Smatchet.

G

ghostsix

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Something is rotten in the State of Danemark.I don`t know what but,my B.S. Meter is sounding off.

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Smokey Mountain Knife Works is selling the Boker Mini Smatchet for $ 69.00. It's not a Buck, but if there not going to manufacture it, at least there is an option.
 
Ghostsix, would you mind letting us in on the secret subject of your short rant?

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh
 
Ghost six, I agree with Hugh, why is your BS meter going off?
I guarantee you that what I have posted is not spin control, I'm not a marketer, just our Quality guy... I present the facts as I know them...

I saw the Boker in one of the latest mags.. Looks like a nice little unit.
Jeff



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Jeff "Without data it's just another opinion" Hubbard
JeffH@buckknives.com
www.buckknives.com
Watch for Pete's Custom Knife Shoppe on www.buckknives.com

 
Hi Jeff,you stated that Buck`s grinders were sub-standard and could not be trusted with double edge grinds for their own safety.This may be true.Buck blades are not designed to a high degree of grinding skill.My question would be on the M-9.There are some complex grinds on that and,they are well done.Did you outsource the grinding?If so,the poor,and indeed,dangerous quality of your grinders is somewhat credible.I have no reason.other than common sense,not to believe you.I`m sure that there is a credible explanation.

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Ghost, 1st I never stated Buck grinders were sub-standard..
i think we are talking about two different grinds.... You are talking a machine grind and I am talking about hand sharpening...
The one I think you are talking about is The inital Hollowgrind. This was tough, but no problem or saftey issue. Your right we do that all the time... We don't usually outsource any grinding...

The safety issue comes in on final edging and Sharpening. The final 30 deg included angle that forms the cutting edge. Imagine the big smatchet. You've just put the edge on the first side and it now sharp with a burr. Now you have to flip that blade over and while you are sanding the 2nd edge the 1st edge is pointing at your chest. Not too bad yet... Next operation: remove the burr with a buffing wheel (we now use a leather wheel). This 8" wheel is extremely easy to hang a blade up in.. I've done it removeing burrs on tool blades (luckily I had agood grip!!). So now you've got a big knife with two sharp, but with burr edges. Now is the real risk. The soft wheels will catch easily if you do not use the proper angle height, and have the edge too flat on the wheel the backlash has the potential to drive that 2nd edge right into the operators chest.(just about any square corner will catch, definatly a thin edge). Did anyone get hurt? No. Was the potential there? Yes.


BTW the Bayonet was cake for us.


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Jeff "Without data it's just another opinion" Hubbard
JeffH@buckknives.com
www.buckknives.com
Watch for Pete's Custom Knife Shoppe on www.buckknives.com



[This message has been edited by Jeff Hubbard (edited 24 April 1999).]
 
Thanks for the info Jeff,I notice that Randall charges $215.for the #1 and $220.for the #2.I took two SOG`s and a couple of lawnmower blades in to be ground a couple of years ago.I wanted a sharp back edge on the knives.The guy just said OK and did a pretty nice job on all.This is not Walter Brend,the new grinds were not polished;they were sharp.I`m sure that they are out there but,I`ve never encountered a grinder who balked at dbl.edges.The $5. extra in the Randall example must reflect their opinion on the increased leval of difficulty for them.Of course,they have a long history of making them.I wouldn`t think that they would skip that in training but,none of my Buck`s has required that particular skill from the factory.This brings up an interesting point.I think that the M-9 is the only U.S. Bayonnet not to have a dbl. edge grind at the tip.I have a stock one here and,the chisel grind with a secondary bevel is quite unique.This is of course,a function of the wire cutter.Which,by the way,has little wobble in position.All in all, a very interesting and well made piece.I saw a recent photo of a SEAL with one fixed so,they retain popularity in some quarters.
188C is unusal as well but,it seems to perform well.
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[This message has been edited by ghostsix (edited 24 April 1999).]
 
While we're still on the Smatchet....

The other night, I was watching the Disco. channel, and they had a special on Assassins and the CIA, etc. One of the specialty weapons that came out during/after WWII was the Smatchet. IIRC, the sole purpose in designing the weapon was for the guy taking out a sentry. The sentries were of course always helmetted. If the attacker missed intended poi just slightly, the knife could be stopped by the lip on the edge of the German helmets. So, they designed the smatchet, a knife heavy enough that if it hit the lip of the steel helmet, it would either incapacitate by the enormous impact on the helmet, or shear through the edge of the helmet and continue into the softer matter underneath. UGLY! But, that was what they said.

Assuming all that is true, I can see Buck's (the man) reluctance to produce the smatchet. Can't exactly say that I agree with him, but I can understand it better.

about $0.02 worth,
O_D
 
The Disco channel? I thought Disco was dead!!!!
wink.gif

Jeff 'stuck in the 70's' Hubbard

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Jeff "Without data it's just another opinion" Hubbard
JeffH@buckknives.com
www.buckknives.com
Watch for Pete's Custom Knife Shoppe on www.buckknives.com

 
Just to help muddy the waters a little...I understand Jeff's point about how they sharpen knives at Buck. My shop can grind double edge knives because we use a slow wet-wheel grinder, not a belt sander, which requires finish buffing. When you have to do about a knife per two minutes, it makes much more sense to do them on a belt grinder. When you're doing them in 10 or 15 minutes and getting paid for them, you can take the time to polish them on crock stix or steels, or both, which is my preference. I worked for a short time in the finishing department at Taylor Guitars, which is just around the corner from Buck. We also used buffers. I only lost one guitar body to the buffer which was unreparable-luckily two more were able to be fixed, since they retail at a bout a grand to start. Anyway, things grabbed by the buffer will be shot at the floor, and almost always bounce, which is not a great idea when you're talking about something like a Smatchet. Al Mar had one years ago which was just huge-a repro of the OSS knife, which a Zytel handle and serrations added to the base of the blade. Awesome knife, but pretty well useless. Too large to carry, and difficult to use except as a slashing weapon. It would take a sentry's arm off at the elbow, though. Considering it's original intent and Buck's demographics, it would likely be at best a lukewarm seller, and could very well damage the reputation Buck has made. It's probably best that they leave it to someone like Al Mar (fat chance it'll ever be seen again) or SOG. Cold Steel could make one, but then it would be over-priced and overrated.

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A flute with no holes is not a flute, but a donut with no holes, is a danish.
 
Haji,
You used to work at Taylor? WE just went on a tour there last friday. Awesome place. its right across the street from Buck. I wondered if there were any buffing rejects. They have that one wall with what looked like 12" wheels and were buffing away. I was drooling the whole time. I told the wife to skip the monitor I want and just get me a Baby Taylor!!!
We saw some awesome wood there also. We are trying to get some Koa for Pete's custom knife shoppe.

Jeff


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Jeff "Without data it's just another opinion" Hubbard
JeffH@buckknives.com
www.buckknives.com
Watch for Pete's Custom Knife Shoppe on www.buckknives.com

 
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