Fixed blades

Lazy afternoon. On porch with shade and a breeze, whittling and relaxing.
A really great knife. Very simple, but comfortable, takes/holds a great edge.
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Crag the Brewer said:
As soon as I finished, I took her outside and chopped her into the ground, cleaning up the pussy willow suckers.
I've got the heat treatment at 62HRC, which is kinda hard for a chopper, but it helps hold up my thin, acute edges. No damage.













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Really digging the giant puukko blade shape. I think it's your best work yet, great lines.
 
JWright214 said:
Who makes this one? I really dig that a lot, especially seeing it’s in Nitro-V
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It's a Vosteed Mink. (I scale-swapped between versions and did some ergonomic softening.) Even stock, it's one of my favorite production fixed blades for what it is.

Vosteed has used a couple of different manufacturers and were supposedly working towards setting up their own manufacturing. If I had to guess, this one was probably made for them by Kubey.
 
Chronovore said:
It's a Vosteed Mink. (I scale-swapped between versions and did some ergonomic softening.) Even stock, it's one of my favorite production fixed blades for what it is.

Vosteed has used a couple of different manufacturers and were supposedly working towards setting up their own manufacturing. If I had to guess, this one was probably made for them by Kubey.
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I like it a lot. It’s a sleek and simple design. It reminds me of the Spartan Alala
 
JWright214 said:
I like it a lot. It’s a sleek and simple design. It reminds me of the Spartan Alala
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Yeah, it's a great size that balances ease of carry and a full grip. The blade is just over 3.3" and about 0.12" at its thickest, so quite capable and a decent slicer. It comes with a good Kydex (or comparable) sheath and an attachment that acts like a skinny Tek Lok. (I switched to soft loop.)
 
ferider said:
All cool, Crag, but that large chopper is amazing ! Really great work on the scales, too ! I can tell some love went into that one.
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I appreciate that, Thank You. It's Crazy comfortable. It has classic modern Bowie handle vibes.... I tried to incorporate and study a Master. Then make it MY own.
But actually, the chopper is pretty easy to make, now that I know how the design is supposed to be.... Haha. I'm self taught, so I kinda have to use a Lot of knives to learn what I like and what I dont.
My intention is to keep/use that chopper now as a reference model for duplicating it to others. I consciously placed my hardware for reference points too.
Id like to make a few More of these choppers and offer a decent "low cost" option for people who don't wanna/can't spend a thousand dollars on one like we are seeing today...Ugh!

*I'll lend it out, soon to interested parties. (Not For parties, I'm not going to be responsible) unless you invite me, and it's Fun....haha

My personal favorite handle is the unmarked one next to it. *edit (on the left, I forgot my Becker handled one isn't done/marked yet) That's my Long Paw handle design.... She's full figured, and hand filling.
 
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Crag the Brewer said:
I appreciate that, Thank You. It's Crazy comfortable. It has classic modern Bowie vibes.... I tried to incorporate and study a Master. Then make it MY own.
But actually, the chopper is pretty easy to make, now that I know how the design is supposed to be.... Haha. I'm self taught, so I kinda have to use a Lot of knives to learn what I like and what I dont.
My intention is to keep/use that chopper now as a reference model for duplicating it to others. I consciously placed my hardware for reference points too.
Id like to make a few More of these choppers and offer a decent "low cost" option for people who don't wanna/can't spend a thousand dollars on one like we are seeing today...Ugh!

My personal favorite handle is the unmarked one next to it. That's my Long Paw handle design.... She's full figured, and hand filling.
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What are your preferred steels to use?
 
SwissHeritageCo said:
What are your preferred steels to use?
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I Used to say ALL of them....haha. But I'm tweaking my thoughts recently.

Knife buying, using, designing, making is a journey.
I'm slowly changing.

5 years ago I would of told you 3V is my favorite steel, and is the greatest thing ever.

Now, after I know what I want more in knives, I don't really like it as much.
I might not ever buy it again, idk?
And don't say it's because of the heat treating. I'm very fortunate to have one of the higher accredited makers, well respected in the Community, and referenced by all (most) do a Lot of my higher alloy steels, and he is kinda coming to the same conclusion...... 3V is GREAT for beefier edges, and obtuse angles, it really is.

Maybe the perfect steel for a survival knife.

But I really like very Hard, thin bte, and very acute edges. Less than .015", and less than 15°


So depending on what knife I'm making, I choose the steel.

Edc I love HSS, I love D2, I love love love Cruwear. I'm open to try magnacut.

Big stuff. I love 8670, 15n20, AEBL, I'm trying some A8mod in this next batch.

Cooking knives I've been very happy with Nito V/Aebl, and honesty 8670 Hard is Fun too. I'm trying Wolfram next, I hope to like it.

AEB-L & it's cousin's, if I'm a deserted island and can only use 1 steel. It's probably My fav..... But if I'm needing to sound trendy or fancy, I Love CPM Cruwear


Bonus Points....
Which of the above grouping is 3V? (No snooping past posts) haha
 
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ferider said:
All cool, Crag, but that large chopper is amazing ! Really great work on the scales, too ! I can tell some love went into that one.
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I totally agree! That large chopper just screams ‘swing me’🤣. So nice to be able to swing forcefully when tired or simply cut with cold hands and not ‘have to’ grip like a vise.

A beautiful bad-ass blade with a poor handle design is such a waste. My favorite makers seem to put as much thought into handle design as they do the blade.
 
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