Trail Knife

[GOTTMILKK]

What is the best impact steel I can use? I want to make a knife I can use to clear trails for hunting and also use to chop fire wood for camp fires. I was thinking about making it 3/16 or 1/4 inch thick and 20 to 22 inches long. What is the right hardness to use? Thanks

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[Alan Folts]

Well 5160 is notoriously shock resistant, I would think any Basic carbon steel heat treated to about 58 or so would work fine for that useage. Just dont make it so soft that you have to sharpen it ever 2 feet like most machetes now adays...

Alan...

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If a Man talks in the forest, and there is no Woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?

 

[Yvsa]

:
Alan is right on with his advice!!
Check out the Himalayan Imports forum for some big knives made from 5160.
The khukuris are awesome in their edge holding.
I think the Marbles Traimaster or whatever they call their big knife is also 5160.
You can't beat it and it is very forgiving in the heat treat I understand.

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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"Know your own bone, gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it again."

'Thoreau'

Khukuri FAQ