Trip to the woods/testing a new knife

bindlestitch

bindlestitch

Joined
Oct 23, 2006
Messages
1,461
How's it going, guys?
I took to the woods today for a getaway from the real world and to test my new knife. Pics to follow.
I started out with a small fire...just because I like starting fires.:o Not much of one because the wind was howling today.
rodknifeandfire.jpg

Even though I don't usually baton, I thought I'd try some to see how the knife held up.
batton1.jpg

batton2.jpg


Then I set out to make my first ever figure four trap. I built it mucho huge so I could get the mechanics of the thing for the first try.

Starting a cross cut
crosscutstart.jpg

cross cut finished
crosscutfinished.jpg

I got so into it that I forgot to take some pics of the notch cuts, but here's the finished trigger.
figurefour.jpg

There's no way on the Lord's green earth that my trigger would actually work but I had fun doing it and learned a lot that I can apply next time.

And lastly a picture of my kit I took into the woods with me.
kitr.jpg


I've got a quick question for all you seasoned pros out there. When I went to use my knife on the ferro rod I used the spine like usual. But I couldn't get a good spark to save my life. So for some reason, I decided to use the area closer to the tip where the distal taper really starts. This produced the usual huge spark needed to light the fire.
Here's my question: Does rc hardness of the steel affect the spark you get from the rod?
I edge quench my knives so the spine is soft compared to the edge and some of the top of the tip area and this is the only thing that is different as far as the knife is concerned.
Comments and crits always welcome.
Later,
Iz
 
Good looking knife you got there 'Ol Bud :thumbup: Did you make it ? Looks like you done a good job on your fig.-4 just a little on the large size :D Sorry I can't help with your question:o
 
For me, I just get better leverage with the front of my knife. Is your spine squared off evenly?
 
Nice figure four. So did you catch bigfoot with it, or did he escape? :D

Interesting, the sparks, that is.
 
I've noticed a difference as far as hardness is concerned. I had two knives by the same maker of the same steel, one was through hardened and one was dual hardened like yours. I noticed a significant difference in the two to back up your results. The one that was dual hardened just didn't throw very good sparks. I then flipped said knife over and scraped the ferro rod with the blade and nearly set my house on fire. That was before I knew how damaging that is to the blade of course.
 
coaldigger said:
Good looking knife you got there 'Ol Bud :thumbup: Did you make it ? Looks like you done a good job on your fig.-4 just a little on the large size :D Sorry I can't help with your question:o
Click to expand...

Coal,
Thanks. Yeah, I made the knife specifically for this type of thing.
Later,
Iz
 
TheGame said:
Nice figure four. So did you catch bigfoot with it, or did he escape? :D

Interesting, the sparks, that is.
Click to expand...

Heh. I'm not sure what bait to use for bigfoot. That and I couldn't find a crane to lift the deadfall in place for my trigger. So he got away. :D
 
Shotgun said:
I've noticed a difference as far as hardness is concerned. I had two knives by the same maker of the same steel, one was through hardened and one was dual hardened like yours. I noticed a significant difference in the two to back up your results. The one that was dual hardened just didn't throw very good sparks. I then flipped said knife over and scraped the ferro rod with the blade and nearly set my house on fire. That was before I knew how damaging that is to the blade of course.
Click to expand...

Shotgun,
That's what I'm thinking. I've used other knives that were full quenched and tempered and never had this problem. When I edge quench I usually quench a little of the top of the tip too and that's where the sparks worked like normal.
Thanks for the info,
Iz
 
Well I didn't know that about the hardness factor, but want to chime in and say the knife looks excellent.
 
Looks like a mighty fine knife! Do you have any closeup pictures? Any sheath? Me want specs too :D

As for the ferro rod, maybe the "soft" spine looses it's very edge easily when you scrape the rod; I guess it doesn't take much (micrometers) to "dull" squared soft spine. Just a guess, though.
 
Thanks guys. I appreciate it.
Here's the specs on the knife.
0-1 3/16" blade
full height convex grind to zero edge
canvas micarta scales with osage orange pommel
red rubber liners
A few pics before I got it all dirty and before sharpening
dogwoodonbestweb.jpg


dogwoodtopweb.jpg


And I forgot to take pics of the sheath but this one is very similar in design.
osageinsheathweb.jpg


Default,
I think you're right about the dulling. I noticed micro " notches" on the spine after using the ferro there. Makes sense.
Later,
Iz
 
Very nice blade!
I know it's already been mentioned, but I'll just second the opinion that the soft spine is your problem. It's like trying to use a knife whose edge hasn't been heat treated, sure it will cut something the first or second time, but it dulls too quickly to be of any use. Next time full quench and you'll be fine, otherwise get used to useing the harder tip.
 
Nice Iz!!!!:eek:

That looks excellant. I look forward to seein your stuff in person. That sheath looks great too.:cool:

We need to get together for a hike sometime.:thumbup:
 
It could be the spine is too soft to take material off the ferro rod. The result is the edge gets rounded and slides off the rod. A hardend blade will work better with a good square corner to scrape more material off the rod.
 
Nice looking knife.
I find that the back of my knife (D2) does not make as good sparks as the stupid little metal think that came with the ferro rod.
 
j williams said:
Nice Iz!!!!:eek:

That looks excellant. I look forward to seein your stuff in person. That sheath looks great too.:cool:

We need to get together for a hike sometime.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

J,

A hike sounds like a good time. Give me a holler sometime and we'll make it happen.

iBlade said:
Nice looking knife.
I find that the back of my knife (D2) does not make as good sparks as the stupid little metal think that came with the ferro rod.
Click to expand...
Heh. That is disheartening.

Thanks everybody, I appreciate the encouragement.
 
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