What Steel to Use for Cane Knife?

[458tnr]

I have a Tiger Brand cane knife that was made in Germany. The company went out of business about 15 years ago. I would like to duplicate the design of their cane knife with a slight modification. In Hawaii we use these knifes mostly for trimming coconut trees and chopping up brush. What steel would you recommend? The knife blade is about 3/32" thick, 13.5" long, 6" wide at the tip and tapers to 2.25" where the handle begins.

 

[Alarion]

I'd use good carbon steel like 1075 or as a more sophisticated alternative 5160 which is very good for blades which must have a lot of flex.
Quench in oil and temper to brown-purple.