You won't see these at Blade

dawsonbob

dawsonbob

Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
4,573
This is just the first of several things we probably won’t be seeing at the Blade show this year.

I’ll do more as time allows, such as the Becker Multi Tool that Bladite suggested, and other odd things. Here’s the first one:

The Becker pancake turner.
Okay, it’s really not meant for flipping pancakes, but it sure looks like it could be used for that, doesn’t it? This monster mutt has the size and weight to cut deeply into any wood — or stack of pancakes, for that matter... and flip ‘em, too. Great for the short-order woodsman.

Is it a knife? A Bolo machete? Maybe we should call it a Knolo. One thing’s for certain: it ain’t the Brute, though it’s a brutish blade.

The blade is 11 inches long, with an overall length of 16 3/8 inches. The blade is 3/16 inches thick, and 2 5/8 inches at its widest point.

This is just a crude rendering, and I know it needs a deeper grind, but it gives you something to look at.

2624n0i.jpg


Oh, and it's good for digging, too.
 
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Not bad! I hate giving up a tip even on larger blades so I'm going to pass on this fantasy knife ;).
 
AF said:
Not bad! I hate giving up a tip even on larger blades so I'm going to pass on this fantasy knife ;).
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You can't really see it here, but on a real version the grind would wrap all the way around the tip. Useful for all kinds of things: digging, cutting vegetation by pushing, getting under the pancakes, etc.

I have tips on all my other knives, so I wouldn't miss it on this one.
 
with my ninja skillz, i was able to infiltrate ethan's skunk works lab...he had his...uh...hands full :D

ethan-bladeshow_09_girls.jpg


...so he didn't notice me or the camera's flash.

usmc_round_machete.jpg


it's been in the garage for years. probably left by the previous owner. the engraving is hard to see with the camera (it's on the other side) but it says "u.s.m.c" and then below it "village, blacksmith". it's a full 0.25" thick. i'll probably clean it up and put micarta handles on it but haven't found the time yet.
 
JV3 said:
with my ninja skillz, i was able to infiltrate ethan's skunk works lab...he had his...uh...hands full :D

...so he didn't notice me or the camera's flash.

[/IMG]

it's been in the garage for years. probably left by the previous owner. the engraving is hard to see with the camera (it's on the other side) but it says "u.s.m.c" and then below it "village, blacksmith". it's a full 0.25" thick. i'll probably clean it up and put micarta handles on it but haven't found the time yet.
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I seem to remember that pic of Ethan, but I'm not saying anything: what happens in Atlanta, stays in Atlanta.:D

You just about nailed it on the blade, JV3. What's left of the blade you're showing is the USMC Hospital Corpsman Knife, vintage WW2, and is, indeed, what inspired the one I've done.

When I was a boy I had one that I got from my dad. Used it for everything for years. I loved that blade.

When I joined the Marine Corps and went off to various garden spots to play games, I left it in my dad's garage. Nine years later when I got out, I went looking for my old friend, the USMC Hospital Corpsman Knife. Sadly, it was no where to be found.

I wasn't worried, though. There were bins full of them at the surplus store for around $6 each: I could always pick up another one. Well, I waited too long, and they all disappeared. Nowadays if you can find one in good shape, it'll cost you anywhere from $125 to $150. Not exactly a cheap beater anymore, so I decided to design a modernized version.

USMC Hospital Corpsman Knife:
117d5km.jpg


My redesign:
25rnr5j.jpg


And that's the story on the one I posted. The shape is somewhat different, it's not as thick, and it has the great Becker handle but, you're right, it's based pretty much on the one you have in your garage.
 
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128905568_M4ErM-O.jpg


i want to see some Jensen EVO like designs...


Bladite
 
Bladite said:
128905568_M4ErM-O.jpg


i want to see some Jensen EVO like designs...


Bladite
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Whoa, dude, dem is some baaaad lookin' blades, fo' shore. Ah ain't nevah seed da like befo'.

When I have some time to play, I'll see what I can come up with for you.
 
dawsonbob said:
Whoa, dude, dem is some baaaad lookin' blades, fo' shore. Ah ain't nevah seed da like befo'.

When I have some time to play, I'll see what I can come up with for you.
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yeah. i like your bolo like thing up above...

Jensen's are like a TacTul's and Tracker/Machax love child :)


Bladite
 
Bladite said:
yeah. i like your bolo like thing up above...

Jensen's are like a TacTul's and Tracker/Machax love child :)


Bladite
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Thanks. I like it, too. One of these days...

I have never seen the Jensen's before. I like your description though, "a TacTul and Tracker/Machax love child." Kinda says it all.

I'm in the middle of some stuff right now, but when I get some time I'll just let my imagination run wild, rather than trying for useful, practical stuff. Could be interesting.
 
dawsonbob said:
Thanks. I like it, too. One of these days...

I have never seen the Jensen's before. I like your description though, "a TacTul and Tracker/Machax love child." Kinda says it all.

I'm in the middle of some stuff right now, but when I get some time I'll just let my imagination run wild, rather than trying for useful, practical stuff. Could be interesting.
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lots of room to design :)

i like the WSK design by Koster... more of a useful chopper like a "pen knife" (HI khukri)... yes has some useful Tracker features...

an all purpose digging, chopping, beating it up tool without the "bottle opener" on the TacTool...

now, the old school DivTools, were both wider AND shorter, and more to my liking.


Bladite
 
Bladite said:
lots of room to design :)

i like the WSK design by Koster... more of a useful chopper like a "pen knife" (HI khukri)... yes has some useful Tracker features...

an all purpose digging, chopping, beating it up tool without the "bottle opener" on the TacTool...

now, the old school DivTools, were both wider AND shorter, and more to my liking.


Bladite
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That's what I like about the one I showed at the top of this thread. It' a short, wide fat little boy, with almost all the weight toward the end. With the grind going all the way around the end, it could be really useful. I know from experience that the USMC version, which I actually think was too thick, was a mean chopper and splitter. Handles coals from the fire pretty well, and digs cat holes, too.
 
dawsonbob said:
Okay, that's actually starting to look kinda interesting. Hmmm... we'll have to see what we can do.:D
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it's definitely a fugly "use me" kinda thing...

note, the large hole is claimed for arrow straightening... mmm

raw chopping ability, but also digging and stuff, useful. don't recall the steel used, possibly L6, but could be anything decent at impact and durable.

the koster model has LARGE holes, and finger holds for stability and safety. 5160 for tradition :)


Bladite
 
Bladite said:
it's definitely a fugly "use me" kinda thing...

note, the large hole is claimed for arrow straightening... mmm

raw chopping ability, but also digging and stuff, useful. don't recall the steel used, possibly L6, but could be anything decent at impact and durable.

the koster model has LARGE holes, and finger holds for stability and safety. 5160 for tradition :)


Bladite
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Sometimes, fugly has a beauty all its own.:D

Yeah, I could see an arrow straightener. Somewhere around here, I have one made out of bone.

I could see this thing being maybe 10 inches long. Simple 1075 would work, and it's cheap, readily available and easy to work.
 
Bladite said:
was looking for original specs (eluding me) but found this:

http://redscorpionsix.blogspot.com/

check out the tracker/evo combo


Bladite
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No offense, but I have to admit that I've never been a fan of the Tracker designs. To me it seems like one of those things that might have started off as a good idea, but got lost somewhere along the way — like someone said "it looks too 'normal', so let's make it look funky.

I don't want to sound like I'm all full of myself, but I honestly think I can design a lot better, and more useful, outdoors knife than that. Maybe I just had better training over the years than some of the other people who've tried their hand at it, I don't know. I do know that the Tracker design may look cool, but has a lot of shortcomings for real world use.

And what's up with the $450 price tag? There's no reason that a knife of that type couldn't be easily produced for $100 or less, and that's with a useful sheath, too.

Anyway, I have to get up at 04:30 and work on a brochure, so I'll call it a night.
 
dawsonbob said:
No offense, but I have to admit that I've never been a fan of the Tracker designs. To me it seems like one of those things that might have started off as a good idea, but got lost somewhere along the way — like someone said "it looks too 'normal', so let's make it look funky.

I don't want to sound like I'm all full of myself, but I honestly think I can design a lot better, and more useful, outdoors knife than that. Maybe I just had better training over the years than some of the other people who've tried their hand at it, I don't know. I do know that the Tracker design may look cool, but has a lot of shortcomings for real world use.

And what's up with the $450 price tag? There's no reason that a knife of that type couldn't be easily produced for $100 or less, and that's with a useful sheath, too.

Anyway, I have to get up at 04:30 and work on a brochure, so I'll call it a night.
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that's why i like the evo... it's not trying to be ... a knife exactly...

the glorified tracker... it's a knife...

and from: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=425135

is this:

WSK092106.jpg


not too shabby actually. i have one of the first, and i will NOT sell it. too many refined and good design elements, but especially, the khukri/chopping aspect was done RIGHT. as a draw knife? wow. it's amazing. apparently bowyers go bananas for these. though, a good draw knife is also worth its weight in bows :>

the actual tops type tracker? don't like it. the original Beck design? like it. don't have one or a clone.

that EVO digger/tool? lust Lust LUST. if someone offered me a user as a good price ... someday.


Bladite
 
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