New KLO from Shane Justice - nice!

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
20,978
Shane's been pounding some steel...:eek:

:p


I'll let him do the talking...
 
Wow! She really looks good! As I type this she is right in front of me...only looks a lot different. I spent yesterday at the grinder...she is finished to a 120 grit. The lines are really sweet.

Wish I could take some of the credit. It(The steel) just did it all by itself. Anybody who works at a craft knows what I mean. You just start working...and a couple of hours later you sort of "wake up" and there you are. That's how it works for me...sometimes.

The steel is 52100 from a 3" ball bearings.
From one bearing forged down I got three smaller blades and this one.

For anybody who is interested here are the specs:

OAL is 10 inches...
Width at Ricaso/Tang Junction...1 and 3/16 inches
Width at the "Elbow"...1 and 9/16 inches
Width at the belly...1 and 11/16 inches
Thickness at the ricasso...5\16"
thickness at the elbow...1/4"
thickness at the tip...1/8th"
Degree of angle...10 degrees

I did not plan any of these..that is just the way it happened...in fact I don't use any measuring devices in the shop...except when I fit gurds...eyeball is the best measuring device for this kind of work.

Ok...I know what you are thinking...this is a damn small kuk! Right?
But consider the requirements for the ABS cutting competition and you can see where I am headed.

If you want I will send pics to Dan as the blade comes to life...with a little more time she should be ready for the fire again.We take the heat treating pretty seriously. I have decided to multi quench in oil. The water method is in the future...but still beyond my ability.

Thank you for all of your interest...btw KUKS RULE!

Shane
 
Originally posted by shane justice
Sorry guys...No cho on this blade out of respect for the true
World Makers!
Shane

Shane, I was just kidding, but that's a very nice answer. Judging by the picture, you've got nothing to be ashamed about with that blade. What kind of handle are you going to put on it?
--Josh
 
Originally posted by shane justice


1- Wow! She really looks good!

2- Ok...I know what you are thinking...this is a damn small kuk! Right?
But consider the requirements for the ABS cutting competition and you can see where I am headed.

3- If you want I will send pics to Dan as the blade comes to life...

4- Thank you for all of your interest...btw KUKS RULE!

Shane

1- -She- most -surely- Does!!!!

2- Just the right size for what it looks like you're planning!!!:)

3- By all means Shane please do. I for one would be most interested in seeing your processes!!!!

4- No. Thank You so very Much for Sharing them with us. Beautiful job!!!!
You should be very, very proud.:D

I do know what you mean about things just coming together sometimes. I love it when that happens!!!!:cool: :)
 
Kevin Cashen won the chopping portion of the cutting competition at Blade 2003 with a recurve KLO - (Khuk-Like-Object)...even more, it was damascus...;)

Recurves have a clear advantage in the chopping part (duh...:footinmou)...but I've seen them fail at other parts - especially the cut-the-soda-can in half trick. If you can get yours to pass the can test, then I think you will have a superb test blade.

The trick is the right approach angle and hitting the can before your swing is at its zenith. make sense? Plus it helps to have a nice distal taper...

Good luck with it Shane. Off to a great start!
 
We (my wife and I) are truly overwhelmed by the enthusiasm everybody has generated.

We were talking it over...maybe it would be good to do a pass around with this KLO when it is finished.

I would love to hear all of your suggestions about improvements that should be made both astetic and performance oriented.That does not mean we can chop cinder bricks. HEEHEEE! Sorry! Just some realistic cutting for honest evals.

This blade may end up as one of my journeyman test blades.

It is possible that I may screw it up at some point. (It happens.)

I'll keep you all up to speed on what is going on...as best I can. If it turns to crap, I'll say so... DEAL?

SHane
 
Can't ask for more than that.

I'd be honored to be part of that passaround. I had the good luck to handle Pen's Moose Knife, when it was passed around.
 
I ran the first hardening cycle on this KLO this AM. Should have some pics when I finish in about nine days...
Shane
 
The heat treat is something you can't rush...even if you wanted to...
It's the time when you hafta be both fast and patient...it is one of the few time when a quiet mind meets chaos!

Soon as I can!
Shane
 
what do you have in mind for the final finish?
 
Dan,
Because a blade could go south during the process I rarely think about finishing until I am there.

Because I am looking to compete with this one...it has to have a total length of 15"...which makes it hard to put a good sized handle on it. For this size blade...I regularly go 5 and a half or six inches. I like chunky handles on Choppers. And one I can slide my hand further back for tougher jobs. You guys all know about this.

Anyhow, I also need a full guard which throws out the traditional Khukuri look.( I reserve the right to make this more traditional...it may be to purty to compete with!)

I will finish the blade to a dull mirror on a green buff, then acid etch to reveal the hardened edge...should be purty.

Brass guard.
Probably use green canvas micarta for the handle. Again I reserve the right to use buffalo horn if everything looks right. It's kind of an aesthetic thing.

Maybe I should let you guys decide ? That would be kind of fun.How about it? Anybody got something they would like to see?

Shane
 
Dan, It's not a requirement, but a preferrence. Using a cold steel magnumn tanto, doing a penetration test, hand slipped over the guard and onto the blade. Severed tendons nerve damage...the works. Now I don't work muck without a guard. On this project I may opt out on the guard...never know.
Shane
 
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