Thrower/Chopper

[R. Ellis]

I've had an idea for making a thrower/chopper camp knife that I could chuck around, split kindling, clear brush, ect. I had more of a bowie blade in mind, but the recent posts on the Jukes Coulson, Hudson Bay camp knife made me go with that style instead. I started with forging a real old rusty leaf spring that seemed to spark like 5160. I did a zone hardening two inches back from the tip to the choil. The rest is at a spring temper. The handle is canvas micarta with peened brass pins. Thanks for looking and for any comments, Roc

 

[R. Ellis]

Glad you asked that question Roc! Zone hardening is exactly what it sounds like. Hardening a specific portion of the blade. In this case I wanted a hard section in the sweet spot for chopping a spring temper in the tip section so it would not be so brittle but retain some abrasion resistance. Then a soft handle and back to avoid failure across the handle pin holes. I did it by selecting an air hardening spring steel, 5160. Edge quenching it backwards, (below blue line),holding it in the quench till the color left the back then letting it air cool. Then drawing back the temper from soft grey at the butt to deep blue near the tip.(above red line)

 

[becram]

that's a fine lookin' piece of huckin' iron.
the only thing i can suggest for the next model is to do a leather wrapped handle or finish the scales a little narrower than the tang so that they would be less prone to impact damage. (mine alway seem to land flat against the back at least once or twice per throwing session)

 

[R. Ellis]

You are right about that. I already sheared the back pin and replaced it. I was thinking of going with leather because of the primative look. I also was thinking of aluminum slabs or even some damasus I have around. That handle is a temp to see how my heat treat is going to hold up. Duct tape would have worked I guess. I Been chucking it for a half hour each day. So far so good. If it passes I will then do a vine filework around the handle and leave it a little proud of the slabs. Then make the sheath. Thanks for the comments and advice.

 

[Bambooleaf]

Reminds me of both a cleaver and a bowie. I'd expect it to throw more like a cleaver.