Miles off topic: My new knife, a TRUE competitor for Jerry! PHOTO UPDATE

J

joshiecole

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Apr 29, 2012
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Yep, that's right.

For too long Jerry has been the undisputed (apart from by people who complain about prices) king of the tough knife. I've been thinking it's time someone laid down the gauntlet :p

So far I have only done the easy bit -- My nice chunk of A2 steel has arrived. Its pretty hefty at 15" long, 2" wide and 7/16ths thick! I've been blacksmithing on and off since I was 12/13 using my anvil and forge, but it's going to be a big big challenge to beat/grind this beast down to a more reasonable thickness!

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So what will it look like.....

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DUD DUD DAAAAAA (imagine sinister Star Wars Darth Vada type musical bombast) Yes maybe it does look a bit similar to an old enemy..... all part of the fun. (it's also inspired by the 12-9 Randall with the #14 grind)

Anyway, I know I should have posted this in the 'United Smithiers and Grinders Metal Working Collective' section of this website, but frankly I don't know anyone there. Also before people post back in righteous indignation at my cockiness, calling me a jumped up little git, please appreciate that while I am attempting to make a nice tough knife, my initial comments were tongue in cheek.... Thanks everyone!
 
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First I admire your willingness to post this in a forum where we already have the best overall knives:D

I dig the design, it sort of looks Trail Masterish, sorry I don't know squat about Randalls or what a 14 grind is. Personally I never cared for a guard extending above the spine. It is classic and done on tons of blades, but just not my cup of tea. Are you going for full exposed tang?

As Tony the Tiger would say, LLLOOOOOKS GRRRRREAT!!!!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Thanks guys,

Gravelface, you're spot on with the TM, that's what I meant by 'the old enemy' :p the design is harking back to the era when the TM might have reasonably been discussed as a competitor, when they used Carbon V, made them in the US/Japan etc. My inspiration is what might have been born had a certain company stepped up to the plate and grown from the constructive criticism thrown their way.... for example, matching the A2 used by Jerry on the earlier Busses, and switching the handle to full (yes exposed) tang micarta slabs...

re the top guard, I've been quite careful with this. It's actually a feature I actively like on the Team Gemini. I will do my best to make sure that it's possible to choke up over or around like on the TG....

Thanks for the constructive thoughts
 
I stopped at the first picture. That one already seems like a really tough knife.

But I suppose I'll let you continue and make a real knife :p update with pictures! We don't have enough work-in-progress threads around!
 
7/16" is pretty ambitious!
you going to leave it full thickness in the tang and draw the blade out longer for balance?
 
7/16" is pretty ambitious!
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I know! It was the thinnest that the nice guys in Sheffield could cut it for me. I'm going to have my work cut out.

you going to leave it full thickness in the tang and draw the blade out longer for balance?
Click to expand...

Funnily enough that was a question I was asking myself this morning. And I dont think so, its just ridiculously thick. It's about 11mm, which starts to make a kukri look skinny. I'm still going to be grinding at Christmas I think!!
 
Haha, Lycosa wants it chisel-grind straight from 7/16ths?? that would be an absolute beast! Not quite what I was thinking though :p Having said that, I have another couple of projects in the pipeline. I want to do another one of these in a slightly unusual steel, and then possibly more of an 'entry tool' type thing...
 
Sounds cool! Be sure and post some pics of your progress...

A2 in 7/16ths is certainly going to be one tough chunk of steel.


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What about a full zero edge assymetrical grind?! E.g like on a basic edge but for the whole grind?? Convex on one side, chisel on the other?
 
You are an inspiration. Someday I will also give it a shot. Might have to wait until retirement though... Good luck and pls share pics as you progress.
 
Ha, I think 'inspiration' is far too kind to my lunacy. I just thought it was a shame that there was no longer any kind of (un)healthy competition between CS and Busse in the hard-use knife niche.... So I'm upgrading the TM, which is a knife I've always found attractive, to at least create some healthy competition in my knife collection! :p

I will update with photos, but it will be a little while before post any pics because I need to wait for my new grinder....

BP, I wouldn't be assyming this one, it was just an idea for the future.
 
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