Chopper

Sam Salvati

Sam Salvati

Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
5,060
Here is a big 5160 chopper I made today, start to finish. Steel is 5160, with a parachord wrap over glued on leather slabs.

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Nice work. Looks like it was a productive day. I didn't even get to go out to the shop today, maybe tomorrow. Was this some of my 5160? I have only forged one knife out of it so far. I have been working that 1084 from Aldo.
 
Thanks Burton, it's still a bit rough looking cause I just put it together for fun :D . Yeah it is your 5160, I like it so far but I wish I could do HT a bit better on it.
 
It just seems the edges are fragile. Like even the slightest bump against a counter top or oven rack and the edge gives way, not seriously just the very fine part of the edge. I might just be expecting the impossible, I don't get to handle many high quality knives so I don't know what to expect. I will try the 2x4 thing, brass rod too (hitting it not the roll over type test).

Again I am not sure if it is working out or not, will have to test. I do the normal type heat treatment, normalize high then low then low temps, then heat up and soak then quench. Park's #50 worked fantastic for 5160, it got SCREAMING hard and didn't crack or warp. tempered to a dark straw over the whole blade, in the oven for an hour.
 
Sam,

When you say that the edge "gives way" do you mean it chips or rolls? Chipping indicates that you should temper at a slightly higher temp. Rolling would indicate too high a temp in tempering.

-d
 
I hammered out a few things looking like that today, one with a 28"oal. I also forged and ground a sen type tool out of 52100, will heat treat it tommorow, may try it on the 28" after I grind out the scale.

I have just been using scrap leaf springs and a 425-450f temper, if I get the edge geomitry right It will slice paper(and fling hair), and not be damaged by being driven through deer bones. It also stands up to my atempts to cut 45gallon drums lol(great impact strength).

Your chopper also looks like it would throw well?
 
Thanks alot guys, alot of different things seem to have "clicked" with this one, always nice when that happens.

deker said:
Sam,

When you say that the edge "gives way" do you mean it chips or rolls? Chipping indicates that you should temper at a slightly higher temp. Rolling would indicate too high a temp in tempering.

-d
Click to expand...

Deker, I am not sure it is hard to explain, just the very slightest finest part of the edge will give out, I cannot tell if it is chipping or rolling away. It's like, when you sight down the edge with a source of light in front of you to see if there are any flat spots on the edge, you see a very slight glimmer.

john0270 said:
I hammered out a few things looking like that today, one with a 28"oal. I also forged and ground a sen type tool out of 52100, will heat treat it tommorow, may try it on the 28" after I grind out the scale.
Click to expand...

John, that sounds cool! I gotta see some pictures :D. Good luck with the HT. I have not tried throwing this one yet.
 
Finished!!! Started and finished the simple (VERY simple) sheath yesterday. it is comfortable, plain, and rides very nicely. Still need to get some leather tools, like that little one for recessing the stitches, and some simple stamps.

in hand
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On hip
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I used synthetic sinew for the stitching which is AWESOME STUFF, and parachord for the leg lanyard.
 
That knife just screams out,hey you want your arm back ? :D Nice chopper!
 
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I realy like that knife, simple and elegant, and the best part is with the rough patina you know someone won't be afraid to use it. The worst thing for me is when someone says "thats too pretty to use".

I definatly want to do some like that once I get my shop back up and running.

Very nice.
 
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