Ok, I'm still not fully decided on which route I'm going to go with this, but I have one possible route forged out.
This has a 12" blade of 5160 steel. The raised clip will be slightly beveled into a false edge. It's soaking in vinegar right now to eat the scale off.
I have no worries about how this blade will stand up to hard use in knife chores: chopping hardwoods for extended periods, splitting wood with a baton, slicing through whippy thorny vines and branches, etc. I'm not worried about that, though I am very curious to see where it stands in comparison with the work other makers will be producing.
What has me scratching my head a bit is how it will do in some of the abusive tests, i.e. cutting on metal. It's a stout blade, but is it stout enough to deal with that abuse, partifularly down near the tip?
I'm also considering something with this general blade shape:
But with a blade around 10" or so.
I think I will make both and continue contemplating which to enter. The other one will go on my table at Blade.
How does one go about disabling a padlock with a knife? Striking with the spine seems logical to me; don't see many knives that can actually cut making it through with the cutting edge remotely intact.
I really am looking forward to seeing how this whole challenge turns out. For everyone.
