
Chopper3.png

and
Chopper2.png
 
chopper.jpg


7-3/4 inches from tip to guard. Handle is 3-7/8 inches from butt to back of guard. 12 inches overall length and 1-5/8 inches at widest point of blade. Ring guard and lanyard at heel should give excellent control on the hardest swings. Blade hollow ground from spine to long, shallow flat grind edge bevel (30 degrees inclusive).
 
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Any pirates out there... Yaaarh Matey
Drawing should be clean with a good representation of what the final product should look like
 
For some time, I've wanted to see my knife done by someone who knows what they are doing. :o It's longer than 12 inches(14 1/2), but it could be scaled down with out compromising the design, as the handle is longer than usual(6 3/4). Aside from the fit and finish, the one thing I might change is the front of the handle, the radius doesn't seem to flow with the rest of the knife.

production006.jpg


production001.jpg


production014.jpg


Here's a link to the original thread with all the details.
 
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Picture0072.jpg


Blade should be around 2.5 inches at its widest point to me it has a nice tactical look. Kinda has a tanto point. Meant to be very heavy so that less force it put out by the user to chop with this. Would most likely have a cord wrapped handle for grip. You would have to make the tang a bit thicker but it would work very well. I would think to put a hollow grind on it. I would love some feedback from any body. That was kind of fun Arizona ! Here is a closer look at the business end

Picture0073.jpg
 
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Here are a couple more. Same as two others I submitted already, but with ring guards for a more secure grip.
chopperdesigns3.jpg

Also found this old POS in a box. Its I think my second knife. It was made out of stock exactly the same size as whats in this contest. Not sure about the alloy, but if someone thinks its a good design, I wouldn't mind seeing it done by someone who knows what he's doing. I had originally made it as a throwing knife, but it just occoured to me it would be a good chopper with a better grind on it.
IMG_0771.jpg
 
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