My idea for a Becker handled WSK/Tracker-

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tobiism

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My idea for a Becker handled tracker-
I love my Beckers, I love foremost the handle shape. It really doesnt get any better. I also love the WSK, or tracker style knife. But I dont like the way the typical WSK/tracker knife is designed. I dont find that they work particularly well at chopping, and I want that in a one knife to rule all option.
So this is my idea. I modified the inner grip of the becker handle to allow my gloved hand just a bit more room. I canted the chopping section to allow more chopping power. I also like the batonning area on the Habilis Bushtool so I incorporated that as well. Im excited to get started on it but not sure where to get a slab of 1084/1095/5160 that size. I want it to be 3/16-1/4 of an inch thick.
What say you Becker collective?
​
 
It looks pretty good. I sat down, and designed my own version of the WSK. It doesn't even look like a tracker anymore. Todd Hunt will be making mine in the next few weeks. He's taking care of finding the steel. I know it has to be made to order, because it's an unorthodox design.
 
I think that design really only shines properly, out at the larger blade sizes. I do kinda like what you have there though. Think what that would b elike with say 10 inches of overall blade length.
Its not my boat that your lookin to float though ..lol Sooo make it like you like it and see how she does. I have a lot of fun coming up with Blade drawings.
 
image.jpg
I've been doing these for a little bit-messed with the tracker-style dual grind and felt like it wasn't needed if the geometry and ht were right (though it does look really cool). 6-1/2" in the blade, 5ish in the grip.
Got a set of factory becker grips in the mail to play with on a talibong/sundang style blade I'm working on (since I don't want to swipe the grips off my 5).
 
tobiism said:
My idea for a Becker handled tracker-
I love my Beckers, I love foremost the handle shape. It really doesnt get any better. I also love the WSK, or tracker style knife. But I dont like the way the typical WSK/tracker knife is designed. I dont find that they work particularly well at chopping, and I want that in a one knife to rule all option.
So this is my idea. I modified the inner grip of the becker handle to allow my gloved hand just a bit more room. I canted the chopping section to allow more chopping power. I also like the batonning area on the Habilis Bushtool so I incorporated that as well. Im excited to get started on it but not sure where to get a slab of 1084/1095/5160 that size. I want it to be 3/16-1/4 of an inch thick.
What say you Becker collective?
​
Click to expand...
Aldo at NJ Steel Baron will have it-I'd go for 1084 since 1095 can be a fussier to ht-your local sprin place would probably hook you up with a 5/16ish end cut of 5160. If you have basic forging access it'd be easy to forge the curve into a piece about the right width.
 
CM_Rick said:
It looks pretty good. I sat down, and designed my own version of the WSK. It doesn't even look like a tracker anymore. Todd Hunt will be making mine in the next few weeks. He's taking care of finding the steel. I know it has to be made to order, because it's an unorthodox design.
Click to expand...

Cool, cant wait to see what you two come up with!!!
 
J W Bensinger said:
Aldo at NJ Steel Baron will have it-I'd go for 1084 since 1095 can be a fussier to ht-your local sprin place would probably hook you up with a 5/16ish end cut of 5160. If you have basic forging access it'd be easy to forge the curve into a piece about the right width.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, looks like Aldo has exactly what I need!!!
 
J W Bensinger said:
View attachment 502312
I've been doing these for a little bit-messed with the tracker-style dual grind and felt like it wasn't needed if the geometry and ht were right (though it does look really cool). 6-1/2" in the blade, 5ish in the grip.
Got a set of factory becker grips in the mail to play with on a talibong/sundang style blade I'm working on (since I don't want to swipe the grips off my 5).
Click to expand...

Those are very cool! They look indestructable!!! This one is 7 inches in the blade.
 
Thats a cool knife, but it still looks like it has very little sweet spot for chopping. Thats where I am trying to make this one shine, Only a 7 inch blade length but I think it will chop very well.

daizee said:
what, like this? :D :
https://crosstownoutdoors.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/knife-night-4/

sharpened clip, green micarta scales. Much better handle than the original, and scaled back to reasonable size.
NOT made by me, but by that fella whose name is on it.
Click to expand...
 
Silverthorn said:
I think that design really only shines properly, out at the larger blade sizes. I do kinda like what you have there though. Think what that would b elike with say 10 inches of overall blade length.
Its not my boat that your lookin to float though ..lol Sooo make it like you like it and see how she does. I have a lot of fun coming up with Blade drawings.
Click to expand...

Yeah I bet it would be a monster at that length. Buuuut I want it more compact so I am trying to pack a punch in a shorter length.
 
More punch in a shorter blade=go wider in the chopping section and grind a full convex, spine to edge-it adds weight and momentum without adding thickness, and a wide convex ground blade bites deep.
Might require either forging or a wider piece of stock.
 
J W Bensinger said:
More punch in a shorter blade=go wider in the chopping section and grind a full convex, spine to edge-it adds weight and momentum without adding thickness, and a wide convex ground blade bites deep.
Might require either forging or a wider piece of stock.
Click to expand...

So do you mean taller blade from edge to spine in the chopping area? I went 2.5 inches tall where I think the sweet spot for chopping is going to be.
 
tobiism said:
Thats a cool knife, but it still looks like it has very little sweet spot for chopping. Thats where I am trying to make this one shine, Only a 7 inch blade length but I think it will chop very well.
Click to expand...

indeed, that one I linked to is going to Afghanistan, not for a weekend in the woods.
 
tobiism said:
So do you mean taller blade from edge to spine in the chopping area? I went 2.5 inches tall where I think the sweet spot for chopping is going to be.
Click to expand...
Yes, that's what I meant. It adds weight and decreases the cross section a bit.
 
Honestly, what you've done is a really good improvement on the Tracker's chopping ability. That's something I know an awful lot about. I say go with what you have. I think if you added more height to the chopping belly you will lose the profile you're going for. I can see it going too much towards a habilus bushtool. Also, the grind you have drawn for the working blade ( in front of the hilt) would be awesome as an original hollow grind if you go with 1/4" stock. If you go 3/16" I would use a flat grind. Just a thought. I'm digging what you've got here.
 
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