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With Nathan's permission, text (edited out his first person so it doesn't sound like I am saying it or quoted where necessary) and pictures, I wanted to create a thread here, primarily for reference. I want something easier to find than the old sales threads. If anyone has additional pics, or info, limited runs of scales if there were any, prototype pics or anything, please feel free to add them and I will edit as necessary. Additionally please specify exactly what your picture illustrates for future reference.
The Light Chopper was a collaboration with Lorien Arnold. It is an exercise in geometry, weight distribution and ergonomics to make a light weight well balanced chopper that hits well above its weight. It's a large woods knife, with a ~10" blade that weighs 17.1 oz that is somewhere between a machete and a camp knife. It's light enough to be carried on a long hike without weighing you down and it's engineered for performance when you go to use it.
It's made of CPM 3V at HRC 60.5 with the newest heat treat for 3V that I (Nathan) believe is the finest heat treat for this material available anywhere. The performance is phenomenal with a combination of toughness, edge durability and edge retention that will blow your mind. A lot of R&D went into developing this heat treat, it is truly different and better.
With that in mind Nathan gave it a relatively thin cutting geometry designed for cutting performance. This is not some overbuilt pry bar, it cuts like a demon, but it is very durable, see 2nd video.
It's light enough and long enough to develop tip speed to cut thinner vegetation that heavy choppers struggle with. But when you put it to work in the big stuff you'll find that it hits hard and bites deep and it won't wear you out. The grip and aspects of the cutting geometry were designed in collaboration with Dan Keffeler.
The hand grip works great as a camp knife when held towards the front with good balance and dexterity. When held towards the back it fully fills the hand and offers control and reduced hand and forearm fatigue for extended hard work.
It has a forward lanyard hole (as used in competition cuts) and a hidden rear lanyard hole.
These are available in natural or black micarta. Nathan normally buffs the scales, but some people prefer the feel of the scale in matte because it has more grip and the fuzz works better with hand sweat. Unbuffed scales darken from hand oils pretty quickly. Buyer specifies which finish and colour they want.
These are also available in TeroTuf. This material is on the competition cutters that are winning championships. It isn't especially pretty or even as dimensionally stable as other synthetics, but nothing else offers a grip quite like it. If you're out there cutting for extended time and your hands are sweaty and slippery you'll appreciate the grip and feel. I have laminated it to black micarta with black Acraglas for dimensional stability.
Be aware, the unbuffed materials aren't about pretty. They will get a little funky looking before they break in but will even out with use.
Light Chopper Specs:
CPM 3V, 60.5 HRC, .188 thick at ricasso
This is the newest "Delta" HT protocol
Total length 15.625
Blade length 9.875
Edge is sharpened 20 DPS
Weight 17.1 oz
Grippy 3D machined scales in micarta or TeroTuf
Black oxide treated 18-8 stainless steel fasteners
Additionally these are made in two grinds. The first one which is listed in the specs above.
Condensed notes from Nathan:
The second, Lorien is credited with coining the term Competition Grind. I believe Nathan describes the second as a Lightsaber and has referred to it as "racing knives". It is going to be thinner and 15 DPS. It will be made in very limited numbers and sold on the CPK forum. It will similar to a "Race" knife, though it is not designed as a Bladesports knife. Dan Keffeler used one with no issues. Other uses bent bevels and rippled edges. So it's going to come down to user skill and judgement. Lorien has a video of it slicing here.
This is a big knife. If you're going to carry it on your belt you might prefer the dangler sheath. If you're putting it on or in your pack you might prefer the TekLok. Both configurations work both ways, but it's nice to have a choice.
Buffed Micarta:
Matte Micarta:
TeroTuf:
This pic was not used by Nathan, but I found it so I included it:
Sheath shots:
Dan doing what Dan does, with an early prototype:
[video=youtube;TvUsh5FijcY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvUsh5FijcY[/video]
Durability demo:
[video=youtube;yC2PLk_04vE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC2PLk_04vE[/video]
^ This has an outstanding combination of cutting performance, toughness and edge retention.
Here is a thread with tons of videos by Lorien putting in work with his LC's.
These are "field grade" with tool marks, milled and tumbled. The bevels are lightly hand ground and slightly convexed after being milled.
For the sale on June 24th, 2016:
$340 without sheath in micarta
$365 without sheath in TeroTuf
Sheath with dangler $80
Sheath with TekLok $65
Anyone who has ordered a chopper in a previous sale and wants to get a sheath for it can order one now with free shipping or can contact Dave Brown directly.
Shipping is $10 in the US.
The Light Chopper was a collaboration with Lorien Arnold. It is an exercise in geometry, weight distribution and ergonomics to make a light weight well balanced chopper that hits well above its weight. It's a large woods knife, with a ~10" blade that weighs 17.1 oz that is somewhere between a machete and a camp knife. It's light enough to be carried on a long hike without weighing you down and it's engineered for performance when you go to use it.
It's made of CPM 3V at HRC 60.5 with the newest heat treat for 3V that I (Nathan) believe is the finest heat treat for this material available anywhere. The performance is phenomenal with a combination of toughness, edge durability and edge retention that will blow your mind. A lot of R&D went into developing this heat treat, it is truly different and better.
With that in mind Nathan gave it a relatively thin cutting geometry designed for cutting performance. This is not some overbuilt pry bar, it cuts like a demon, but it is very durable, see 2nd video.
It's light enough and long enough to develop tip speed to cut thinner vegetation that heavy choppers struggle with. But when you put it to work in the big stuff you'll find that it hits hard and bites deep and it won't wear you out. The grip and aspects of the cutting geometry were designed in collaboration with Dan Keffeler.
The hand grip works great as a camp knife when held towards the front with good balance and dexterity. When held towards the back it fully fills the hand and offers control and reduced hand and forearm fatigue for extended hard work.
It has a forward lanyard hole (as used in competition cuts) and a hidden rear lanyard hole.
These are available in natural or black micarta. Nathan normally buffs the scales, but some people prefer the feel of the scale in matte because it has more grip and the fuzz works better with hand sweat. Unbuffed scales darken from hand oils pretty quickly. Buyer specifies which finish and colour they want.
These are also available in TeroTuf. This material is on the competition cutters that are winning championships. It isn't especially pretty or even as dimensionally stable as other synthetics, but nothing else offers a grip quite like it. If you're out there cutting for extended time and your hands are sweaty and slippery you'll appreciate the grip and feel. I have laminated it to black micarta with black Acraglas for dimensional stability.
Be aware, the unbuffed materials aren't about pretty. They will get a little funky looking before they break in but will even out with use.
Light Chopper Specs:
CPM 3V, 60.5 HRC, .188 thick at ricasso
This is the newest "Delta" HT protocol
Total length 15.625
Blade length 9.875
Edge is sharpened 20 DPS
Weight 17.1 oz
Grippy 3D machined scales in micarta or TeroTuf
Black oxide treated 18-8 stainless steel fasteners
Additionally these are made in two grinds. The first one which is listed in the specs above.
Condensed notes from Nathan:
The second, Lorien is credited with coining the term Competition Grind. I believe Nathan describes the second as a Lightsaber and has referred to it as "racing knives". It is going to be thinner and 15 DPS. It will be made in very limited numbers and sold on the CPK forum. It will similar to a "Race" knife, though it is not designed as a Bladesports knife. Dan Keffeler used one with no issues. Other uses bent bevels and rippled edges. So it's going to come down to user skill and judgement. Lorien has a video of it slicing here.
This is a big knife. If you're going to carry it on your belt you might prefer the dangler sheath. If you're putting it on or in your pack you might prefer the TekLok. Both configurations work both ways, but it's nice to have a choice.
Buffed Micarta:
Matte Micarta:
TeroTuf:
This pic was not used by Nathan, but I found it so I included it:
Sheath shots:
Dan doing what Dan does, with an early prototype:
[video=youtube;TvUsh5FijcY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvUsh5FijcY[/video]
Durability demo:
[video=youtube;yC2PLk_04vE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC2PLk_04vE[/video]
^ This has an outstanding combination of cutting performance, toughness and edge retention.
Here is a thread with tons of videos by Lorien putting in work with his LC's.
These are "field grade" with tool marks, milled and tumbled. The bevels are lightly hand ground and slightly convexed after being milled.
For the sale on June 24th, 2016:
$340 without sheath in micarta
$365 without sheath in TeroTuf
Sheath with dangler $80
Sheath with TekLok $65
Anyone who has ordered a chopper in a previous sale and wants to get a sheath for it can order one now with free shipping or can contact Dave Brown directly.
Shipping is $10 in the US.
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