My New "Big Knife"

chuckinohio said:
I am now visualizing a zombie hacking millitia unit armed with Grosse Messers keeping the world safe for non brain eaters:thumbup:

Chuck
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Based on this thread we at least have a squad. ;)

To you guys that bought one, how was the out of the box sharpness?
As I stated in my initial post, mine wasn't that sharp out of the box.
It's considerably sharper now though. Bring on the zombies.
 
yerscattergun said:
Based on this thread we at least have a squad. ;)

To you guys that bought one, how was the out of the box sharpness?
As I stated in my initial post, mine wasn't that sharp out of the box.
It's considerably sharper now though. Bring on the zombies.
Click to expand...

Out of the box, I thought that it was pretty sharp. It appears to be convex with a small secondary bevel and was uniform all the way to the tip where the grind was uniform but the edge was not as sharp as I think it should be at the tip. Perhaps there is a variation in the thickness of the blade towards the tip, or the grinder was a bit befuddled on a large blade.
I would say that the last two inches or so of the blade at the tip were a bit lacking IMO. Other than that, it was shed the box, draw the sword, and commence to wreaking my vengeance upon the undead.

Of course with the BBK motto of "Let no Sword go unmodded" I will be touching the edge up towards the tip this weekend. I am also thinking of using thin leather lacing that is 1/4 inch wide to wrap the handle for more grippy purchase. What think ye, o Brothers of the Big Knife?

The GM made short work of a galon milk jug full of water, almost cut cleanly through it also. I chalk up its failure to cleanly sever the jug to my poor cutting technique more than the edge. The blade is surprisingly lively for its size, and while the handle gives good purchase and indexing I feel that it could be a bit more grippy.

How did you sharpen your GM?

Chuck
 
pittsteele said:
just got it, it's sharp! but the guard is a little loose...was yours???
Click to expand...

No, my guard is very rigid, even pounded on it a bit with the heel
of my hand. Just wondering, does your have the metal spacer between
the guard and wood? Post a pic if you can.
 
yerscattergun said:
No, my guard is very rigid, even pounded on it a bit with the heel
of my hand. Just wondering, does your have the metal spacer between
the guard and wood? Post a pic if you can.
Click to expand...

Mine has no spacer between the wood handle and the guard, the handle butts right up to the guard, and the guard has been rock solid so far.

I haven't gotten a chance to touch up the edge at the tip yet, how are you fellas going at yours to sharpen? I'm thinking of doing it on my wheels, if I can keep this large of a blade steady and control it.

I stated above that the blade appeared to be convex, and after studying it harder, it may be very slightly convex, but I would have to call it flat ground.
It's real hard to tell because the profile is so slim.

Chuck
 
Here's a pics of the spacer between the guard and the handle on mine:


Roof-8130.jpg



pittsteele, I would try sending it back to CS. I don't think I would put up
with a loose guard. They have good customer service, give them a try.

chuckinohio, my blade appears at first glance to be convex also. But
it is a "flat" grind like you said. As I mentioned mine came kind of dull.
I've used quite a few Cold Steel machetes in the past and they are all
1055 so I used what I use to sharpen them, a file. I used it with very light pressure on the blade and got a good edge pretty quick(although the steel seems a little harder on the Grosse Messer than the machetes). I then
finished the edge with a steel rod. It isn't razor sharp but I wouldn't want
to be on the receving end.
 
yerscattergun,

Yep, on first look the blade appears to be convex, if ever so slight, but I'm with you on the flat ground thing.
I never thought of taking a file to it to sharpen, guess that I was hung up on it being a sword and all, so it must be more complex to sharpen! I will use your method and see how I can get it to come out. Mine was surprisingly sharp right out of the box, except for the area I pointed out above. It doesn't really need sharpened, but you know how that song and dance goes:D

Is that metal piece a spacer or is it also a ferrule over the end of the handle? Mine has nothing resembling it, and I feel a bit left out. Perhaps I have a rare variant:thumbup: More likely that someone just forgot to put it on there:mad: Could be that cold steel uses it to take up play in the handle to guard joint or something along those lines.

Chuck
 
chuckinohio said:
Mine has nothing resembling it, and I feel a bit left out. Perhaps I have a rare variant:thumbup: More likely that someone just forgot to put it on there:mad: Could be that cold steel uses it to take up play in the handle to guard joint or something along those lines. Chuck
Click to expand...

ditto. plus no response yet from their customer service :mad: update, they did just reply, told me to send it in for an evaluation...what a pain in the ass haha
 
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pittsteele said:
ditto. plus no response yet from their customer service :mad: update, they did just reply, told me to send it in for an evaluation...what a pain in the ass haha
Click to expand...

Please let us know what they say. Did you have to pay shippingto CS?(I'm assuming you did).

Long Live BBK! :D
 
pittsteele said:
yea i have to pay shipping, sending it back this weekend. cant wait to see the turnaround time :rolleyes:
Click to expand...


I hear you. I sent a Musashi katana back last week and it cost
me $14. I don't even know if they will replace it yet either. I'm
sure Cold Steel will take care of your issue though. Let us
know.
 
update: finally got mine back. cost me $19 to ship it out. was back to me in about a week. this one is right on :thumbup: solid fittings, good overall quality and sharp! so all in all, i'm pretty stoked. no worries :D
 
pittsteele said:
update: finally got mine back. cost me $19 to ship it out. was back to me in about a week. this one is right on :thumbup: solid fittings, good overall quality and sharp! so all in all, i'm pretty stoked. no worries :D
Click to expand...


Excellent! I knew they would take care of you. Did they replace it or
just fix it? Just curious, probably much easier for them to just send
you a new one. Also, does it have the spacer as on the pics above?

Phonebooks are no longer safe in your house. :D

Oh yes, keep the blade oiled, it rusts just by looking at it.
 
yerscattergun said:
Excellent! I knew they would take care of you. Did they replace it or
just fix it? Just curious, probably much easier for them to just send
you a new one. Also, does it have the spacer as on the pics above?

Phonebooks are no longer safe in your house. :D

Oh yes, keep the blade oiled, it rusts just by looking at it.
Click to expand...

yup, a new one with the spacer :thumbup: what kind of oil you using???
 
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