I posted over in the general forum about a decent small flat ground fixed blade for work. I cut a good bit of cardboard and have to open boxes all the time. I bought a spyderco endura for this and it works wonderfully. However, I'm constantly getting dust and grit in my pivot area and I really bugs me. So I'm thinking, maybe a little fixed blade. I ordered an old hickory 7 inch butcher knife that I'm going to grind and file down to a friendly EDC size. I'm hoping this will accomplish what I'm looking for. I'm thinking about making the blade a clip or drop point and 3 3/4 inches to about 4 and maybe shortening the handle a tad too. I'd like to keep the overall length under 8 inches just so I don't scare anyone by carrying a large fixed blade. If y'all have any suggestions ( hint hint pictures) that would be awesome. I'd love to see what some of you have accomplished with these knives!
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Old Hickory
- Thread starter Bighaze51
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Buy a 4" Hickory knife???
(Seriously, I don't get grinding a 7" knife down to 4 ".... I'm thinking there's plenty of 4" knives available? For example, Kershaw makes a fixed blade version of their Skyline, or something like that...)
Buy a 4" Hickory knife???
(Seriously, I don't get grinding a 7" knife down to 4 ".... I'm thinking there's plenty of 4" knives available? For example, Kershaw makes a fixed blade version of their Skyline, or something like that...)
Very true. And I really like the fixed blade version of the skyline. But my funds are limited right now ( brand new baby ). I also looked at that model of the old hickory. The butcher knife is wider from spine to edge which I like. It will also be a fun project. The larger blade will give me more to be creative with. If I had an extra $50 or $60 to spend on a blade right now, I would get an izula.
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Old Hickory makes a 3.25 paring knife that might work better. Ragnar also sells a bunch of Moras that have nice sheaths for utility carry and are very inexpensive. Condor has some as well - the mini bushlore is a good utility sized knife. Many of the more obvious knives in this category will benefit from a good thinning down for the kind of work you're describing, but might be a lot easier than the mods you're contemplating for the larger Old Hickory.
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Very true. And I really like the fixed blade version of the skyline. But my funds are limited right now ( brand new baby ). I also looked at that model of the old hickory. The butcher knife is wider from spine to edge which I like. It will also be a fun project. The larger blade will give me more to be creative with. If I had an extra $50 or $60 to spend on a blade right now, I would get an izula.
Thanks. I thought about this after posting, that maybe you're going for a particular look you couldn't find. And can't argue with grinding just for fun... have done that a few times myself.
The Moras are definitely cool too. I have the small 2.0 I think but the handle is really short. And the companion robust but I like that one the way it is. I may end up getting the smaller old hickory eventually. The more I think about it, I may end up doing more of a spyderco tenacious leaf shaped type blade. I'm carrying my file knife I made a couple years ago today just too get a feel for fixed blade EDC. I'm liking this a lot better. The wide thin blade of the old hickory will make me happier though
Cbwx34, you are right on the money. Especially after seein some of the mods others have done, I gotta have one. Your cant argue with the price either
Cbwx34, you are right on the money. Especially after seein some of the mods others have done, I gotta have one. Your cant argue with the price either
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if you look around at salvation army and other like stores, you might find some old hickories to play with. They last forever, and were once very common. Since the high-carbon steel and slab handles make them look kinda junky, I bet they would be much cheaper than cheap stainless crap!
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Wondering if you've seen any tutorials on taking down the Mora classics that don't have the exposed tang on the bottom of he handle? I'd like to put the blade from a 2.0 on one of the larger handles.
I've some Old Hickories that I inherited from my wife's parents when they died and some I got a thrift type stores.
They all take and hold an awesome edge. They are my standard kitchen knives. All carbon steel of course.
The old carbon Moras were good knives, used many of them. Don't like the modern ones as I hate
plastic. They look like cheap junk IMHO.
Rich
Scratch that, it's the mora 2/0. It's like 6 inches total. . I did glue a little walnut cap on the handle to make it longer. It's still a little short. I think it will end up being my sons first fixed blade when he is old enough. I've come up with with a design for my OH if it EVER gets here. I think it's going to end up looking like a fixed blade endura. Once I tweet it a little ill post a picture of the design to share
. I did glue a little walnut cap on the handle to make it longer. It's still a little short. I think it will end up being my sons first fixed blade when he is old enough. I've come up with with a design for my OH if it EVER gets here. I think it's going to end up looking like a fixed blade endura. Once I tweet it a little ill post a picture of the design to shareOkay, here is my idea. I won't know for sure if I can get this exact shape until the donor knife arrives but this is the shape that gives me the tingles just thinking about it. Included is my zdp189 endura for a size comparison. The overall length is right at 8 inches.
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I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out. I have an old carbon steel kitchen that came in a box my Dad's old things that he probably picked up at a garage sale. I don't recall him ever using it, and its been ground down so it no longer looks nice in its current form. Have been wanting to take a bit off the handle and turn it into more of a roach belly pattern. Am not very good at making sheaths so its not a real priority, but would make for a heck of an EDU. Seeing this progress might get me moving.
Not to derail a perfectly fun sounding project, but the best cardboard cutter I've found is the Opinel N9. Handle is big enough to fill my XL hands and the blade is thin and convex and continues to cut even as it dulls (as cardboard does). I'd take the handle of an Opinel over the thin slabs of an Old Hickory and the thin blade of the Opinel over the wider blade of a Mora (for this job). Gunk doesn't bother the pivot and lockring either.
This is in no way meant to stop a good project. Just an observation.
This is in no way meant to stop a good project. Just an observation.
It's funny you say that, I actually use my opinel no.9 at work sometimes. And you are right on the money, it is a great slicer. I really have found over the last few days that I prefer fixed blade carry though. No opening and closing, no gunk in a pivot. Just pull and slice. And it's one hand operated I did get confirmation of shipment last night so hopefully the project will begin next week
I did get confirmation of shipment last night so hopefully the project will begin next weekI probably draw my knife at least 50 times during the day. And a lot of times I'm holding a box in one hand while pulling out the knife with other. One hand operation is a big help. Once I get this thing made, I will definitely make a friction sheath for it. I'm not a big fan of snaps or retaining straps. They usually end up getting cut while outing the knife back in the sheath.
And yes, a fixed blade opinel would be freakin awesome!!
Hey guys, it's been a while since I've messed with this project but I've finally found a little free time to put it back in action. I just wanted to share my progress so far to see what y'all think.
So, here is the butcher knife with the design drawn out on the blade and handle
Next, the blade is roughly cut out using my northern tool dremel cutoff wheel. It took about an hour total to cut the excess off without over heating the blade.
And this is where I am now. I've smoothed out the spine transition, shaped and sanded the handle to 1500 grit. I've applied several coats of boiled linseed oil to finish the handle. As you can see, I still have some more work to do on the grind to get the marks out. That would be a little easier if I had a belt sander but I'm doing this the old fashioned way with my harbor Frieght diamond stones.
The one thing that puzzles me is the handle wood. I know it's an old hickory and you would think the handle wood would be hickory but I swear it looks and smells like walnut. Either way, I'm pleased with the progress so far.
So, here is the butcher knife with the design drawn out on the blade and handle
Next, the blade is roughly cut out using my northern tool dremel cutoff wheel. It took about an hour total to cut the excess off without over heating the blade.
And this is where I am now. I've smoothed out the spine transition, shaped and sanded the handle to 1500 grit. I've applied several coats of boiled linseed oil to finish the handle. As you can see, I still have some more work to do on the grind to get the marks out. That would be a little easier if I had a belt sander but I'm doing this the old fashioned way with my harbor Frieght diamond stones.
The one thing that puzzles me is the handle wood. I know it's an old hickory and you would think the handle wood would be hickory but I swear it looks and smells like walnut. Either way, I'm pleased with the progress so far.
