L-6 Destructive Tests

[Burchtree]

I've been jacking with this L-6 from Diehl Steel, and I think I'm pretty happy with it. This was the first "BUSK Proto" and instead of doing real work like I was supposed to I set to doing some destructive testing on it.

I've jacked around with the blade in the shop since I made it and cut limbs and chopped, but since it wasn't doing anything I set out to destroy it. I didn't accomplish it tonight, but I'm not giving up.

The 13-inch knife is 1/4-inch thick and tests out at 60 HRC and is hollow-ground with a simple cord wrap.

I started out pretty simple and I learned something very quickly -- I suck at cutting. You will not see me in the ABS cutting comp anytime soon, thats for sure. I hit the concrete floor once, and my vise twice -- but you'll see that here in a bit.

First off was somethign pretty simple -- cutting through a 2x6. It did it pretty easily, but pieces of it split off as I was cutting it. It is just some crappy pine wood, but it was there so I cut it. The blade was still shaving sharp after cutting through the board (as I would hope )

 

[Burchtree]

Next up; some real wood. I decide to baton the blade through a treated 4x4 and I figured I might as well use on of my forging hammers to do it (destructive test right?) The second pic shows some damage from a couple of glancing blows.

 

[Burchtree]

This is where my "abilities" really showed through. First, I chopped though the thinner batoned piece and hit the concrete and then I decided I was going to cut some leftover PVC pipe. I missed it twice and struck my vise. The first one put a little cut into the vise and the second swing took a chunk of enamel off. When I did hit the pipe, all it did was shatter, so that wasn't too exciting. The last pic shows some edge damage towards the tip. I don't know if it was from the concrete or the vise, I just know that I suck.

 

[Burchtree]

The good thing is -- it still shaved (don't mind the dry skin).

I wanted to do the ol' 50-gallon drum stab, but I didn't have one. What I did have was a piece of mild steel. I got it a couple of times, but the vise wouldn't hold it in place, so I had to resort to sitting it on top of the vise.

(you like them fancy calipers? )

 

[Burchtree]

And then I broke my damn hammer.

 

[Burchtree]

Finally, I got a bigger hammer and showed this turd who was boss. I drove it through the steel without seeming to damage, roll, or dull the point. You can see the damaged edge though where I hit the concrete/vise.

 

[Burchtree]

Well, that's it for now, but I'll post some more when I get a chance to tear it up some more. :thumbup:

 

[mete]

We've been trying to tell you that L-6 is tough, now you believe !!

 

[Colin Jason]

U CWEZZY!!!!1111oneoneone11!!111oneoneone!!111

 

[cooks 7]

nice, knife, very utilitarian but asthetically pleasing, good testing, makes me want to mess with some L6, what finish is that on the knife, it is parkerized?
looks like it held up pretty well too considering.
thanks for the info and the pics
jon

 

[F. Allin Kahrl]

U CWEZZY!!!!1111oneoneone11!!111oneoneone!!111

What the hell?

Michael, that's really impressive. I can't wait to see the rest.

How'd you do the HT?

-Allin

 

[Danbo]

what finish is that on the knife, it is parkerized?

I think it was Burch-erized!

 

[Burchtree]

What the hell?

Michael, that's really impressive. I can't wait to see the rest.

How's you do the HT?

-Allin

That would be my web-designer. He spends so much time working with computers that he starts to talk like one.

The blades are triple normalized, triple-quenched in Parks AAA and triple-tempered at 425.

The finish is gun-kote. It holds up pretty dang well, but the mild steel cutting got the better of it.

I think the next round will include some manila rope cutting, a bend test, and finish it off at the rifle range. :thumbup:

 

[Mark Williams]

Lash it to a pole and spear something, I have and old truck door for such tests

Neat stuff Michael

 

[blgoode]

chop a hole in a folding chair.............
http://bgoodeknives.com/images/chair_hole.jpg

 

[Danbo]

Put on some cammies and head over to the mall for some covert deanimation operations!

 

[Mark Williams]

Parking meters are fun ...and profitable to chop up on a Saturday night

Joking Kiddies

 

[John Frankl]

Hey Mark,

You ever see "Cool Hand Luke"? Parking meters can get you in trouble

As for the L6, looking very good!

John

 

[Don Hanson III]

L6 is good stuff, very good.
I used it for my JS test knife and after the 90 deg. bend it came back very, very close to straight.

Good testing and photos Michael.