Compact Bushcraft VII PRE-view

Jeff H

Jeff H

Joined
Feb 14, 2008
Messages
1,093
OK, this is a PRE-view, not a RE-view so all I have is some preliminary pics. Bryan Breeden made me up two knives several weeks ago based on a sketch I sent him. The first was posted a few weeks ago but I buggered the handle on the second one and had to redo them. Both came with unshaped Micarta slabs attached. Both are very similar but with subtle (to the eye) differences that really make a difference in how they feel and handle. This is made from .093" O1, is 1" wide at its widest point, flat ground with a convex edge (convex edge by me). I boiled the messed up scales off and scrounged around until I located a stash of five mis-matched soft curly Maple scales cut from a board milled when my house was built in 1900 (no, I am NOT the original owner). The odd coloration here and there is spalting. These were rejects from projects some 15 years ago but didn't look too bad toady. The pins are .115" brass (not 1/8") from the hardware store ($.50/ft.) and the lanyard ferrule is .25" OD, from the same place and was less than $2/ft. It has a thicker wall than it looks as I chamfered the openings. The blade is 3 3/8" long and the knife is 7 1/8" overall. The purpose behined these two knives was that I could have an EDC that was well-suited to Bushcraft type work - an "incidental Bushcrafter," if you will. Unobtrusive, light, compact, fits in a bag or a pocket and, presumably, no one would call the Sheriff with a report of a "machete-wielding maniac" in a state park somehwere. People I work with call my Ritter Griptillian a "machete."

I am quite tickled with this one. Bryan did a great job following my roiginal lines and encouraged me in my endeavor. Thanks, Bryan.

The "stain," because anyone who has see it so far has asked - don't laugh - Turquoise Blue Sharpie. I have some red ones from 15 years ago that have not faded.

Thanks for looking, all.

JHCBII01.jpg


JHCBII02.jpg


JHCBII03.jpg


JHCBII04.jpg


JHCBII05.jpg
 
Looks great. Super handy as an EDC.

My only complaint would be that there's nothing really between blade and handle. If your hand were to ride up too far, you wouldn't know it until you were bleeding.
 
shotgunner11 said:
Looks great. Super handy as an EDC.

My only complaint would be that there's nothing really between blade and handle. If your hand were to ride up too far, you wouldn't know it until you were bleeding.
Click to expand...

That's why I don't do that:D.
Point taken. But like on a carver or parer, no guard is necessary, if fact, it would be in my way. I won't be stabbing armored bears or anything so I won't have to worry about that. In handling the knife, the handle shape does not let the knife slip back and I can tell where my hand is. I have had some that casued me the same concern that you have and those found new homes.

Thanks.
 
Jeff you did a great job on the handles I really like them. Very nice job.
Thanks for posting.

Bryan
 
Great job on that handle. I would have thought it was dyed/stabilized maple. The Sharpie effect looks good. I have a bunch of birdseye maple that my parents salvaged from an old local school, it's probably 100+ years old also. :thumbup:
 
Great job, Jeff! :thumbup: The Sharpie-stain is a great effect. The palm swell looks very well done. Very nice flat grind.

Like you said, "attention to detail."
 
aahhh jeff... why did you have to go and post that one...:eek: that is is a beauty... i like it... :thumbup:
bryan is making me another compact bushcraft knife, in 1/8 O-1 steel...:D
 
Jeff, that's a GREAT design! Great "usin'" knife!

Bryan, as always, you did a superb job in bringing our paper designs into steel!

Ron
 
Thanks, guys for all the compliments/criticism. I appreciate both fully.

Mike, sorry.... I wanted to finish, review and post both at once. Now YOU have ME wanting to try one in 1/8" too!

I am no knife-handling wiz' either, by the way. What you see came from a considerable amout of time compared to what one might expect the pros to expend. I just haven't learned to do my 3-D shaping with a power tool yet.

Leather sheath and a review forthcoming,... probably NEXT weekend because I get about 5 to 10 minutes at a time to work on this stuff.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top