Choppers, & Other Big, Bad Mamba Jamba's ....

Crag the Brewer

Crag the Brewer

I make Nice, boring knives
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2018
Messages
8,124
My first larger blade. It's Mine.
It's 3V. Artisanal, Boutique Heat Treatment.
60 HRC, low temper, full Cryo.

It's Fast and light. Quick cutting.
It's a little underpowered for heavy work in hardwoods, but would be an excellent backpacking machete/camp knife.

It's Full tang, just partially sandwich upper and lower Micarta. Some pics can see metal in rear at pommel.

Light Machete


















 
Last edited:
Build and early testing of everything I want in a Big Chopper. This out cuts Everything.
Everything I have.



















It's not finished, in these pics. It was Fun to build. So big that I had to pull my grinder away from the wall some, so I wouldn't bang into it as I ground.
It's really an experiment with hardness. I have this treated to 62HRC, which should be too much, but after I thickened my grind some. (I'm known for extremely low angle secondaries) It's been stable now, and chip free.
It's mine, I'm hard on it.


My design for this handle/knife combo is called "No Sizzle"
It's supposed to be a Very Basic chopper design. Only what's needed.

The old saying for marketing is...."You dont sell the steak...You sell the sizzle"

I want this chopper to be practical.
Not flashy, boring, like Me.... I got No Sizzle.
 
Last edited:
Not a Chopper, but this is also going to be grouped with what I think is Bad Ass.....

Someone here once called my knives "Bad Ass".
I liked that description. I grew up in the 70's & 80's.....watching A-Team, Ninja movies, and Conan the Barbarian...... Bad Ass is a Major compliment, Thank You!!!

This was my attempt at a sculpted dagger like knife.... It's pretty Big. Also, pretty Awesome.
I took a hit on this knife, but now I see it as that I was able to make this pattern that I was dreaming about for a couple years. Glad it turned out great, and will hopefully make more.
*I'm working on a different take for a simple, combat knife. Different, but with similar tones.









































*I'm Not going to apologize for bulk posting these photos.....Haha.
 
woodysone said:
Odd looking scales but balance looks excellent 😉
Click to expand...

Kinda large looking, but very comfortable. Visually I think they would look better slightly smaller....but it really melts into the hand with many grips. I know....it's kinda weird
 
Last edited:
Confirmed 62HRC isn't too hard for a chopper.

Up North this weekend, I did more heavy duty chopping..... I won't say beating, but I was chopping into the dirt, cutting saplings. Trying not to hit boulders....no chips or dings.
*But Yes, definition of ....Beating.

I have 3 blanks this year.
I'm getting in my head for my next steel order for this Summer. I'll probably order enough for 3-5 more. Idk if one or 2-handed would be more popular? Some of each....
If you have ideas or interest, now is the time....
I think the previous blanks are spoken for?
Well, at least 2 of three.







 
Last edited:
Crag the Brewer said:
Confirmed 62HRC isn't too hard for a chopper.

Up North this weekend, I did more heavy duty chopping..... I won't say beating, but I was chopping into the dirt, cutting saplings. Trying not to hit boulders....no chips or dings.
*But Yes, definition of ....Beating.

I have 3 blanks this year.
I'm getting in my head for my next steel order for this Summer. I'll probably order enough for 3-5 more. Idk if one or 2-handed would be more popular? Some of each....
If you have ideas or interest, now is the time....
I think the previous blanks are spoken for?
Well, at least 2 of three.







Click to expand...
I literally thought “bad ass” when I just saw this thing, then I read the thread. After reading, I feel supported in my thought, lol. Awesome work.
 
KentuckyBlackBird said:
I literally thought “bad ass” when I just saw this thing, then I read the thread. After reading, I feel supported in my thought, lol. Awesome work.
Click to expand...

Thanks.....
A fellow here named Kyle first said it and I've heard it quite a bit since.....kinda a pretty great descriptor.... I Like it!

All the praise and Support I get here means a Ton to me.....I would generally say that the reason I make knives is for my own selfish intentions, Haha......but realistically I can't keep them All, so it's nice that other people too, like my efforts.

*After I get a handful of more work orders done, I plan on releasing a few "Bad Ass" new models for next year.... :D

Should be Fun!


Thanks, Again!
 
Crag the Brewer said:
Thanks.....
A fellow here named Kyle first said it and I've heard it quite a bit since.....kinda a pretty great descriptor.... I Like it!

All the praise and Support I get here means a Ton to me.....I would generally say that the reason I make knives is for my own selfish intentions, Haha......but realistically I can't keep them All, so it's nice that other people too, like my efforts.

*After I get a handful of more work orders done, I plan on releasing a few "Bad Ass" new models for next year.... :D

Should be Fun!


Thanks, Again!
Click to expand...
Do you know what you are gonna charge for the big chopper when you get some made?
 
KentuckyBlackBird said:
Do you know what you are gonna charge for the big chopper when you get some made?
Click to expand...

I'll post this for Others, since we've already started a dialogue...

For my work, it's best to just contact me, and we can talk about what you want.

*My arrangements are best described as unusual....
 
*Not in the Big category, but still I think this will eventually belong here.

I've been making a lot of field knives for people the last couple years. I'm liking my designs. Id argue them against others. Favoring mine, of course....I wonder if all makers feel that way?
They should. I feel I'm making the best knives available. I hope Others feel that way too!

The thing is that I don't have a field knife of Mine. The last two were taken. -This one I'm holding on to longer....and I'm purposely making the handle different, and unwanted. Unwanted by others, because they don't know. It's very similar to one of my very first knife designs that I started making..."C4". Even though that knife is pretty crude compared to my more recent works, it really is pretty Great. I love alot about it. And I continue to learn a lot from it....I got Lucky learning That handle.
It's smaller. A palm grip. Easy carry, easy hide.

This New model of field knife (I have 3 field knife models now) is less traditional. It's more of an Urban Butcher knife.....I think I'm going to call it "Cancel Culture".....Haha. funny right?

Cause who else will bring a badass butcher knife on the bus? -Someone who means business. Someone who's business is Mean.
"Cancel Culture" is definitely a play on words.....fafo.

 
Ok, so I had some issues getting the steel I wanted for a project for next year....

At the last minute I decided for enough steel for not as many. That was a good thing.
So with enough for one extra, I decided one was enough, and I added a couple choppers instead of more swords.

So this is a new model I've been thinking about for the last couple years. I'm calling it "Congo".
It's Big. It Will Chop. I plan on making A lot of these some day....this is the first.
 
With the extra sword steel, I tweaked a previous design.... I made an in-between version of my one handed No Sizzle Chopper (It's the middle one)


I kinda felt the first one is a little small?
My initial inspiration was the Barker Browning Comp Chopper which I think might be up there as having potential as the best camp knife....but it's Not ... It would need to be American Made and not suck so bad, quality wise. But, it has potential. It was my inspiration. I too failed.
I love my handle. But I wonder if it's too much for a small 10" blade? I think it's just a glorified........
* That handle deserves more blade length.

As the story goes, I over do it....that's what I do.
And I have massive 2 hand versions now.

But wanting to reign it in some.....I went back.
The brown handle one swings Awesomely.
But it's maybe a tiny bit long, idk?
I'm really conscious when I swing it. I don't drink. I don't really have fun. I focus, I work. It does a good job. I'm not saying it's intimidating, but ya still gotta pay attention. Which is generally good.
*When swinging It

But thinking if I shrunk the blade, made the blade taller it would hit the same. I increased handle length for more holding options. I think this might pack better, and general use better. More big knife thinking, less machete..... Even though the brown one is .200" thick.
-its Not a machete.

Who am I kidding, I don't need an excuse to design and build BadAss knives.
This is for next year, hopefully someone likes it.
 
Ok, ready for sending out to heat treating next week! I squeaked in a bunch of AEB-L chef's knives and these three...












The one is my first sword. I made a separate post on my sub forum here for those who want to follow.... Thread 'Thanks Brand Wakizashi' https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/thanks-brand-wakizashi.2046988/
it's for my daughter , going to be her highschool graduation present for this next/current year. She's a senior.

The other is a slight blade modification to the No Sizzle Chopper model. It didn't need a change, but I'm curious.....this one the blade is slightly taller, and the handle a bit longer even still.

Third (middle knife) is a new model I talked about above.
I'm really excited about it.
It's for cutting hands and feet off.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top