Daniel Koster WSK - Figure 4 trap

[Bladite]

got my DK WSK out, and went and found me a nice sugar maple sapling that needed clearing out. figured while out and about, to make a few trap pieces...

carved up a paiute design, and also a standard heavy duty figure-4, which of course, needed testing

the knife:

http://perspicuityphotos.smugmug.com/photos/80898777-O-1.jpg

batons quite well:

http://perspicuityphotos.smugmug.com/photos/80898654-O-1.jpg

make a fast bit of kit, was able to chop these in a single go, the quarter-rounded stripped the bark in a jiffy (for real use i'd either smear the branches with ash, or just leave the bark on for concealment/natural-effect):

http://perspicuityphotos.smugmug.com/photos/80898887-O-1.jpg

http://perspicuityphotos.smugmug.com/photos/80898747-O.jpg

http://perspicuityphotos.smugmug.com/photos/80898849-O.jpg

and the artistic shot, one would not set up the vertical pole under the log, plus a bit more weight would be added, and some guide poles too...

http://perspicuityphotos.smugmug.com/photos/80898705-O-1.jpg

generally speaking, the blade did all the standard cutting, carving, shaping, notching quite well and with ease. the wsk is very lively in the hand, and comfortable to use. almost don't want to put it down.

the specs on this one are:
o 14 inches 19 ounces WSK 5160 tool steel cocobolo handle - Dan Koster
Wilderness Survival Kukri by Daniel Koster / Khukuri-Nut & Knifemaker
www.kosterknives.com
5160 tool steel, aged finish, cocobolo handles, brass pins,
14 inches 19 ounces, 1.35 ounce/inch 1/4" thick at the finger-ring

the chopping part is convexed of course, and the sweet spot is just below the eye and towards the half-rounder, depending on how/where you hold it. there's a bit more weight forward and the handle is long, allowing for some good snapping action. sharp.

this is what Dan has to say on the design portion:

"This is my spin-off of the Dave Beck WSK made popular by the movie The Hunted.

I really liked the idea of the knife, and hope to add a few of my own humble "upgrades".

Notably:
* creating more of a "chopping" profile
* short sawback, moved away from the tip (to allow for better skinning/draw-knife cutting)
* "raised" false edge - to clear sawback
* "bell" at the end of the contoured handle for comfort and control
* front and rear lanyard tubes
* finger hole in the blade for safety/control while draw-knife cutting
* finger ring instead of drop-guard for security/control

But most importantly, the blade has a distal taper and the tang has been drilled to created a well balanced knife and not just another sharpened prybar"

bladite

 

[Fiddleback]

I know you're gonna like the knife. I love mine. Hey, thanks for posting pics of the figure 4. Its hard to get pics in action. Never done one myself. I think I'm gonna practice it. Gotta get the skills up.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Are the holes well rounded, how is comfort in extended use? I would have a concern with the front hole as it is right under the impact point for batoning on the spine. How is the vibration in the region in front of the handle if you use that for a impact point in batoning? Any comments on the saw? How comfortable/secure is the handle in regards to heavy tip thrusting/stabbing. The guard from the front hole looks a little problematic in regards to impacts.

The abrupt transition point of the grinds looks a bit harsh. I would be concerned about a stress fault right around the hook portion and through the front primary hole. I would be curious how that would respond to a traditional vice check and see if it bend smoothly of the arc tended to focus at those spots. This isn't a personal suggestion, just a comment/question for the maker.

Really nice work in general, the kitchen knives are amazing :

-Cliff

 

[Bladite]

Cliff sayeth
Are the holes well rounded, how is comfort in extended use?
yes, and thus far, comfy. i find my index finger in the hole near the handle a lot. the inner edge of the circle near the tip has a beveled inner edge. the handle one, not so much, but it doesn't feel sharp at all.

I would have a concern with the front hole as it is right under the impact point for batoning on the spine.

so far, so good. the thing is so sharp thus far that minimal smacking is needed, splits well. batoning isn't a primary task thus far.

How is the vibration in the region in front of the handle if you use that for a impact point in batoning?

Any comments on the saw?

yes, it's not a saw it's more like a dedicated rasp/file. okay, sure, it's a saw. i don't use it as such. as a saw, it's not very efficient, and my $8 fiskars saw would out perform it on the first draw. however, it's very handy for notching/scoring.

How comfortable/secure is the handle in regards to heavy tip thrusting/stabbing.

so far, pretty comfy. heavy? stabbing rocks? haven't tried that yet. solid logs? given a few good pokes. seems as good as any. better than the khukris with handle rings in general.

The guard from the front hole looks a little problematic in regards to impacts.

i wouldn't know... ya shoulda jumped in on the discussion design thread when that came up dan?

The abrupt transition point of the grinds looks a bit harsh. I would be concerned about a stress fault right around the hook portion and through the front primary hole. I would be curious how that would respond to a traditional vice check and see if it bend smoothly of the arc tended to focus at those spots. This isn't a personal suggestion, just a comment/question for the maker.

again, i wouldn't know... the grinds themselves and transitions in general look smoother than other WSKs to my eyes (esp the quarter-rounder - it's smooooooth); perhaps the overall design is too abrupt, and i'm not going near a vise dan will have to attempt that one of his pictures shows a micro-cho as well on the nepalese kukris, they all have that cho... i don't quite get why, and it seems like a stress-riser waiting to happen, but thus far, that doesn't seem to be a fracture point that i've heard of. edges flying off, tips breaking, sometimes a handle snapping off, but not the cho.

bladite

 

[Cliff Stamp]

... on the nepalese kukris, they all have that cho... i don't quite get why, and it seems like a stress-riser waiting to happen, but thus far, that doesn't seem to be a fracture point that i've heard of.

The cho does weaken the blade at that point, but because it is so inherently durable there due to the massive amount of steel and the high toughness of the lower drawn hardness it is rarely a weak point. It is like tying a piece of hemp to a heavy link chain and filing into the chain. The filing does weaken the chain but the hemp rope will keep breaking when it is overloaded until you pretty much file right through the chain. Thanks for the details.

-Cliff

 

[Kevin the grey]

Bladite , always a competent display and an interesting subject . Trapping is hard to get into around here . I might hang out with a trapper I know and try to pick up a few pointers .

The thing that gets me about the figure four is its apparent fragility . Mustn,t whatever rests on it have to be well balanced and not sway too much in the wind ?

 

[Ravaillac]

What's the top hole for?

That's generally where you want more mass to be.