Copperhead sinuous bush sword

Storm Crow

Storm Crow

Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
2,506
I had a customer request a bush sword as close as possible in profile and bevels to one that I forged a couple of years ago for Knife Rights' Ultimate Steel fundraiser. Fortunately, I had traced the blade on a piece of cardboard before I finished it out, so I was able to make a pattern. Making any forged blade match exactly what has been done before is always boogery, but the pattern helped.

I forged it from 80CrV2 steel, with a 14" blade and an integral socket handle. Like the original, the clip is a false edge, though thin enough that it could be sharpened.



The customer wanted me to do the handle wrap with a patterned paracord called "copperhead" that matches pretty close to the scale pattern on the actual ophidian, with the Turk's head knots in a solid color called "rust" that compliments the copperhead well. The cord always darkens when the epoxy is applied, but the pattern still shows up. Just not as obvious at a distance.



The customer is a lefty like me and liked the edge-forward left-handed cross draw setup I had done on my test mule camp knife. He wanted to wear it lower than I did, so I gave the quick-detach, double-adjustable shoulder sling an extra foot of webbing so he could adjust it to where he wants it.



He expressed his satisfaction with the rig in no uncertain terms. Always glad to have another happy customer. :)
 
The rolled socket tang is really cool, I hardly ever see it done that way. Do you ever make straight ones that can be pole-mounted?
 
Thanks, guys!

Mecha - The handle style is common from the Philippines throughout southeast Asia, but you don't see it over here much. At least some of those are intended to double as a spearhead or to take a shaft to extend reach for things like harvesting fruit out of reach. I haven't built one with such duty specifically in mind (my socket handles are often curved), but it doesn't mean they can't be. See this article by Joe Flowers that appeared in the final issue of Tactical Knives magazine where he extends the reach with a pole: http://www.personaldefenseworld.com...ged-survival-blades/#helm-forge-battle-blades

David - I end up always rolling them for rightys. They feel good in either hand, and the majority of customers are right handed.

Lycosa - I've learned so much from so many different people I don't mind sharing. :)
 
Oats are being felt. :D
James- Thanks. I have learned, and continue to learn, so much here on Bladeforums. Thanks and thank you all!
rolf
 
Storm Crow said:
Mecha - The handle style is common from the Philippines throughout southeast Asia, but you don't see it over here much. At least some of those are intended to double as a spearhead or to take a shaft to extend reach for things like harvesting fruit out of reach. I haven't built one with such duty specifically in mind (my socket handles are often curved), but it doesn't mean they can't be. See this article by Joe Flowers that appeared in the final issue of Tactical Knives magazine where he extends the reach with a pole: http://www.personaldefenseworld.com...ged-survival-blades/#helm-forge-battle-blades
Click to expand...

Dang, nice article. The socket tang is an interesting feature.
 
Beautiful as always. One day I will lessen my hawk fetish and get one of these.
 
The owner surprised me when he sent me some pictures of what he had done with the left-over copperhead paracord that I had sent with the bush sword. He said to honor the maker, he put my touchmark on the sheath as well. :D





Matches the stamp on the blade pretty darn well! I was very impressed.

 
Another really nice one, James. Really like that grip wrap.

Is there a particular maintenance routine you recommend for the socket handle? I keep having these concerns about rust developing in there.
 
Thanks, John.

I just say squirt some 3-in-1 oil down inside occasionally like you would the blade. A stiff cylindrical brush that fits inside would probably help, too.

On the integral socket-handled blades of the Filipino Igorot, which are the first of these I saw (actually, the first was the work of Tai Goo, who got the idea from the Igorot and posted about them), the socket handle and open-faced scabbards (hikot) also serve to allow the heavy rainfall they deal with to drain away quickly and reduce the chance of rust. I guess it's also easier to replace the natural fiber cord wrap every few years than a wooden handle, too. :)
 
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