Been raining so I decided not to hunt this past week plus my wife a I were on call for our grandson as Mom was delivering our new granddaughter :)
I wanted a heavier chopping/camp knife to use this coming spring for the GSMBS hammer-in that I attend in Clyde, NC. Last year was my first try at the chopping contest and I had a ball. My blade was a bit small but it preformed well. But this year I need more heft to compete with the Big Boys.
I decided to try something a little different in a Tai Goo style chopper. This is the first time I've done a rolled handle. Other than seeing pictures, I just winged it. I rolled the handle then flared the end out & bent it down for a comfortable feel. It came out as a definite Right hand knife with the placement of your thumb in the beginning of the roll. The other thing that is quite different is the grind. The roll makes the blade off set so my grind is flatter on the back side of my hand. This caused all sorts of problems. Everytime I heated the blade, it would bend way from the straighter back side. Thus it became a great exercise in quenching and immediate straightening of the entire blade. Not sure I want to do this alot...but it convinced me I could straighten most problems at final quench.
Chopper is 14 1/2" OAL with a 9 1/2 blade. It's origin is an old Toyota Tacoma leaf spring...tippit
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Knives/TiaGooStyleChopper035.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Knives/TiaGooStyleChopper032.jpg)
With para-cord handle:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Knives/TiaGooStyleChopper041.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Knives/TiaGooStyleChopper045.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Knives/TiaGooStyleChopper030.jpg)
congrads on the granddaughter and the blad looks great jim
that thing is a monster! who needs a hawk when you have that! great looking handle looks very simple but im sure its not at all.
Nice
Jeff, your many talents are remarkable :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I like it!
Very nice
You're ready for the zombie invasion now!
That's a beast Doc.