Stihl Bowie

peter nap

peter nap

Joined
Nov 27, 1999
Messages
3,745
The profile is done and the rough grinding is pretty well finished.
This is what I'm making from The Stihl chainsaw bar.

I'm fairly sure it is L6. It grinds like L6 :grumpy: and heat treats like L6 :barf:
so I assume it is a propriety L6.

Steve, FYI, you were right. After heat treating, I can't tell one bit of difference between the blade and the cutoffs that I didn't heat treat. The next one I'll just use as is and see how it works.

I used a different grind(s) on this one. First, I flat ground the 1st 2/3's of the blade to within 1/16" of the finished edge.
Next, I flat ground a thinner flat to close to finished edge and to the center line, and now I'm convex grinding to the finished edge. So far it's working out better than my normal flat/convex grind and I'll come out with a stronger point.

LOA is 19" with a 14" blade. I am not putting a guard on this because it just doesn't need it for what I plan to use it for.

As always, opinions please....I'd rather correct it now than after it's finished. :D

Oh....it has a fully sharpened false edge.

stihl%20bowie.jpg
 
Looks awesome, quite a hunk of steel there :cool: About how thick is it? Little under 1/4"? I might have to go root around at the barn for an old guide bar now :D
 
What is Stihl?

A chainsaw. This is a hard nosed Bar from a Duromatic.

Dan, your missing out on a lot by not using them. I sharpened it to a so-so edge just for the fun of it. I wanted to see if it would break before I put the handle on it and I wanted to do some scuffing before I put a did the final grinds.

I started chopping 2X4's and was pleased. It still takes three chops which is normal for my large knives, but edge retention seems very very good. Another clue that it is L6.

Overall I'm pretty happy. Now the work really starts.
 
Nice one Peter. Have you ever used one of the laminated chain bars? Like San Mai if I remember right?
 
Not yet Bruce. I've tried to weld chain a couple of times and just haven't gotten it right. I have a lot of problems with cold shuts with it. One day I'll take some time and get it sorted out.
 
Im talking about some of the chainsaw bars are really 3 piece laminates. Soft sides with a hard center.
 
Oh....duh
No I haven't Bruce. I knew they were laminates but assumed (We all know what that means) it was pretty soft. I may try some nest week.

BTW...I sent you email a little while ago. Did you get your package yet?
 
very cool knife :) I'm really starting to like big long pointy blades.
I'd like to see this one when finished.

Don Hanson lll
 
Dan could tell us about the laminated chain bar. I never got my package :confused: Off to check my email....
 
Don that looks wicked! I like it. :D Is this all stock removal or did you hammer that one down first? This is one mean lookin mofo and that makes me smile. (But I'm a nice, quiet neighbor...) Be sure to let us see this one finished, I really like big pointy knives too.

I should mention that when I saw the first post, Stihl, I thought it was going to be about a chainsaw and didn't stop to read it. I'm glad I read this one! I'll be thinking about that blade all day... Zowie.
 
All of the laminated bars that I've seen had the center section skeletonized for weight savings. But I have not seen them all.
 
All I've got are laminated bars. They're spot welded all the way around the edge of the middle layer and a few times down the middle. You might be able to forge one down and use it, but nothing I can do with them. Maybe I'll work on making a bigger forge this afternoon :eek: :D
 
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