Biggest carcass splitter so far



I just mailed off an interesting project: The biggest carcass splitter I've built to date.  It was the widest and heaviest blade I've made (though not the longest), and I really want to make more.  Probably will have one on my table at the Blade Show in June.

 

 

 

The blade is 18" long by 3 1/2" wide, with an overall length of 40 1/2".

 

Its size made it difficult to take a picture that really showed the size and proportions correctly, but I got a few, and shot a video comparing it with an antique carcass splitter I was given by a customer. 

 

Here's the starting blank, cut from 1/4" x 3" 5160.

 

 

After forging out, the blade was about 4" at its widest, though after trimming the end to be aesthetically pleasing, it was 3 1/2".

 

 

 

Comparison with the antique carcass splitter.

 

 

 

 

Ready to heat treat.  To give an idea of size, my anvil is 148 lbs, and the face is about 4" x 15".

 

 



 



 



It was so large, I couldn't fit the whole thing into my kiln that I use to draw temper.  I ended up holding the kiln lid open with firebricks, then filling in the gap with various bits of broken fire brick.  If you look closely, the end of the tang is poking out between two bricks just under the little angled tab on the lid.

 

 

 

Ready for mischief!

 



 

 

There is a better look at both carcass splitters, more details, more construction pics, wildly irresponsible swinging about of an 18" long razor-like blade, and general silliness in this video.

 

 

Diplomatic blades and a couple of choppers

I had an interesting opportunity pop up recently when I was contacted about making a couple of knives to be used as diplomatic gifts between the US Army and a couple of generals in the Mexican Army.  I didn't have a whole lot of time to work with, but I happened to have some prototype mid-tech Benghazi Warfighter and Little Rok blades already ground, heat treated, and powdercoated, so I agreed. 

 

3/16" 80CrV2 steel, TeroTuf handles, and flared stainless steel tube handle rivets.

 

When I was given the names and ranks to be laser engraved in the blades, I was surprised to find that the knives were gifts for the Mexican Secretary of Defense and his Chief of Staff!   :o

 

It was an honor to be chosen for the task.  :)

And, on an entirely different tack, a couple of choppers finished up recently.  Forged 80Crv2, paracord over neoprene, marine epoxy, the usual.

13 1/2" blade, black and gold.  Customer commented, "Love my knife."

 

14 1/4" blade, tan and black.  This customer, a fellow knife maker, commented, "Dude!  This thing is perfect.  I love it!"

Always glad to have happy customers.  :)

Last bush swords of 2017

I finished up the bush swords I showed forged out in my last post. 

All are 80CrV2 steel, between 14" and 16" blades.

This longest one had a hemp cord wrap with black paracord Turk's head knots, and a raised false edge. 

This one with tan and black paracord had a short, fully sharpened top edge per the customer's request.

And finally, the shortest one.  I liked the way the butt end of the handle had forged out, so I left it exposed instead of rounding it out and wrapping all the way around.

After having it for a few days, the customer commented, "I can't believe how light and responsive this is for such a large blade. Awesome work my friend!  I just can't get over how freakin' awesome this bush sword is. I am sore from swinging it so much. Destroying everything in its path so far. Thank you."

Always glad to have happy customers.  :)