Just finished work on a small custom hatchet to be carried while in the field. It's intended purpose is to help in field dressing caribou in up comming Caibou hunt. It will be used to open up the rib cages, split pelvises and to quarter the game. I have tested it thus far as a field hatchet cutting down small trees and splitting wood and it preforms well for such a small hatchet. The grip desigh is borrowed from a Russian fighting knife Made by BFH Custom Knives and works well in the hand. I also have a double edged version nearly complete for use as a combat weagon with a double grind on both sides making it double edged. The size and weight has been kept down by hollowing out the area under the handle material giving the tool a slightly weight forward balance. The handle material is canvas micarta also beed blasted to give it a nonslip finish.The initial tool steel proto type is A2 heat treated to 59 c and the blade has been beed blasted. The overall lenght of the b-leaver is 12 inches with a weight of 1 pound 22 ounces. Future b-leavers will be made from ATS 34. I am also working on a slightly larger version the will be 16" inches long If I knew how to attach a pic I would but for now anyone interested can e-mail me at : kevino@sault.com for pics or go to this link: http://xr650rules.proboards59.com/index.cgi?board=newmembers&action=display&thread=1148132155
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
The B-Leaver is done
- Thread starter DaGeeez
- Start date
If you upload your pics to photobucket or another free server, you can link them here, or click on the little yellow square with the mountain and sun at the top of the posting block and cut and paste your photobucket picture url. I'm looking forward to seeing these.
Why the switch from A2 to ATS34?
Why the switch from A2 to ATS34?
Here is a link to another site and the Combat version of the B-Leaver. The one with the green handle is the choping version and the red handled one is the double edged version. I have attached a link to view them both. The switch to ATS 34 would be for upkeep reasons only, for those folks that want a no maintenance version. This A-2 verion is very durable and takes lots of abuse while still holding an edge it is bead blasted, wamed slightly and renisance wax rubbed in for rust protection which works very well to keep corrosion away.
Here is the link to the combat B- Leaver: http://xr650rules.proboards59.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=swords&thread=1148421716&page=1
Here is the link to the chopping version: http://xr650rules.proboards59.com/index.cgi?board=newmembers&action=display&thread=1148132155
Here is the link to the combat B- Leaver: http://xr650rules.proboards59.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=swords&thread=1148421716&page=1
Here is the link to the chopping version: http://xr650rules.proboards59.com/index.cgi?board=newmembers&action=display&thread=1148132155
Those look good.
The design shows a lot of thought. You get knife ergos with hatchet chopping ability, without losing the ability to stab something. I think that would make a fine combat tool for any troop out there. Bead-blasting the micarta for enhanced grip, wet or dry, is especially thoughtful.
Isn't 1lb 22oz. really 2lb. 6oz.? And for the double edge you had 1lb16oz, which would be exactly 2lb? Those figures seem a bit heavy for the ammount of steel you have there. My 3/8" thick RMJ Talon weighs exactly 2lb.s, just for comparison. Maybe those numbers are 2.2 oz. and 1.6 oz., respectively?
I would think that the A2 should outperform the ATS34 for the chopping version where demolition and prying are concerned, and the ATS-34 would outperform the A2 on the combat version where cutting ability and edge retention are issues. But that's just theory... Do you have plans to do some abuse testing on these? From combat experience, I would recomend lock hasps, thin guage steel sheeting/automotive steel, and cinder-block construction blocks. I've found that with proper (thick) edge geometry on a chopping/demolition tool you can maintain your edge against hard objects. So, while I'm partial to the A2 version, I won't be surprised if you get an ATS-34 version to hold up to the same abuse with similar results.
The design shows a lot of thought. You get knife ergos with hatchet chopping ability, without losing the ability to stab something. I think that would make a fine combat tool for any troop out there. Bead-blasting the micarta for enhanced grip, wet or dry, is especially thoughtful.
Isn't 1lb 22oz. really 2lb. 6oz.? And for the double edge you had 1lb16oz, which would be exactly 2lb? Those figures seem a bit heavy for the ammount of steel you have there. My 3/8" thick RMJ Talon weighs exactly 2lb.s, just for comparison. Maybe those numbers are 2.2 oz. and 1.6 oz., respectively?
I would think that the A2 should outperform the ATS34 for the chopping version where demolition and prying are concerned, and the ATS-34 would outperform the A2 on the combat version where cutting ability and edge retention are issues. But that's just theory... Do you have plans to do some abuse testing on these? From combat experience, I would recomend lock hasps, thin guage steel sheeting/automotive steel, and cinder-block construction blocks. I've found that with proper (thick) edge geometry on a chopping/demolition tool you can maintain your edge against hard objects. So, while I'm partial to the A2 version, I won't be surprised if you get an ATS-34 version to hold up to the same abuse with similar results.
JW you are exactly right about the weight, the B-Leaver is 22 oz, and the combat B-leaver is 16 oz I mistakenly added a pound to the ounces number I got.OOOOps. I have allready done some field testing with both. The B-Leaver sails through car doors and barrels and to be honest I never thought to try a hasp but I dont think a hasp would be any problem the way it slid through the barrel and auto steel. I totaly agree with your steel choices and the reasoning behind those choices which was the direction I was probably headed. The combat version has not been tested for anything but cutting , slashing and spearing or stabing and it has performed exceptionally well under those conditions. I would not want to be on the recieving end of a stab or a slash from this thing. My youngest son is perhaps looking at a second deploiment to the gulf in December and I fully expect to have these full tested and ready should he be deployed. Thanks for the input from an old 5 year Army vet.
knuckleduster
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any chance of getting some hi res pics and info for my book? Pleeeeeease!
It would fit right in.
Dave
It would fit right in.
Dave
Hello my Canadian brother Eric, I have a leather sheath allrady produced for the B-leaver and it hangs down low and ties off around the thigh. I am currently working on another type sheath for the combat B-Leaver that uses a lot less leather.
If you send me an e-mail address Eric I will send you some pictures.
Dave send me an e-mail address and I will forward some pictures of both tools and the sheath. I will also send you the tech data.
Eric it would be interesting to see what you make do you have a web site?
If you send me an e-mail address Eric I will send you some pictures.
Dave send me an e-mail address and I will forward some pictures of both tools and the sheath. I will also send you the tech data.
Eric it would be interesting to see what you make do you have a web site?
knuckleduster
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Please send to demonmonk1970 @ yahoo.com
Thanks!
Dave
Thanks!
Dave
J.W. send me your e-mail address and I would be more then happy to have you host the pics. O.G. (Old Guy) can't work this puter to well. J.W. I am going to hold off production for a while to complete my field testing, plus I am working on a new style sheath. I am pleased so far with the way it performs but if one of our troops decides they want the combat version in their arsenal I sure as hell want it to out perform any thing it may encounter.
Thank you Peter I sent a few to the promise land before I got the balance and grind I wanted plus it has to withstand any and everything thrown at as a life may depend on it. As for the B-Leaver hatchet I am allready pleased with its performance. I plan right now to take orders starting in late June for the hatchet version and make 4 at a time. The sheath and handle material will contribute to the final cost so the price is not set yet. It is hard to find anything to compare it to to get dialed in to a price range plus making 4 at a time will reduce production costs some what.
Normark may be able to assist with the sheaths so I will try and hook up with him to see what we can work out.
Thank you Peter I sent a few to the promise land before I got the balance and grind I wanted plus it has to withstand any and everything thrown at as a life may depend on it. As for the B-Leaver hatchet I am allready pleased with its performance. I plan right now to take orders starting in late June for the hatchet version and make 4 at a time. The sheath and handle material will contribute to the final cost so the price is not set yet. It is hard to find anything to compare it to to get dialed in to a price range plus making 4 at a time will reduce production costs some what.
Normark may be able to assist with the sheaths so I will try and hook up with him to see what we can work out.
please make a guesstimate of what final pricing may be, and what prices of cool-guy options you may have to offer. Right now I'm more inclined towards the green micarta version in A-2 if you'll offer that again in the future.
I also posted a sheath idea on the elitesteel forum. But I'm sure Normark will have excellent ideas that will function perfectly. Like you said, less than perfect isn't sufficient for the troops.
I also posted a sheath idea on the elitesteel forum. But I'm sure Normark will have excellent ideas that will function perfectly. Like you said, less than perfect isn't sufficient for the troops.
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I would say in the $350.00 Range, with the option of Mark Nelson Micarta or other micartas, to keep with the bead blast type finish I think the micarta is the best most durable option. Check out Marks wild Micarta, I just ordered some to see how it works and holds up under wear and will be producing two more B-leavers when the steel arrives to be sold, the grind will be buyers choice as will the handle material.I would like to use Marks Micarta on both of them if possable because that stuff is hot. I am working on a second version of the sheath but I have to say I really like the one I build allready for the chopping B-Leaver. I know these are not cheap but then what is now a days.